The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-27


ing speed with which trail or ane-
mic youngsters may b brought up
to normal health through nothing
more drastic than three welI-bal-
anced meals a day, is being demon
strated in a novel way In Brooklyn.
where a so-called "echool OF eat
ing" has been established. Here IS
little folks are properly fed every
day and the results OF this feeding
in weight and vitality-ars re-
corded. ct regular intervals. upon
a chart. So far, they have shown
conclusively that Ill health. In
early life at least, 10 LARGELY . mat
ter of improper or insufficient diet.
This school. which 10 known as
the "childern's restaurant" 10 one
of the many laudable activities OF
the national league for women's
service. . war organization which
still finds plenty Of opportunities
for service in peace time. One OF
the most pressing Of these. 1t be-
lieves, 10 the prevention OF mainu-
triton among growing Americans.
This nation is contributing gen
erously to the upkeep Of innumer-
able diet kitchens In oil OF the
stricken European countries nav
ing congenial governmental. 30 that
the rising generations over there
may not be hopelessly weakened
and unit. This Is very gallant and
admirable, but what OF our own
rising generations?
The national league OF women's
service would have US remember
the shocking disclosures Of exist
ing i'll health in this country re-
vealed by the late draft. 1t would
have US bear in mind our large in
FAINT mortality rate, and consider
the many thousands Of undernour-
ished children brought to light in
our children's clinics. Large num-
bers of the last, weakened and dis
eased by lack of proper food, will
be dependent upon charity by the
time they are grown, whereas they
might be made strong, self-support-
ing citizens for life il properly fed
nwo.
In order to prove this assertion,
the league, under the direction OF
DR.. Carl H. Law, opened its school
of eating last February a year ago,
with Is registered anemic pupils,
selected from five different public
schools. Visiting nurses in the
schools did the choosing. sending
only children who we're undernour-
ished but who were not diseased.
This first experiment lasted until
September l, of last year, when all
of the pupils had achieved a nor
NAL degree of health.
Children Improve
The second experiment, now I'M
der way. is proving equally sue
cessful. Most of the charts are
again showing q decided curve to-
ward the red line that indicates nor
NAL health. Occasionally a chart
exhibits a line suddenly curving
down, but this is always accom-
panied by some penciled explana-
ton such as Had tonsils out"
The depressing odor of charity
has been avoided in this enterprise
by charging five cents meal,
which does not begin to pay the cost
of food and service. of course. but
which serves to enhance the i'm
portance of the diet in the eyes of
the children's parents. The con-
ditions of membership are simple,
but extremely strict. Each child
must take a solemn pledge not to
drink tea or coffee at home, not TO
eat between meals, TO wash before
eating and to brush his or her
teeth after each meal. A weekly
bath is also required. from which
there is no escape. II there are no
adequate bathing facilities at homo,
tub on the school premises must
be used.
The restaurant itself is large.
light airy room, with big, immacu-
late windows. and a shining blue
and white linolsum floor. The
delicious, appetizing odor which
permeates the atmosphere inust be
extremely stimulating to starved
appetites.
III the rear of the restaurant is
the somewhat unpopular home OF
the school bathtub, to which several
children wait their reluctant turns
Of admission every afternoon. A
washstand also occupies an hon.