Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-25
Il. The al.round reed finds but little
HOUSEHOLD.

If an apology is ever needed for repeating
an oft-told tale, it must find its reason in
the fact that the Importance of the story
justifes the repetition. American people
are exquisisely alive to adverse criticism,
| and at no point are they so vulnerable as in
their apparent ignorance of proper table
etiquette. The dining room is laboratory
and the table the crucible which often dis
covers a lack of such elements as are
requisite to the formation of a well-bred
man or woman. Women are particularly
| quick to notice these Deficiencies, and for
this reason it would seem all the more
strange that they permit sons and daughters
daily to set at naught established rules of
table etiquette, if not to actually ignore
the requirements of decency. The fallacy
which teaches that children outgrow bad
habits acquired in youth, was never more
completely confuted than at the table.
Many one has felt and continues to feel
through life the lack of early training in
table manners, even such simple thing as
to know the proper use of the fork, the
spoon and the knife; to recognize sugar
spoons, butter knives and napkins is valua-
ble and want of constant use of these in
a decent way is sure to betray one at some
most inopportune time.
Children should not be banished from the
table. nor allowed to eat with servants.
Their place is with the elders of the family,
and they must be taught there, however
unpleasant it may be at times to correct
them in public. While it is true that meals
should not be eaten in silence, it is also
true that children should not be allowed to
monopolize the conversation. Two lessons
can be well taught at the table, respect to
age, and patience; there might be added
that it also serves as school in which to
learn gentleness of tone. The indulgence
of parents in allowing bawling tones and
imperative ordering of walters is not
easily explained The first lesson to be
taught and like most lessons it is best
taught by example, is that the meal is
something for which to prepare ones self.
Even if the mother cooks and the father
plows, there is no reason why there should
not be freshening of face by cool water
and a smoothing of tumbled lock. The
veniently placed to exchange quickly from
the cooking gown, and the plowman light
coat to cover, if not to remove, the evil
dences of his toll. People who work are
apt to underestimate this lesson, and yet
they hope for their children social elevation,
and this is one of the fitting processes.
That mother who sees that her children
are tidied up, brushed and washed before
coming to the table, is instilling habits that
will strengthen with age, and as the years
go by the children, grown to maturity, Will
be grateful for habits that have become
second nature. A dressing bell before the
meal is quite ready, is an easy way to an
nounce the time to lay down work, aban-
don play and to prepare for the table. OF
course, the mere ringing of a bell amounts
to nothing if its summons is unheeded, and
n lack of tirmness in enforcing the call
leads to display of selflshness and indiffer-
ence to the wishes of others in after years
that is wonderfully common and very rep
rehensibe.
Something has been said of the part
children should have in table-talk. While
they should not be allowed to lead or mo-
nopolize, neither should they be restrained
from participating in the talk, which should
be of cheerful and general nature. There
is scarcely anything that betray5 want OF
proper breeding more than conversation
carried on at table in half audible tones
between two sitting side by side, or allu-
sions made which are understood only by
part of the company. 1t is hardly necessary
to say that business should be talked of at
the office, store or shop, and not at the
table, if it is brought home at all. Men
would do well to forget business in the
home and abandon themselves to its simple
joys, for mans life does not consist in
that which he possesses. Conversation at
the table profits digestion if it is carried on
smoothly and all subjects of a disagreeable
nature strictly tabooed. With clean linen,
bright ana unchipped glass and china, shin
ing knives, forks and spoons, touch of
color in fruit and flowers, tidy, orderly chill
dren who know how to behave and do, the
table seldom has dyspepsia for guest, the
food is apt to be well cooked, and if the bill
of fare is not of the highest order of n.y.
gienics, good nature and real enjoyment are
almost certain antidotes against the ills set
down in the books.
Let jollity and kindness prevail, and blue
devils, indigestion and kindred evils will
vanish. A solemn silence and gloomy
seriousness are often more stomach
disturbing than the much abused pie crust