Evening journal., 1898-10-31
CHIIDREN'S MANNERS.
II II No Easy Task to Teach the Lit-
tie Ones How TO Act Correctly
at the Table.

IL is by no means light task to
teach family of youngsters to com
port themselves with decorum at the
dinner-table, but IL the lessons of po-
liteness and good breeding at 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 proc
ess, maierfamilias should have her
brood down to dine with her as soon
as it is at all feasible, for she is oh.
viously the best qualified person to
train them in nice habits. When there
is no baby to be looked after in the
nursery, it saves time and simplities
matters if nurse helps TO wait at the
midday meal, as she can cut up the
little ones meat while the other is
carving. The plates should be hot 10
start with, for there is nothing more
unappetizing than 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, / think
II a great mistake TO attempt TO force
matters of diet. To some children, for
instance, fat is absolutely repugnant,
/ and TO insist on their swallowing II
is to render their entire dinner un-
savory. If, however, there is only a
slight dislike TO some food such as
greens or rice, for example, and a
very small portion is carefully mixed
with the meat and potatoes. il is often
eaten unnoticed by the child. Then,
too, | have frequently found, IL no OPP
position is made when a certain article
Of diet Is rejected, after a few days.
or a few months, finding that he Is
not forced to eat it, the youngster
will forget his prejudice, or, as is some
times the case, tastes change, and
what he formerly dislked may later
on appeal to his palate.
Itis important that each child should
have a comfortable chair, IL there is
to be no fidgeting at table; cushions tC
raise the height often prove insecure
and slippery. while to be seated too low
on a chair is distinctlyuncomfortable
For use in the dining-room there Il
| MUAuAAk HUI AAAh a hAA ANARA NAANAA
the long-legged kind seen in drapers
shops. and which for the smallest folk
can be bought with side arms and
bar across. After dinner each chill
should be accustomed TO replace th
chair in its usual place, and before get
ting down the serviette or feede
should be neatly folded in its ring.
Talking to any extent at meal tim
should be discouraged. The welding O
the spoon or knife and fork demand
certain amount Of attention from
child, and If he or she is to eat mic,
ly, and go on steadily. so as TO be fiji
ished with the grown-ups, there is n
time for chatter, and it Is far bette
training to teach the little people t
eat in silence and let the elders d
the talking.
Aprivilege. such as sitting byfather
I side at dinnertme on Sunday. &c
i ting down TO ring the bell young pc
e pie are always glad of an excuse Il
d moyinG), or something similar, can
j. given from time to time to the OF
/ who behaves best at table-that is
! say. who eats all that is on the plat
finishes the piece of bread withol
r crumbling or playing with it, is car
n full not to use fingers when the spoc
or fork is not quite successful in Il
e work of shoveling, or other minor d
r linquencies, which every mother vi
s notice for herself.
r Every child. whether promoted
o not from the nursery, should be taugl
r from the beginning to come to tab
u with clean hands and face and neat
e brushed hair, and no breach Of th
+ rule must ever be overlooked, as not
A ing is more insidious than the a
d proach of bad habits, while stead
t. persevering training will soon tea
n the children to comport themselves
n table so that they are not trout
p TO anyone or an annoyance TO the {
h casional visitor at lunch.-Philad
Is phia Times.