The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-21
FOR FEMININE READERS.
TABLE TALK SHOULD BE
ENCOURAGED IN EVERY FAMILY.
Practical suggestions to the Would
Be House BuiIder-Barefooted
Children in Fashion Again.

In many households the demands of school
and business make meal time the only hour
in which all the members of the family are
together, when the father and mother can
act in concert for the development and adj
vancement of their children, says a writer
in Good Housekeeping. For that reason, if
for no other, there should be well-planned
and concerted action in the table talk.
There needs must be some sacrifice of per-
sonal comfort at first on the part of both
parents; the father must forego his news
paper and the mother must forget for the
time her household duties. AS the parents
are, SO will the children be. If the father
talks shop, or reads his paper, or if the
mother details for the benefit of the rest of
the family all the little vexations to which
she has been subjected during the day, then
the children will bring to the table their
petty quarrels with each other or with their
school fellows; or if they be bookish they
will bring a book to the table with them,
or bolt their food IN order to get back to the
story.
The conversation at table should include
the whole family, and should be of sufficient
interest to hold the attention of all from
the affairs of their working hours. This
needs the wise heads of father and mother
to guide it. Eschew all disagreeable topics,
all stories Of crime, or narrowing tales of
any sort. Likewise forbid any subject that
will work upon the temper of any member
of the family. 1t is a well-known fact that
bright conversation, the flow of mirth, the
happy jest, or wholesome interest in the
topics of the day are an aid to digestion;
while on the other hand, any strong excite
ment, as anger, fear or sorrow, will hinder
digestion by checking temporarily the ac-
ton of the salivary glands. There are plenty
OF interesting subjects for conversation
without spelling the appetite of sensitive
child by some story of horror or destitu-
ton.
There is perhaps some new book that is
being read by one of the family which can
be discussed. Often a busy member of the
circle has no time to read the book for him
self, and an intelligent review of it at table
will not only be interesting, but will give
to that busy one the knowledge that he
could not otherwise obtain.
There are continually coming before the
public new and interesting scientific investi-
cations and Inventions about which the
father and older brothers can tell the girls.
Even the little ones will be interested in
asking about a new machine, and their
questions are just as important as the in
quiries of the older ones Talk of the affairs
OF State and Nation. of political and foreign
news In a predetermined way that will lead
the children TO form their own opinions,
elders.
Above ALL the little ones should not be
snubbed for their attempts to add to the
general entertainment. Listen courteously
when they ask questions or add their little
mite of knowledge, just as you expect them
to listen to you. Encourage them to bring
any bright bit that they can, either in the
way of knowledge or amusement If the lit
tie man makes a. mistake in the selection
OF story, or in his manner of telling it,
do not rebuke him at the table. Instead
and you are alone. and explain the nature
of the mistake, tell him how it should have
been done, and the mistake will hardly oc-
cur again. Neither will the childs feelings
be hurt in such a way that he will he
afraid to try d second time.
The conversation at table is an important
With such an everyday training you will
not find it difficult to entertain your friends
at dinner. There need be no extra effort put
forth on the part Of host or hostess, for the
your guest would enjoy. Then when
the children are little older, ard
eey they g2 be- out exe nf9
the bashfulness that so often attacks a per-
son unused to talking before others. They
will be ready to bear an interesting and
and naturally, because they have always
done SO. They will also be trained in the
art of listening. which is no mean accomp-
lishment, either in guest or host
Aside from its benefit to the children and
to the older ones in a social way, it may
be made means of education. Familiar
conversation on subjects of lasting impor-
lance will create and foster in them an in
telligent interest in vital topics; it will en-
around development that mere schooling
cannot give.