Milford chronicle., 1941-01-24
|. H@ ME EDUCATION
"The ChiLd'S First School is the
Family"-FRoEBEL
Issued by the National Kindergarten
Association, 8 West 40th Street,
New York City
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THE REFRESHlIENT PERIOD

1utAa lAAlAVhy
II were mother, should new
er mention the high cost of living
at mealtime, nor should l permit
anyone else TO do so. II is not re-
freshing! Not long ago, l was a
dinner guest in very pleasant, COM
fortably furnished home. The meal
was carefully planned and we'll
cooked. and my hostess was very
gracious, but she talked at such
length about the high cost of the
food she was serving that l marvel
ed that any of us who sat at the
table could partake of 1t. 1t was
evident that the small nine-year-old
daughter of the family felt very lit
tie desire to do SO.
"If butter keeps going up" Mrs.
Baker exclaimed, 81 don't see how
any of us are going to live!"
1--WE can always expect a season.
al rise in price at this time of year."
her husband answered.
But not such big jump as we've
had lately-an increase of two cents
last week and another increase this
week." our hostess went on In a high
pitched voice, land eggs are almost
prohibitive In price
'Well, Martha, the producers
ought to be happy" suggested her
husband
What about the poor consumers?'
Mrs. Bakers words. had the aptitude
of an oft-rehearsed reply. There
ought TO be reasonable price for
both the producer and the consum-
er-"
Our host continued TO enjoy his
dinner. with no concern for his wife's
TRADE against high prices. II was
evident an old story. Small Marian,
however, sat regarding her mother
with big, troubled eyes, leaving the
good roast chicken and mashed po-
tatoes and gravy untouched on her
plate.
While was endeaYoring to think
of some way to guide the conversa-
tion into more pleasant channels,
spoke softly to the child. 'Do you
know what l saw at the bakery when
l stopped for the wholewheat rolls
this evening. Marian? A lovely cal
endar from Scotland, with pictures
of the Scottish hills and lakes and
ever so many verses by Scottish
poets. There was one like this:
And night will come, and then
far through the darkling
A light will shine out in some
sounding glen
Lets go to Scotland some day, Mar
ian, and visit those sounding
glens't'
y The small, tense face relaxed, and
the little girl began TO eat her din
ner
Somebody began to talk about the
State Tennis Tournament then In
progress at the city park. our hos
tess became Interested in seeing that
everyone was adequately served, and
the meal went ON very agreeably,
with no more mention of the cost.
The incident might not have SEEM
ed so important to me If l had not
heard similar comments at other
tables, and in several instances with
the same bad effects on the children
who were present. Disregarding the
fact that such complaints concern
ing food prices cannot be other than
to guest, they are
more than likely to create an unde-
sirable atmosphere for the children
in the home. Also, unsatisfactory
in community, state, or
world affairs cannot be improved
BY discussing them at the dining ta-
Die, and everyone has right to be
'ree from worry at mealtime. That
should be the family refreshment
period
: 1 believe that the mothers who
ak too much about prices need {
title vacation from housekeeping l
perhaps not a complete separation
rom their homes. but they should
t least take time for reading, for
music. or for recreation of some
ort that will give them additional t
interests. In any case, in the sOlu-
ion of housekeeping problems. 1t v
inders rather than helps to pre-
ent them at mealtime. e
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