Untitled

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2515, 31 May 1909, Page 2

Once more the Coroner’s Court lias revealed n pitiful story of the mistaken kindness of the poor in feeding their children on ‘‘.same -as we have” principles (says the “Pall Mall Gazette”). The father, an unemployed carman, testified quite as a matter of course, that he always gave Iris children “what they ask for”—including, apparently, beer, And the mother took prido in the fact that the dead child, a lour-year-old, had “everything that was necessary.” Ho always had “a double helping of avliat wo had.” And so the poor little follow was treated to meat pie and beer on the evening when he died from convulsions, duo to rickets —which disease; as the doctor testified, is generally itself due to improper feeding. There is no question, of course, of punishing fatal foolishness of this kind, which is duo to easy going fondness in most eases; but the disheartening thought is that,of the time that seems hound to elapse before wo reach a generation that has been effectively taught hotter things by Care Committees and missionaries of hygiene. In" the British Museum there is a queer and ancient love-letter, engraved on a brick. It is a proposal for the hand of an Egyptian Princess, and is about 3boo years old.