Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-05
TROUBLES
HOW TO KEEP CHILDREN PEACE
ABLE.
While Benefiting by the Change to
Keep the Youngsters Away From
Evil Sights.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
Every mother who stirs abroad with her
little flock wishes to keep them first pure.
then peaceabie. Here are a few sugges-
tions that may help. First. in planning the
journey have. regard to the time of be-
ginning and ending OF it. If it is of twelve
hours or longer choose the train or boat
fitting in best with the little peoples bed
time Snugly settled In clean berths they
will sleep through what would otherwise
be trying hours, coming bright and re-
freshed to the journeys end. With even
one child 1t Is best to take a section in
sleeper or a whole stateroom. With a
very small child have only the lower berth
made up, thus giving plenty Of air with
out the necessity Of open windows. But
with two children: even if one is very
small. put them below and yourself mount
up aloft-it is SO much easier to get up or
down free-handed than to lift sturdy
yongster. or even a kicking lump Of
dimpled flesh and blood. If two sections
must be taken, leave the curtains loose,
partly for air. but more for ease in getting
in or out
Plan short journeys. as nearly as
schedules allow. to occupy the mid-morn-
ing or mid-afternoon hours. This does
away with the terror of hurried break
fasts or lunches strenuous that nobody
eats normally. If it is possible to let small
CulluTen steep DelOTt dllSEHOOI
they will be in every way the better for
1t. Never let a child start hungry, and
never, never make 1t too fine and starchy
for comfort. Better a less decorative arrival
than one with all your flock weeping in
beribboned and beruffied misery. Plain
garments, preferably of smooth-surfaced
stuffs, are not less excellent for young
travellers than old ones.
A plethoric lunch basket Is the root of
much travelling evil. Eschew it wholly.
Children are very human-if they know all
sorts of things have been provided to eat
on the trail, they worry until allowed to
get at them. Contrariwfse, If certain that
there is nothing to eat, they viii give their
minds and hands much more readily to
some other form of diversion. The candy
box and the paper bag bullying with fruit
are worse, il possible, than the lunch
basket. The one justification of the lunch
basket is journey Of such length as makes
meal necessary with no buffet car nor a
stop where the eating may be done in rea-
sonable comfort. Then provide in plenty
the wholesome thing which can be eaten
without messing. A little milk, packed in
small can of Ice. carefully wrapped up.
can be carried, but Is a little bulky, and
unless there is little mite in the party
could be dispensed with. Have plenty of
paper napkins, and in some corner a cup
with a clean, damp sponge in it. to wipe
hands and faces
Supply occupation and amusement for
little hands and brains. But in the supply
ing have regard to your fellow travellers.
Balls, marbles, tops trains OF choo-choo
cars, horses on wheels-all things, indeed,
which must go to be amuSing-are out of
place. So games in which something
needs be tipped or darted. Instead of
them, take such things as a pack of DOM
inoes, a checkerboard dissected puzzle,
or some of the numerous word and letter
games. Paper weaving, cardboard work
and braiding whips or collars of strong,
smooth Irvine are all fascinating. So is
crocheting soft wool into doll hoods
or slippers. And the very little tots find
great entertainment in stringing big,
bright, many colored beads with blunt
pointed needle.
Keep peace, If possible but IL, after all,
it is broken, do not look miserably apollo
getic over 1t. Only eranks and people born
hateful fail to remember that they were
children themselves once. Thus they make
more than allowance for mother tribula-
tions-particularly when it is evident that
the mother has taken reasonable precau-
lions against giving trouble.