Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-28
THE AMERICAN BREAKFAST.
Though Disappointing in the City, Il
Still Exists in the Country.
From the New York Sun.


From the New York Sun.
A new writer on social topics thinks that
the growth among wealthy people of the
custom of owning two or three homes mas
already begun to lessen the love of Ameri-
cans for home, since. possessing so many
they have time for enjoying none in par
ticular. This is the theory on which the
sultan is supposed to care for none of his
wives. especially since he is embarrassed
by possessing so many. But the English
families Of wealth who have for genera
lions possessed homes in various parts of
their own country have never been accused
of lacking the feeling for home
In any case. the love OF home Is gong
to linger in the hearts of most Americans
If it is to be expelled only by the possession
Of several establishments in various parts
of the country. There are many Ameri-
cans still who have struggled hard enough
for one home to cherish 1t.
A greater danger, in that 1t spreads over
a wide area of society. seems to lie in the
gradual abolition of that national custom.
once so popular, the American breakfast.
That has all but disappeared In the east
and in the larger cities Of the country.
Now the continental. as 1t used to be called.
or the very light breakfast Of coffee and
rolls prevails in most of the cities.
And the members of most families" said
the social philosopher who bemoaned this
new phenomenon or New 1OTk lie. scarce
ly think 1t worth their while to come down
stairs to drink a cup Of coffee and eat
roll The women get into the habit of taxi
ing this slighti meal in their rooms. while
the men go to- the dining room whenever
they are ready. Thus the old-faShioned
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. The dinner is of course the family
of common interest are discussed. There,
1t might be added. the family quarrels. ii
not too violent a nature, are discussed The
breakfast used to be a calm contrast to
the later meal. There the CHEEKY good
morning that was additionally thought to
send its sunny influence through the whole
day, was spoken. There were the tiliai
kisses for father and mother.
That sort of breakfast has disappeared
nowadays. Belle and Louise, who were at
dance the night before and got In late,
have their chocolate in bed Jack and viii,
who went heaven knows where and came
in later still. have only time to get 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 rep
resent what used to be the old-fashioned
family breakfast. And 1t frequently hap
pens in this year of grace that they may
have been at late supper or a long dinner
and decided that breakfast Is an unneces-
sary 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 New York
ers who treat 1t with disrespect during the
winter months in the city are likely to APP
pear bright and early at the breakfast
table during the summer in the country.
City diversions do not interfere then to
keep the family away from the table. ana
the old ia shoned breakfast blossoms in all
it's domestic beauty. So the situation Is
not so bad as it might be.