The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-05-28

Good morning. How are you think
ing today?"
This is the modern greeting of PEG
pie who have stopped locking at on
another as walking frames hung witt
human ills, wrapped in g gray cloal
of symptoms, and who are tired of the
time-worn greeting of How are your
Symptoms and weather have Ions
We'd with one another in startins
the conversational ball rolling, though
recent happenings have convinced g
small group of women that hereafter
weather may be the "best bet" as &
starter in the right direction.
1t all happened at a luncheon party
given for nine ladies by g clever wo
man who entertains good deal and
whose thoughts along uplift social
lines are excellent.
As the luncheon progressed the con
versation was monopolized by seven
of the women, each one owning VI
to having had at least one operation
major or minor, and they waxed elo
quent and the other two women felt
quite out of it, having nothing but
good health to their credit.
One woman listened and wondered
what she could do to get into the
swim, mentally weighing the value OF
a mythical minor operation as q
booster.
The ninth woman, the hostess,
listened also, but with a dangerous
CLEAN in her eye. Finally she stepped
into the arena-or clinic shall we call
it-saying:
Ladies, during your recital of ter
rible tolls l have made most i'm
portant decision"
Conversation stopped instantly and
each face turned toward the speaker
expressed an unasked question.
81 have decided on the wording of
my own epitaph, and it is; Praise Be
That I'm All Here"
Silence fell upon the group. Then
audible mirth followed the serious
announcement. The tide was turned
and brighter topics were discussed
The thrust was knockout blow for
their varied hospital experiences. The
symptoms. They took the count at
that luncheon at least. But this was
not the end, for the same woman
called her friends together few
afternoons later for the purpose of
reforming table talk" her notes read.
How far may hostess go in stop
ping disagreeable topics at table?
This was the pivot on which the
wheel of argument turned.
Cheeriness aids digestion, all doc
tors agree. Then why dispense gloom
at meal hours? We know and are
sorry that so-and-so had to undergo
a serious operation, but we do not
want the nauseating details with the
salad, or the details of Mrs. Brown s
disease with the dessert.
We are all conscious of the high
cost of living, but does it help mat
tiers to say: John, this steak cost &
acknowledgements, and if you DOM
get a raise next week it's the last ont
you will see in some time" or words
to that effect Poor JOHN! he mich
at least have had the joy of eating
this steak in peace. In the quiet houl
after dinner is the time to talk oyel
the family budget, the ups and downs
of life, not when the family have ar
hour of what should be friendly inter
course over the dinner, the event Of
the day for many persons.
Children coming from the homes
of this sort rarely if ever broader
into the kind of men and women the
world of today demands. 1t is up tc
hostesses and mothers-shall we have
cheerful meals or gloom feasts,
The woman of our story now makes
the announcement at all functions
Just as her guests are being seated
Remember, friends, this is a reform
center and only cheerful topics are
permitted at table" And she says il
is wonderful how the cue is taken anC
how entirely the conversation il
turned into bright and interesting
channels. Any hostess may do the
same if she only has the courage o.