Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-28
Feed America First
by Frederic j. iiaskin

New York. April 23,-The amazing
speed with which frail or anemic
youngsters may be brought up to nor
mai health through nothing more dras-
tic than three we'll balanced meals
day. is being demonstrated in n novel
way in Brooklyn, where a so-called
school of Eating" has been established.
Here s5 little folks are properly fed
every day. and the results OF this feed-
ing-in weight and vitality-are record
cd at regular intervals, upon a shart. So
far they have shown ConclusiVely that
IN health in early life at least. is large
~ a matter OF improper or insufficient
diet.
This school. which is known as the
"Children's Restaurant, is one of the
many laudablc activities of the Ma
tionaI League for Women's Service. a
war organization which still finds
plenty of opportunities for service in
<cacc time one of the most pressing
~ these. il believes, is the prevention
of malnutrition among growing Amer
leans.
This nation is contributing generous
Is 10 the upkeep of innumerable diet
Kitchens in all of the stricken European
countries having congenial govern
mcuts SO that the rising generations
over there may not be hopelessly weak
ened and unft. This is very gallant
and admirable, but what of our own
: rising generation?
The National League for Women's
Service would have us remember the
shocking disclosures of existing Ill
health in this country revealed by the
IN
mind our large infant mortality rate.
and consider the many thousands OF
under -nourished children brought to
light in our childrens clinics. Large
numbers Of the last. weakened and dis
,ased by lack Of proper food, will be
dependent upon charity by the time
they are grown, whereas they might
hc made strong. self-supporting citi-
zyns for life if properly fed now.
In order 10 prove this assertion. the
league under the direction OF Or. Carl
II law opened its school OF eating
last February year ago. with %
fivc different public schools. Visiting
I'VE different publis schools. Visiting
nurses in the schools did the choosing,
sending only children who were under
uourished but who We're not diseased.
This first experiment lasted until Sep
tcmber /. Of last year. when all Of the
pupils had achieved a normal degree Of
health.
Children Improve
The second experiment. now under
way. is proving equally successful.
Most Of the charts are again showing
a decided curve toward the red line that
indicates normal health. Occasionally
chart exhibits a line suddenly curv-
ing down. but this is always accom-
panied by some penciled explanation
such as Had tonsils out"
The depressing odor of charity has
been avoided in this enterprise by
charging FIVE cents per meal which
does not begin 10 pay for the cost Of
the food and service Of course. but
which serves to enhance the Importance
,f ne diet in the eyes of the children's
PARENTS The conditions Of membership
are simple. but extremely strict. Each
child must make 4 solemn pledge not
10 drink tea or coffee at home. not 10
eat between meals. 10 wash before eat
irc and TO brush his or her teeth after
each meal. 4 weekly bath Is also re-
q1ired from which there is no oscar
II there are no adequate bathing facjli-
ties at home, a tub on the school
premises must be used.
The restaurant itself is large, light.
airy room. with big. immaculate win
dows, and a shining blue and White
linoleum floor. The delicious. appetiz-
ing odor which permeates the atmos-
phere must be extremely stimulating 10
starved appetites.
In the rear Of the restaurant is the
somewhat unpopular home OF the school
hathtub. 10 which several children wait
their reluctant turns OF admission
every afternoon. 4 washstand also
occupies an honored and conspicuous
position in the school office beneath q
row Of dangling tooth brushes, each
bearing the printed name Of its owner
-" Marie" 'Pietro" Jean" Angelo" :"
and y others. on the wall near the
washstand. also, are the rows Of charts
with their sanguine records.
In this same Office. too. the mothers
Cf the ighborhood are frequently as
sembled 10 listen 10 words Of wisdom
upon the proper up-bringing Of the
child The value Of everything that is
done for the schools pupils is explained:
the Importance Of clean bodies and we'll
cared for teeth is emphasized, and the
visitors are shown how TO extract the
utmost nourishment from a soup bone
ora piece of cheese They themselves
are urged to bring their children TO the
school for weighing and measuring, and
are directed TO clinics If in need OF
medical treatment.
In short. this Brooklyn school Of eat
ing does on q small scale what, child
welfare authorities declare, the ideal
public school of the future must do
for the community. For the tendency
Of society 10 make the public school
responsible for the health OF children
as well as for their education, is grow
ing more and more marked every yer.
Long ago. the state. realizing the gen
cral incompetence Of parents. claimed
the mental training Of the child from
the ages Of TO Il years. Now it is
also beginning TO claim the right to
supervise the child's health.
School Doctors.
Alfcad.' medical inspection has been
introduced into a large number Of
schools, and has resulted in 4 number
Of much needed reforms. TubercuIar
children have been segregated and plac-
ed in special fresh air classes. while
Final Examinations