The Washington herald., 1909-06-17
FROM WOMARS
POINT OF VIEW

DO you know what marks the chief
difference between the children OF the
rich and the very poor? The quality OF
the air they breathe and the food they
eat. Tenement districts are not we'll
ventilated. no attention is paid to neat
ness. and children eat about the same
kind Of food that keeps their elders
alive-seldom nourishing for either.
|
The value OF fresh air can hardly be
overestimated. Poor children in the coun-
try are usually strong little animals be-
cause they live Free outdoor lives. and
the air Of the country is vastly different
from that found in the squalid portions
Of cities. Food values are never under
stood by the poor. Cheap food they must
buy. but the nourishing kinds OF that
class are generally passed by. I had oc-
casion TO see the orders on a grocery
and provision store, issued by a chari-
table organization, flled out. and was
struck By the general ignorance Of what
was needed for even average health
made notes Of the queer choice made
by mothers OF large families.
For $110-the value Of the order-beans.
corn meal, grains for bread, bacon. and
potatoes could be bought in sufficient
quantity TO add materially TO the health
and comfort Of an ordinary family. The
smaller the family the greater the ad-
vantage, OF course. Dark bread is more
wholesome than white. and corn meal
! is an ideal food. yet I saw the entire
/ order hlied out, on many occasions with
I fine white -four. salt pork to fry, tea
! and coffee both of which were given TO
children al meals.
/ In a home where am always welcomed
there is a small boy who enjoys perfect
/ health through the knowledge OF his
mother and the care OF those who are
hired to care for him. He was a bottle
| baby and has not yet showed a willing
ness TO give up the comfort he finds IN II.
although he Is old enough 10 eat other
things than milk food. His breakfast con-
sists Of a soft egg, bread, and milk. I am
not sure that he has porridge at any
time. but I am under the impression that
he eats II occasionally. At 10 o'clock IN
the forenoon no goes TO sleep with his
bottles and at noon he has the simplest
OF dinners. with a baked potato. possibly,
as its chief feature. At supper there is
more bread and milk and the bottle later
on when he is tucked into bed.
he never asks for other foods even 4
he sees them. and presume that he viii
be kept 10 simple eating for some time
yet a physician told me that cornmeal
was not properly appreciated. and that II
children were brought up on Il. as were
their ancestors. they would be quite as
sturdy. Think OF the things the children
OF your acquaintance eat In one family
know several kinds OF food have been
banished because the small son OF the
household had not been properly trained.
In another I have seen a fve-year-old
boy eat ripe Camembert cheese with
every evidence OF enjoyment.
At a small store near a large school
house the bulk OF the trade Is in penny
purchases, Of pickles and lines. OF COL
ored candies and indigestibIe pastry and
cakes. These are the purchases Of chill
dren from workingmen's families. chill
dren who would be better without such
food and who should be taught to save
pennies rather than spend them. No
wonder indigestion IS firmly seated on
men and women who are too young 70 be
on Intimate terms with chronic disease.
Children are allowed 70 eat as they
please. at table and between meals. and
the hard-earned dollars OF parents 90 for
medical advice and medicines
BETTY BRADEEN.