The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
Christmas Candies.

In the minds Of the small and youth
full members of the family, Christmas
is the synonym for candy-the open
sesame to a wilde ~ness of sweets and
unrestricted freedom to revel therein.
What though they be warned and adj
monished of the reckoning that may fol-
low unlimited self-indulgence in these
"pernicious products set to ensnare the
young and unwary appetizer" Suff1-
Gent to their understanding is the fact
that candies are in evidence everywhere
and presented in every conceivable form
and color to delight the eye and tempt
the over willing SWeet-tOOth to its COM
plete qualification in the things it most
delights to feed upon.
According to some authorities, the de-
sire for sweets may be traced to wrong
training of the child and a perversion of
the natural simplicity of its tastes to
the artificial appetite for this form of
diet. Others, who perhaps having a
sweet tooth of their own to contend
with, are more inclined, through fellow
feeling, to theorize thus-the desire of
the child for the condemned goodies
is the natural craving for the sugar
which should be, but is not supplied in
sufficient amount for its bodily needs
by including plenty Of fruit, grains and
bread in the dietary. True, the amount
of sugar required by the growing child
is comparatively small and easily sup
piled by the foods mentioned, as well
as some others as common. The danger
in candy eating is first the possibility of
a larger amount of sugar taken into the
system than is required or that can
be utilized; this soon leads to a de-
rangement of the digestive functions,
loss Of appetite, for more wholesome
fare, at least, and later impaired health.
Cheap candies, or that class of sweets
usually known as cheap bonbonS, de-
serve the severest condemnation, for
frequently substances are added to in
give
color, etc, which are certainly not suit
able to introduce into the system. Very
cheap candies may have substances
added, such as starch and gum, which
are not, in themselves, harmful except
as the manner of using them may make
them so; although pure gum candies,
such as gum drops, do not disturb the
digestion as surely as over indulgence
in sugar sweets.
Another argument in favor of candy
pure candies, of course-is that chill
dren naturally like sugar and detest
fats. Presented to them in the I'M
qualified forms of sugar and fat, they
most assuredly reject the fats. But
nature does not offer the life giving
and DEMONSTRATING elements in crude,
uninviting forms. And is there a child
who in it's innate love for edible nuts
of all kinds does not demonstrate her
wisdom, for leave the child to make it's
own choice. and its preference will in
VariablY be for the common black
walnut. which next to the Brazil nut,
Is the most oily of all nuts. 1t NAV be
said here that careful observation will
show that a childs natural distaste for
rat, pure and simple. does not extend
to the pure, dehcately favored veg
etable' fats. but for those of animal
origin.
But to return to our sweetmeats.
one high authority tells us that Ever
ton tcffee" is a highly nutritious sub
stance and makes an agreeable subsi-