The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-02-23
cHILDREN'S MANNERS
Il IL Ne Easy Task to Teach the Lit.
tie Ones How to Act Correctly
at the Table.

teach a family of youngsters to COM
por, 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. materfamilias should have her
brood down TO dine with her as soon
as 1t Is at all feasible, for she is OBJ.
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 simplifies
matters II 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 to
start with. for there is nothing more
unappe tizing 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, I think
it 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 1t
is TO render their entire dinner un-
savory. If, however, there is only q
slight dislike to some food, such as
a~o,,n1a aud q
very small portion is carefully mixed
with the meat and potatoes, it is often
eaten unnoticed by the child. Then.
too, have frequently found, II no op-
position is made when certain article
of diet is rejected, after 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 disliked may later
on appeal to his palate.
1t is important that each child should
have a comfortable chair, II 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 distinctly uncomforta BILE.
For use in the dining-room there is
nothing nicer than brentwood chair,
the long-legged kind seen in Diapers
shops, and which for the smallest 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 get
ting down the serviette or feeder
should be neatly folded in its ring.
Talking to any extent at meal time
should be discouraged. The welding OF
the spoon or knife and fork demands
. certain amount Of attention from a
child, and il he or she is to eat nice.
ly, and 60 on steadily, SO as to be An
ished with the grown-ups. there is nc
time for chatter. and it is far better
training to teach the little people to
eat in silence and let the elders do
the talking.
Aprivilege, such as sitting by fathers
side at dinnertime on Sunday, get
ting down to ring the bell (young peo-
pie are always glad Of an excuse for
moving). or something similar, can be
given from time to time to the one
who behaves best at table-that is to
say, who eats all that is on the plate
finishes the piece Of bread withou,
crumbling or playing with it. is care
full not to use fingers when the spoon
or fork is not quite successful in the
work Of shoveling, or other minor de,
linquencies, which every mother will
notice for herself.
Every child, whether promoted or
not from the nursery, should be taught
from the beginning to come to table
with clean hands ard face and neatly
brushed hair, and no breach OF this
rule must ever be overlooked, as moth.
ing is more insidious than the ap.
proach of bad habits, while steady,
persevering training will soon teach
the children to comport themselves at
table so that they are not trouble
to anyone or an annoyance to the oc
casonal visitor at lunch.-Philadel.
phia Times.