The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-27
OLD CUSTOMS NO MORE
PREVAIL IN HOME LIFE
Family Breakfast a Meal of the
Past Except Among the Coun-
try People.

WASHINGTON, Dec. ga new writer
on social topics thinks the growth among
wealthy people of the custom of owning
two or three homes has already begun TO
lessen the love of Americans for home,
since through possessing so many they have
time for enjoying none in particular. This
is the theory on which the Sultan is sup
posed to care for none of his wives: he is
embarrassed by having so many. But the
English families of wealth. who have for
generations possessed homes in various
parts of their own country, have never
been accused of lacking the feeling for
home.
In any case the love for home is going to
linger In the hearts Of most Americans if
II is to be expelled only by the, possession
of several establishments in various parts
of the country. There many Americans
who have struggled hard enough for one
home to enable them to cherish It,
The great danger is that it spreads over
wide area of society. seems to lie in che
gradual abolition of that national custom
once so popular, the American breakfast.
That has all but disappeared in the East
and the large cities of the country. Now
the continental, as Ii used TO be called, or
the very light breakfast of coffee and rolls
L
And the members of most families said
the social philosopher, who bemoaned this
phenomenon Of Washington life,
scarcely think it worth their while to come
down stairs TO drink a cup of coffee and
eat a roll The women get into the habit
of taking this slight meal in their rooms,
and the men 40 to the dining room when
ever they are ready.
THUS the old family custom of gathering
around the breakfast table has disappeared
1t is no longer possible to start the day
with the family idea of home fresh in the
minds Of all.
1.-The dinner is, of course, the family
forum. There all meet and there matters of
common interest are discussed There it
might be added, the family quarrels, if not
of too violent nature, are discussed.
1.-The breakfast used to be a calm contrast
to the larger meal. There the CHEEKY
good morning that was additionally
thought to send its sunny influence through
the whole day was spoken. There were the
flial kisses for father and mother.
THAT sort of breakfast has disappeared
Fannie and Mamie, who were al a dance the
night before, and get In late have their
chocolate in bed. Tom and Henry. who
went heaven knows where, and came in
later still. have only time to get a cup of
coffee and hurry out. And they do not
seem to care much about the coffee at that
''Only the father and mother are left to
represent what used TO be the old-fashioned
family breakfast. And IL frequently hap
pens that in this year of grace they may
have been 10 late supper or long din
ner, and decided that breakfast is an UNI
necessary form of beginning the day"
In smaller cities and in the country the
family breakfast has the same respect as
an institution OF the household that it for
merly enjoyed. And the very Washingto-
mans who treat II with disrespect during
the winter months in the city are likely to
appear bright and early at the breakfas
table during the summer in the country
City diversions do not interfere then to
keep the family away from the table and
| the old-fashioned breakfast blossoms in ali
its domestic beauty. So the situation is not
so bad as IL might be.