Evening star., 1898-08-27
CHILDREN'S MANNERS.
No Easy Task to Teach Them to Act
Correctly.

From the Philadelphia Times.
It is by no means a light task TO teach
family of youngsters to comport themselves
with decorum al the dinner table, but If the
lessons of politeness and good breeding
meal time are early instilled in the elder
children, the battle is half won for the
younger ones, who naturally initiate the
example set them.
Though a somewhat fatIguing process,
ma materfamilias should have her young brood
down to dine with her as soon as it is az all
feasible, for she is obviously the best quali-
fed person to train them in nice habits,
Where there is no baby 20 be looked after
in the nursery, it saves time and smplifies
matters if nurse helps to wait at the mid
day meal as she can cut Up the little ones
meat while the other is carving. The plates
should be hot to start with, for there is
nothing more unappeIizinig than a half
cold, greasy dinner, and many little ones
are very slow in finishing what is on their
plates. While endeavoring not to let the
youngsters grow dainty, L think it great
mistake 10 attempt to force matters of
diet. To some children, for instance, fat is
absolutely repugnant, anl to insist on their
swallowing ii Is to render their entire din
aer unsavory. If, however, there is only
a slight dislike to some eood, such as greens
or lice, for example, and q very small por-
tion is carefully mixed wltl the meat and
potatoes, it is often eaten unpoticed by the
child. Then, too, I have frequently found,
if no opposition is made when a certain
article of diet is rejected, after few days
or a few months, nnqing that he is not
forced to eat it, the yonngster will forget
his prejudice, or, as is sometimes the case,
tastes change. and what he formerly dis
liked may later on appeal 20 his palate.
1t is important that each child should
have comfortable chair, IL there is to be
no fidgeting at table; cushions to raise the
height often prove insecure and slippery,
while to be seated too low on chair is dis
HnGtiy uncomfortable. Fer Use in the din
ing room there is nothing nicer than a
Eentwood chair, the long-legged kind seen
in diapers shops, and which for the small
est folks can be bought with side arms and
a bar across. After dinner each child
should be accustomed to replace the chair
in its usual place, and before getting down
the serviette or feeder should be neatly
folded in its ring.
Talking to any extent a. meal time should
be discouraged The welding of the spoon
or knife and fork demands certain amount
of attention from child, and If ne or sBe
is to eat nicely, and go on steadily, SO as
to be finished with the grown ups, there is
no time for chatter, aad 1t is far better
training to teach the little people TO eat in
si.ence and let the elders do the talking
A privilege, such as sicSing by fathers
side at dinner time on Sunday, getting
down to ring the bell lyouns people are al
ways glad OF an excuse for movingl, or
something similar. can oe given from time
to time to the one who behaves best ct
tahfe-that is 10 say, wno eats all that is On
the plate, fnishe . the piece of bread with
out crumbling playing with il, is careful
not to use fingers where the spoon fork
is not quite successful In the work OK
shoyeiing, or other minor oclnquencies, |
which every mother will notice for herself.
Every child, whether prom oted or not
from the nursery, should be taught from
the beginning to come 10 table with clean
hands and face and neatly brushed hair, |
and no breach of this rule must ever be |
overlooked, as nothing - more insidious