The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-02-19
Conversation
at Meals
annual cost eofooVseOv'
8 Public Fairgrounds
u -. - mnn
By LorettO G. Lynch.

IHAT does your family talk
W about when seated at table?
Perhaps you are so close TO
them that you do not or have not
noticed But let an outsider come
to your home. Recently I havs
been one Of the outsiders In sonle
one else's- home. It wasn't a home
for invalids. 1t was just the home
OF nice. ordinary, everyday
American family.
The linen was immaculate. TIE
china was so pretty and the glass
and silver just glistened- Particu-
lar care was taken TO serve the
conservation dishes in company
style, for I was company.
One day a new guest was an
nounced. and when Mrs. Meyer came
in I noticed that the new guest did
not seem to receive so cordial q
welcome as some OF the rest OF Us.
She was pale and looked quite dis
agreeable In reply TO someone's
Lovely weather" we were treated
TO Mice for some people, but when
one has been through the operation
I've been through good or bad
weather makes little difference"
oil upon a flaming faggot? Il was
like one of these that Aunt NaFy's
face lighted up! At last some ona
who had had an operation had come
to the housei
"Oh, yes" remarked our newest
invalid, ''they wanted to operate on
me at 5 one morning, but I said ]
would not allow anyone to operate
on me until my husband came. And
then" she continued, eagerly, "they
gave me a bath and rolled me OF
the bed onto the stretcher."
But at this point Aunt Mary in
terrupted with: Did il take yoa
long to become unconscious? You
know. il took me hours-ths doctor
said he never had handled anyone
as strong as -"
Every day we poor innoeents who
couldn't boast OF single operation
even teeny weeny bit OF a one
were treated TO all the gruesoms
details OF operations. Some DAYS
when We were just bubbling to talk
about General Pershing and Mary
Browns newest sweetheart and ths
price Of the latest shoes. we WrS
a mere audience in a world Of eRel
and heals and adhesions and
stitches.
Then there is another variety Of
conversation which ought to be Ia
beo at the family dinner. That -
the subject OF the high cost OF HE-
inS. Do you know the woman who
scOWls when you are. just about %
open your mouth overly vide to IN
duct q tempting morSel OF food and
says, -Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Don't
know how can 90 on feeding ~
people-fOod is 50 high and No Oas
here seems 70 appreciate hOW I must
pinch and save and Serape 70 make
ends meet"
In these days OF modern rash, o.
American family meet none too
often, and when they do meet X
should be an hour OF happiness and
pleasure.
Have you ever thought seriously
as to why that prosperous MI
Brown. with a perfectly nice wife
and three children. takes that home
" manicurist out to dinner coca
sionally? No; he is not the typical
villain OF the movie, and he prob
ably has only a bit of friendly enc
ton toward the lady, but he finds
her conversation pleasant and her
manner cheerful. A meal in pleas
ant company has a decided tonic ef-
feet.
And so, Mrs. Housewife, you take
a strong hand Insist, tactfuily, OF
course. that there is cheeFfulness
around the family board, and ycar
folks will get much more value oct
of the food you find ever more dr.
ticult to provide