Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-23
READY FOR SCHOOL.
shs "HsM GoIwnsss" SaYss Much
DlsclpllalhS Ehsn autumn Comes.
TIMELY ADVICE TO MOTHERS.
&ssparatien Of Little Students for New
season Of Duty--Heaith Dependent
Upon Fair beginning.
(Corrrsnondence of thc Disnntchl

d (Corrcspondence OF the Dispatch.)
NEW YORK. September 22-The chill
oren Of past generation were summoned
~ the lcng-silent sohool-bell promptly
hack to the seat OF learning the very first
NAY Of September. but their luckicr sue
csssors are generally allowed whole
month more to the good. and straggle
back 20 study ell through the early DAYS
~ October.
Mothers, however. begin somewhat
earlier their preparation for the school
year. for the little. wild things who have
been racing In the Fields. riding home on
the hay-wagons. wading in the brooks.
and teasing the puppies. must be caught
and tanned. be clothed. and brought 10
their right minds before they are fitted
20 resume the struggle for knowledge.
CLEVER COMPROMISE.
Wise mothers of wealth sufficient 10
AFFORD such a luxury. looked through the
Nsts OF the womens colleges last spring
70 md some young girl working her way
through the higher education by means
Of summer tutoring. Such girl has been
engaged TO be u sort Of 'neld-governess"
for the children throughout their sum-
smer vacation. riding. driving. and walk
ang with them. and. as part and parcel
OF their play generally insInuating into
their refractory little noodles an amount
OF Information as TO geology botany,
meteorology. and cali dozen other diff
cult-sounding subjects that would per-
9ectly amaze the young ones did they
IN the least suspect how much they were
acquiring. They think II only part OF the
summers play when she tells them why
the sea water tastes salt: what laws
Alntk ~
the moon; the laws OF the winds and
clouds, the names OF the birds and their
habits: teaches them to know the wild
Mowers and their method of fertilization;
explains the anatomy OF their pony. the
kitten, and the fox-terriers. and why the
brooks run down hill instead Of up.
Children fortunate enough TO have such
q companion as this are easy to lead
back TO books again in the autumn and
ind them more interesting because or the
new knowledge they fancy they have
picked I'D for themselves. If they have
not been 50 trained through the summer
II would be we'll to begin at once with
small daily tasks by way Of gradually
breaking in the wild spirits to labor.
HYGIENE PRECAUTIONS.
The health Of children should. of course.
be good after the summer vacation, but
'.more water flows by the mill than
the miller knows Of" and more food
has gone into little mouths during the
GUNNER than the most careful mother
Vuesses. II Is quite as well that some
light mild laxative should be administered
auring the early autumn days-nothing
severe. for there is no greater mistake
than 10 give strong medicines TO child
IN good health. and old people look back
with horror upon the great doses OF mo-
nd
ministered to them regularly, spring and
autumn. always upon an exact date. In
their own childhood. But TO give light
hose OF some effervescent salts three or
four mornings in succession clears the
blood OF the heats of summer and the
results Of any little indigestion or i'm
prudence in eating.
SCHOOL CLOTHES.
The next question to be considered is
hat Of dress The first instinct OF care
full mothers is 20 insist on heavy fannels
to clothe the young bodies from head TO
heel. But let her pause n moment before
doing this. 1t Is a curious superstition
which causes mothers. when the Their
mometer is standing at seventy degrees
in summer. TO cOthe their children In
lawn or pique, and when the thermometer
IL standing at seventy in the nursery ana
echool-roOm in winter TO wrap them In
heavy flannel.
This overlooking with clothes in winter
Is the cause Of half the debility and
weakness Of children They should be
lightly dressed al home and in the school,
rooms. and warm cloaks, leggins. and
mittens provided TO keep out the low
temperature Of the open air when they
leave the house Light under-fiannels
then, should be purchased for both boys
and girls. Particular care should be
taken with their shoes. Let them be n
full half inch longer than the foot, but.
while easy, not 50 large as 10 rub the
foot when walking. Above all. let the
mistake Of buttonng them too closely
about the ankle be avoided.
FOR COLD WEATHER.
Boys in cold climate should be pro-
vided with leather leggins as long as they
are kept in knickerbockers. Girls in
short skirts should have two pairs Of the
same in heavy jersey wool. TWO pairs
should be bought for each because d
Wet pair Is worse than none at ali
One careful parents fastens the child
dren's Stoves TO the sleeves of their coats
by an elastic. This gives them free use
OF their gloved hands. but insures that
the glove shall always be IN It's place
when needed L. = V.~f h1ri for little
feather heads to remember to put gloves.
hastily removed, IA lee. i.o,.ci.. but the
Children of this mother haas them al
ways dangling at their wrists ready Tor
use again.
Indeed. IL Is well TO remember In buy
ing school clOthc- that little extra loose
ness In the beginning OF the season viii
be surely filed out before the summer re-
turns. and that many growing children
etrusgle all the spring with tight armholes
and too short sleeves 10 pay for the snug
Ill OF the previous autumn.
FEEDING LITTLE STUDENTS.
Whether a lunch basket is needed or not
aepends upon circumstances. If the school
IN at all within walking distance the
child should return home by all means,
for a warm, light-very light-meal, be IL
understood. A heavy meal in the middle
Of the school-day is not wholesome or
comfortable Either the blood is drawn
away from it's process of dgestlng the
food In the stomach. to go up TO the
brain and work there. or else the digestion
conquers and the mind is sluggish and
duh, and work drags all the afternoon.
In New York the wise plan has been
adopted in recent years in all schools for
young children OF remaining In session
only from o'clock Till !. when the chill
dfen ere dismissed. and they so home to
Al lao dinner. and play and give all their
forces to proper digestion aftcrward.
II has been found that the results in
both health and mental progress are far
better than the old plan OF stopping a,
midday and renewing school In the after
noon. III this system is not in vogue n
ones locality. II is necessary 10 see that
the luncheon basket Is wholesomely sup
plied. not filled with cakes and bread.
one of the best things for the school
basket is a sandwich mince-that is q
sandwich spread with mince OF cold
beef ham. or chicken. laid on thick. Ii
D always more appetizing than the pain
Hice OF meat. The basket must not be
E1aed too full. Children are not safe
Judges OF how much is good for them. A
Sood-sized minced sandwich. with plenty
OF meat between the slices. bit of sim
pie cake. sponge or gingerbread, and a
large orange or apple is plenty. A good
substitute for cake Is a jam sandwich
two slices OF buttered bread. with a spread
Of Jelly OF some simple Jam between them.
PROPER VENTILATION.
One thing the mother should see 20