The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-03-10

along those bleak watches Of the
afternoon, when the clock appears
to have gone on strike and time
to have become petrified.
There is another class, far re-
moved from the infant capitalist
with ready money and the ability
to buy something deliciously bad
for himself. This was the child
who had no lunch at all-the
pitiful little martyr to social con-
ditions who dozed sometimes over
his. books because his stomach
was empty.
The result of these investiga-
tons is now pending in a pro-
posed ordinance for the establish
ment, under the Board of Educa-
ton, of a bureau of school feed
ing. 1t is proposed that the city
shall take over the plant and
equipment operated at present by
the private organization which has
been fuTnijhing school luncheons
in a number of the public schools.
The central kitchen and a part
of the equipment are now owned
by the city, which at various times
has made appropriations toward
this work.
Appalling Figures In New York.
The absolute necessity for some
such arrangement was made evil
dent by the appalling figures
brought out by the bureau of child
hygiene in the health depart
ment of New York. A survey of
all the children in Manhattan
schools disclosed the fact that
only II per cent were normally
nourished. In class 2, embracing
the "border-line" cases, or those
not well nourished but not actually
suffering for nutriment, comprised
81 per cent of the whole. Those
actually undernourished, and
those so undernourished as to re-
quire immediate medical attention
were near % per cent of the total
In other boroughs, previous
data showed that malnutrition
was even higher. Following such
a melancholy compilation Of facts,
there is bound to come a ire
mendOus rise in the number of
Eases of tuberculosis and defec-
tive intelligence. And if the chill
dren have not the food, certainly
the mothers have not, as the
mothers never let the children go
hungry without going hungry
themselves.
War Raises the Percentage.
At the best Of times there
seems to be a normal percentage
about 6-of undernourishment,
due to heredity, disease, and the
like. The appalling rise to % per
cent has occurred since the war
began. The high cost Of living
IS hitting New York hard in GER
tain quarters.
IL is not a moment too soon for
these lunches, which are not to be
charity affairs, but operated by
the city and sold at cost. IL the
plan could even be extended and
the children be allowed to take
home a supper supplied at cost
price, the arrangement would be
an excellent one.
But at present we are thankful
to say grace devoutly for that
vicarious meal TO be given to the
school children of New York, be
yond the plots and Vaccinations
of the food profiteer.
Some time ago. England recog-
nized the danger of attempting to
get the same amount of school
work out Of children living on
reduced rations as was possible
when they were well fed. In con-
sequence, schools opened later,
and parents were advised to allow
their children to sleep an hour
longer in the mornings.
The health of future genera
tons is formed as the child grows.
His value to his country depends
on the brain and body he is able
TO offer for service. BY all means
lets have more good. we'll