The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-01-18
MANNERS BEGIN At HOME
Conduct at the Table Tells the Tale.
Courtesy. Kindness and G cheerful
ness Should Be Taught.

"ess onou'o De aught.
SO much is said to the child about
what he must do and be when he goes
out to visit-so little in comparison
with what he must do and be at
home. Yet, nowhere is the very in
ner spirit OF the family more evidenc-
ed than when the members of II
congregate about the table.
The amount OF genuine culture
family has probably shows more dis
tinctly at table than in any other
one place. II 1t were necessary 70
sum up" the members of a family
at a glance. nowhere would II lie
possible to find them with more ac-
curacy and less affoctation than
gathered unconsciously about the
table.
why, then. is not more thought
taken about the conversation and
general family tone at meal time?
There are two kinds of form neces-
sary to establish around the home
table. There is the outer form, hay-
Ing to do with the serving of the
meal, important in that 1t dignifies
IL. and there is the inner form or
attitude OF each member of the fami-
ly. his personal contribution to the
success Of the meal, his conversation,
cheerfulness and gift Of wit. II is the
attitude that the parents should make
every effort to influence and to do
so they must begin with their chill
dren almost from the nursery.
II is never too early to impress up
on the child that he has a duty to-
ward the other members of the fami-
ly and a place which can be filled
by no one else. In the mind of the
formal little child there is a curl
Gus distortion of his position in and
toward the world. He feels that he
Is the center and pivot of the uni
verse-he sees himslf the reason and
hinge of the family life. Instead. how
much better for him IL he is shown
from the first that he is one of many,
that he has a distinct place in the
family and a well-defined duty to-
ward those older than himself.
Nowhere is 1t more necessary for
these facts to be impressed upon him
than in their relation toward the daily
meals. Too often the little child is
despot, autocrat and oppressor
thrice daily; and when the family is
gathered around the dinner table,
takes that opportunity of showing his
worst faults.
The two characteristics most i'm
portant for the family to cultivate at
meals are cheerfulness and CONVEX
sation. They are both necessary. by
Cheerfulness is meant light, pleasant,
happy talk. DO not bring your trou-
bles to the table. Interesting stories,
anecdotes, incidents about the peo-
pie you have met, things happening
in the corner of the world where
you work - bring these home and
talk about them till your business
life is a real and glowing to those
who love you and believe in you,
as 1t is to yourself. To be cheerful
is not to be artifical-neither is it
forcing insincerity upon your friends.
Cheerfulness is form of unselfish-
ness. a difficult. noble form which is
too seldom given the appreciation
IL deserves.
Young parents whose children are
growing up beside them, still in the
dangerous initiative stage Of their de-
velopment. should demand from their
children prompt attendance. good man
ners, low voices and respect to all
those others who sit at table with
them. The parents should give an
example in the matter OF converse
ton. Tho parents must themselves
be the first to talk cheerfully, hap
PLY and contentedly; avoiding un-