The San Francisco call., 1909-03-27

morning, when they wake wholly re-
freshed Children who breathe fouler
and fouler air through the night wake
In the morning fatigued, listless, head
achy.
Some systematic form of gymnastics
is needed by every child. These exer-
cises need not take more than 20 min
utes Of the day and should not be
heavy, but brisk and snappy The
calisthenics provided at school will not
take the place of home gymnastics.
Physical exercise in most of our
schools is not supplied in sufficient
quantity. In many towns and cities
there are private gymnasium classes
for school children on Saturdays.
These classes are often excellent, but
exercise on merely one day in the
week will not keep the body in health.
Children play and perspire a good
deal The parent who does not insist
upon cleansing bath seven times a
week is breeding trouble for his child
Yet it is at the table and in the
pantry after all that most of the mis-
chief is done. 1t is beyond question
that the average American school
child is permitted to cram himself with
food until the wonder is that so many
of our young people grow up to more
or less useful adulthood. Not only is
day, but by many a fond mother is
allowed to feed almost inordinately be-
tween meals
The child is growing and must have
plenty of food on which TO build his
body" Well, is he building his body
or is he breaking it down? Is the
young son or daughter being taken
away from school when he or she
should be marched away from the table
or driven from the pantry?
This is no plea for a starvation
diet" A child should be well fed and
thoroughly nourished. but it should be.
done with discerning Intelligence. The
body needs certain amount of food to-
enable it to perform Its. functions; the
child needs another certain amount
over" TO provide for bodily growth
Yet any more than the right amount
Of food forces the employment of the
bodys machinery in eliminating un-
absorbed nutriment. This extra work
weakens, not strengthens, the body.
Herein is the germ of the truth be-
hind the breakdown-"at schooI"-of
so many children who gorge at table
and cram between meals.
With intelligent guidance the child
can be made the Judge of what his
body needs in the amount of food. If
the child be taught-compeIled
chew every mouthful of food thor
oughly, and to swallow it before taxi
ing another mouthful, and if he be de-
MED any fluid to drink at meals, then
he can not overeat, for appetite will
be satisfied before he has swallowed
too much.
No beverage should be allowed with
meals, nor for an hour and a half
after a meal. Between meals plenty
of fluid should be drunk and If the
child is not at first inclined to drink
between meals he should be taught.
But there should be no food except
at meal times If at first the child
complains of hunger or faintness
between meals do not be alarmed.
He does experience a craving for the
former between meals bites but it
is not a normal longing and he will
soon forget it.
When a childs appetite fails we are
all familiar with the spectacle of
tempting" that appetite If the child
can not eat much, and yet is not
actually i'll. nothing but harm will re-
suit from tempting the appetite What
every child needs is the proper amount
of very plain, wholesome food. II
the child's appetite is in really bad
way, then the brief fast should be re-
sorted to at intervals, nor need anv
anxious parent fear that his child will
collapse from a skipped meal or two
now and then. Did you ever note how
a dog. even a puppy, will avoid meals
once in while and then promptly re-
cover appetizer Indian youths, as
part of their training were compelled
to make long journeys through the