Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1906-01-11

IA the family table Ia the place
where three times a day the whole
household is gathered IL ought To b.
the opportunity for mirth. laughter
rehnsd enjoyment and pleasant inter.
course. Animals may b. fed: human
beings In taking food have som.thius
bsyOns the body in view and should
renew brain TISSUES and spiritual ne
eessities when they replenish life'l
waste and satisfy physical hunger
The morning train Is a natural foe
to breakfast talk Few Of Us have
the good sense and courage to rise
aals hour earlier. and set forward
the first m.al of the day in order tha:
may be taken without haste. an
without that air Of hustle which is
fatal TO repuse AT noon the children
hUtry in from school and eat theis
iuns heon with an eye upon the clock
IA most OF our homes are eousti-
tuted. the convenient time for leisurely
lingering at the table and for agree.
able talk Is found at the evening meal,
dinner or supper. as the case may be
Hero IL the time OF times for ex-
changing condolences about what has
fapps ned during the day The moth
er has had her engagements at home
the father and brothers have beer
away at work. and ON each side there
Is sure to be something to relate
winch shall be a suitable peg on which
to rang discussion.
OF course. the family table Is ~,
. lecture platform nor a pedagogue' :
desk. nor an arena for heated argu-
ment. There are homes In which the
law OF self preservation has induced
the reignins sovereign. who is the
lazy Of the house. to lay down as N
infiexible rule. never bring politics To
the table. They provoke anger ana
bitterness. Where any subject ex.
cites strongly contrasting opinions
that may be intemperately maintained
il is wise TO prohibit II. at an hour
sacred to domestic peace.
Whatever We do. We should no,
quarrel at the table Dyspepsia il
one o, the enemies that We as a peo-
pie need to fight. and its presence Is
invoked by disputes over food. Table
talk should be light CHEEKY. bright
ana entertaining. II anybody hears
q gcoc story during the day, he should
save 1t 10 tell at dinner. IL thers
is in the newspaper a report OF some
great discovery, some new invention
some heroic deed. that Is a iit topic
for talk when the family are assem-
bieG around the board.
In some houses the old motto: Chill.
dren should be seen. and not heard
still kolds sway, and combined with Il
Is another equally harmful TO the ef
feet tnat little pitchers have big ears
The plain truth OF the matter Is thai
noshing should ever be said in III,
family circle which the little pitch
ers" ought not to hear. that every sor,
CT gossip. censure. criticism, and Bit
Of doubtful information not intended
for them should be reserved for places
and times when and from which they
are absent. and that well-bred chill.
dren should be allowed their proper
share in family talk
This does not mean that a forward
child should monopolize the attention
Of everybody; a precocious one make
speeches at which the family smile
approvingly. nor an obstinate one
found ON the table till he gets an
answer to his question. WeIl-bre.l
children are taught not To interrupt
snd TO wait until there is an inter
val In the conversation OF older peo.
pie before they press their claims. A
family Is not a penitsnfiary nor a re.
formatory. IL is a republic. in which
the rights of every member are, OF
ought 10 be, guaranteed. One righi
of childhood IS 10 learn, and much OF
the practical knowledge which chill
dren may learn is acquired outside OF
tae sehoolrcom and in the home.
II there Is one person more thai
another to be regarded with dismay
il is, however. the one who NAV IN
defined as the educational parent. He
is Sc imbued with . sense of his re.
sponssbility TO the rising generation
that he side-tracks everything thai
does not have direct bearing on
the instruction of his children. with
q pedantry that would be amusing Il
II were not so great q bore, he takes
time at the table, as well as on the
fsrrybcat, or in the street car. or ON
the walk home from church, 10 ex.
plain TO his boys and girls the exact
meaning Of every word they do no,
understand. TO tell them where Man.
churia is. and all about the island OF
Sagbalien. to give them an iusigh,
into political economy. and to convince
them Of the ethical distinctions that
obtain in the civilized world. All this
and much more our children are to be
taught. but while the educational
earent is doing his duty TO them
table talk languishes, grown peopls
suffer from tedium. and his home be-
comes a wearisome place, from which
the children themselves are glad tc
ny.
Very much of home culture for old
and young must be Indirect. incidental
atmospheric, suggested rather thar
inculcated by method. The differences
between real culture and the ssrainini
after facts and theories which may b.
called examining. is exceedingl,
marked " is really The difference be
ssss1 the forcing process Of the hot