The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-06-12

| baby half chokes himself in his en-
| deaVors to emulate his father. Or If
! his mother reaches half way across
the table for something she should have
| passed to her, it is not to be wonder
ed at If Johnny stands up in his high
| chair and grabs at everything within
| his reach.
| If children have a separate table,
their manner should not be overlooked.
| Children should be trained to be as
punctilious toward one another, or to-
ward the person waiting upon them, as
| they would be if seated at the table
| with grown-ups. 1t is easy to teach
children proper behavior at meals and,
as in most households there is an op-
portunity for this instruction three
! times day, it becomes an important
| factor in general etiquette. When a
child is once impressed with the fact
that it is impolite to masticate his food
noisily, to eat too rapidly, or to try to
speak when his mouth is full, a long
stride is made toward pleasant table
manners. A child with good table
manners become an apt pupil when in
| structed in other lines of politeness.
| AS the fundamental principle of good
manners is kindness and consideration
| for the feelings of others, this fact
should be explained and impressed up
on the child. If the mother would in
| struct her yong son, who is taking
dancing lessons, not to be in a hurry
| to select his partner from among his
favorite little girl friends, but to wait
and sometimes choose one who is over
looked, she would impress lesson of
| chivalry upon him. Selhshness is US
ually at the root of impolite acts, and
when meanness overrules the impulses
| of the heart there is a ready-made
snob only wanting occasion to manifest
the strong bias of his character. This
proves that it is the spirit of the child
which needs Watching
When the demeanor of many grown
people at game of cards is considered
1t is not to be wondered at that chill
Gren are self-assertive, rude and Ill be.
haved at their playtime. Children
should be taught by example, as well as
by precept. to play their games together
tremendously, and to yield 10 others. II
necessary. They should be told repeat
edly that right conduct consists i'm rec
/ ognizing and deferring to the rights OF
others
These minor graces are their pass
| ports into society. The doing Of thlns
| In coarse. rude manner ehouId he
shown as sure way of hurting who
ever may witness IL, and, except in rare
cases. child Will refrain from doing
| anything which will annoy those he
loves. Children usually have 90 large
a bump of appreciation that they can
easily be led by the thought, "If I am
Polite and pleasant, everyone viii love
me-"
Hospitality should be encouraged in
children as much as possible. Let then.
have their little teas and anniver-
sary parties. 1t VIII help them to de
velop this trait, and will give them an
opportunity to put into practice amen
| tiles of social life which they are ex-
| pected to observe in later life. There is
nothing mere excellent to behold than a
child with easy gracious nsnrers, FREE
from shyness, yet without holiness.
Children are literal creatures. Their
! trainers have to be careful in giving
| Instructions. as was illustrated by
Marjorie not long ago Unexpected
| company for lunch developed the fact
! that there was a scanty supply of pud-
ding for dessert, so Marjorie and her
| older sister Edith were instructed,
| when dessert was served, to say "I'll
| take fruit, please" Edith carried out
| the programme as her mother wished,
! but Marjorie, not to be outdone by her
| sister, said sweetly, 'I'll take fruit,
| mamma. too, cause there is not
| enough puddng!"
| Children are too seldom taught how
| to enter and leave a room properly.
| Especially In the matter of shutting
| doors they are often woefully deficient
either leaving them open altogether or
| slamming them In way extremely un-
| pleasant to hear
| II may be an obsolete fashion to in
| struct children TO be respectful to their
| elders, but when boy is met who
| raises his hat or bows politely to n
| grown person, instead Of greeting with
| familiar "helloi" 1t is refreshing.
| This is particularly true in these days
| when 1t is no unusual thing for quite
| young children to contradict and to en-
| ter into an argument with their parents
and their friends
If boys are early taught TO be polite
| to their sisters, and little girls are in
| structed in little attentions toward
| their brothers, there will be no need
| for company manners" 1t is not at
| all necessary to suppress and curtail
| the liberty or happiness OF children in
| order TO teach them etiquette. There
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