The Washington times., 1918-12-28
The Danger,in
Holidays
BY Dr.. W. A. McKeever
(oae Of the Nation's Best-Knoun So
claIoEfcnI WrifcrH.l

" by it's anticipated joys, the
H holiday season, covering
Christmas and New Year,
isaone of the most trying of the en-
tire year for mothers and children.
1t Is said TO think-if we judge the
future by the past-that thousands
OF persons of these two classes
must, die from the indirect effects
OF the dissipation and the irregular
living incident to the festai occa-
sion. ''.
Now, let Us see what is the mat
ter, and then we can perhaps cor
rect some of our holiday errors
which are so damaging to the
health of the family.
The FIRST is bad diet. Unfortu-
nStely, we celebrate the birth Of
perhaps the humblest child ever
known on the earth by feasting and
general excess. Fasting would be
far better. Even the poorest of us
at this time try to load our tables
to the limit with rich things to eat
The three rather skimp meals per
day are now changed to one all
day meal. So far as the children
are concerned, the ban is of.
whats the difterenceT we ask.
Let them eat They do not have to
go to school" And eagerly they go
to It. Rich meats, pies a-plenty,
big, fat doughnuts, double-strength
cake, and stacks OF nuts and can
dies-these I'LL up the list. All the
children who are permitted such
freedom of overeating are poisoned.
The strongest throw OF the effects,
the class OF medium resistance suf.
fer more noticeably, and the large,
most delicate group become victims
Of positive disease of some kind.
Usually q bad cold" is the first
stage of the illness following this
poisoning and cIogging OF the sys-
tenn during the period of excess.
Lack OF holiday Is the next holi-
6ay- enemy of the health of the
young. Boys and girls who have
been running to school daily and
romping on the Fairgrounds now
ait stupid in the hot. stuffy at.nos-
phere Of the house, with extra COM
pany there to help consume the thin
oxygen. So. along with the under
exercise we find the under-suppIy
Of oxygen.
What a company of nnaiady mon
gers-overeating. lack OF exercise.
bad air and other kindred irregu-
Hcs the children to all this, or use
common sense to prevent it? This
In meant for a warning TO parents
who possess q fund OF common
sense to bring that commodity into
service at once. and to use il in
planning a holiday program that
IS different.
Begin by reducing the big, rich
hi Eg 81
the ordinary child should be ex-
pected to recover from in a month.
watch the candy situation. Tons
Of cheap, poisoned stun. highly COL
oFed and offered as candy will be
dumped on the market. Give the
children only good candy, and that
after an ordinary meal.
Get the children out for vigorous
exercise daily. IT Is better for them
10 run out, even in the cold and
snow. than to spend the entire day
in a hot, stuffy room.
Continue regular habits. Diet,
sleep, exercise, fresh air-how sim
pie. These are the four "legs"
upon which the life of your child
rests. Keep these all in regular
tone instead Of permitting them all
20 be contorted.
Then, why not try to ineulcate
more sympathy and aItruism at
christmas timez Tell the children
again the story OF the child Jesus.
Give them only simple. Serviceable
presents and see that they give at
this time out OF their own resources
70 some worthy person or cause.
Have them avoid the selfish trade
Ia ~ raathod of axchauEinR praa-