all made in Paris, and my doll is ever so much handsomer than yours,” or “Is that real lace on your collar?” is not impressing her young friend with her grandeur and discrimination but with her disagreeableness and rudeness.  A boy who brags about what he has, and boasts of what he can do, is only less objectionable because other boys are sure to “take it out of him” promptly and thoroughly!  Nor should a bright, observing child be encouraged to pick out other people’s failings, or to tell her mother how inferior other children are compared with herself.  If she wins a race or a medal or is praised, she naturally tells her mother, and her mother naturally rejoices with her, and it is proper that she should; but a wise mother directs her child’s mental attitude to appreciate the fact that arrogance, selfishness and conceit can win no place worth having in the world.

=CHILDREN AT AFTERNOON TEA=

A custom in many fashionable houses is to allow children as soon as they are old enough, to come into the drawing-room or library at tea-time, as nothing gives them a better opportunity to learn how to behave in company.  Little boys are always taught to bow to visitors; little girls to curtsy.  Small boys are taught to place the individual tables, hand plates and tea, and pass sandwiches and cakes.  If there are no boys, girls perform this office; very often they both do.  When everybody has been helped, the children are perhaps allowed a piece of cake, which they put on a tea-plate, and sit down, and eat nicely.  But as the tea-hour is very near their supper time, they are often allowed nothing, and after making themselves useful, go out of the room again.  If many people are present and the children are not spoken to, they leave the room unobtrusively and quietly.  If only one or two are present, especially those whom the children know well, they shake hands, and say “Good-by,” and walk (not run) out of the room.

This is one of the ways in which well-bred people become used from childhood to instinctive good manners.  Unless they are spoken to, they would not think of speaking or making themselves noticed in any way.  Very little children who have not reached the age of “discretion,” which may be placed at about five, possibly not until six, usually go in the drawing-room at tea-time only when near relatives or intimate friends of the family are there.  Needless to say that they are always washed and dressed.  Some children wear special afternoon clothes, but usually the clean clothes put on at tea-time go on again the next morning, except the thin socks and house slippers which are reserved for the “evening hour” of their day.

=CHILDREN’S PARTIES=