Arizona republican., 1891-06-27

After they were seated the mother turned to the child and asked him what he would have for his luncheon. "A tup of toffee and tum mint pie,' promptly answered the little fellow. Imagine my horror when the mother turned to the waiter and coolly said, Bring this boy a cup of coffee and piece of mince pie.'
 "A large cup of strong coffee and an ample section of rich looking mince pie were accordingly set before the small customer, and were disposed of by him with a speed and gusto which could not be we'll surpassed even by much older representative of our pie, pickle and sweetmeat-b -bolting republic"
 Another lady says of her four-year-old nephew: He positively refuses to take anything for breakfast except 'koppy' (as he calls coffee(. His mother tries to persuade him to take something else, but his only demand is, more koppy,' and he always vets it." She adds, He looks like litts old man already"
 Here is the list of the contents of box sent by a loving, foolishly thought less mother to her young daughter away at school, to wit:
 Five large, rich, heavily frosted cakes, some of them containing preserved fruits, one of them cocOanut, one almonds; quantity of jam, a jar of jelly and two jars of pickles.
 Indigestion, headache, lassitude and falling off in study follow the receipt of one of these "Pandora's boxes" as surely as night follows day, and often pro longed period of indisposition will be found to date from it.
 It is a lamentable fact that American children and American youth are not only allowed to eat food which is un- wholesome for them, but are tempted and encouraged to do so. This is the more astonishing when we consider the degree of scientific study and careful observation which have been brought to bear in perfecting the methods for stock culture, poultry culture and kindred subjects, and contrast it with the utter disregard of consequences which pre- yails where children are the objects of care instead of calves, pigs and chickens. In the former case the food is selected with view to the needs of the growing creature. Quality, quantity and regular ity of supply are all wisely considered, while all unsuitable articles are rigorous ly excluded from the dietary.
 The results are, as matter of course, almost uniformly satisfactory, or if in any way the creature fails to thrive, even the most illiterate owner will inn mediately suspect some fault in food or surroundings, seek for it and set 1t right. In the latter case intelligent parents will see their little ones growing up puny and peevish, With narrow chests and lily knit frames, and never think of looking for a cause for this, much less of setting to work in a scientific, or better, com. mon sense manner to remedy the defi- ciencies which they deplore.
 verily believe that if children had a market value which could be quoted on the stock exchange or in the morning papers there would be a speedy revolu- ton in the methods, or lack of methods, now employed in their rearing.
 The lining membrane of the digestive tract is of the most delicate and sensitive order; its secretions are possessed ot chemical qualities fine and subtle in the extreme; its absorbents are exquisite In construction, and the entire canal ls under a nervous control responsive and irritable in the highest degree. To put upon these tender and undeveloped or gans in the child tasks which in the mature condition are often too great for their perfect performance is as unrea- sonable as it would be to harness a year ling colt to an express wagon and ex- pect him do the work of a full grown animal.
 Tie rich, highly seasoned food which abounds upon the American table; the soups and side dishes, hot with pepper and other seasoning; the sauces and grayies, the pickles and condiments, the freshly baked bread, hot biscuits and cakes, the pies, rich puddings and pre- serves, the endless combinations of sugar lard, butter, eggs, flour, preserved fruits and spices, denominated cake, all of which disagree with the stomach, or, in other words, present to the digestive juices problem of separation and chem iCal reduction not easily solved by these powerful agents even in the adult, are to the young little less than rank poison.
 
 above, the more completely to unbalancf the nervous system and to help lay the foundation for years of future suffering perhaps, alas, of inebriety, as direct re- suit of the craving produced by the con dition of digestive organs long accus' toned to over stimulating and irritating combinations in the diet.
 Besides the indiscretions practiced III the home in this regard we find all grades of children in the city buying and eating, between meals, candies nuts, cakes and other articles, The stomach thus always being kept at worA soon comes to resent the abuse and nont of its work is properly done.
 And here let me say that the temp tatlons which are placed in the way ol school children in cities and towns by street vendors of vile and unwholesomt compounds, who flock about school houses at the intermissions, are a public nuisance, and should, if possible, be sup pressed by the authorities.
 The food of children should be simple