Editor’s Note: As part of our year-long celebration of our 100th Year Anniversary (1922-2022), we’ll post a Throwback Thursday edition of our Alleghany Rattler Newspaper to give you a peek into life at camp across those 100 summers!
We know how much everyone loves Thanksgiving Dinner at Alleghany, yet surprisingly, we couldn’t unearth any stories about it in our on-hand cache of old Rattlers. So…we thought we’d use this opportunity to showcase a few old Rattler pieces — one on gratitude from World War II but notably before Pearl Harbor, and two on table manners. They seem fitting for the season, and a good reminder to be thankful for all we enjoy along with always remembering to say, “please,” and “thank you…” among other good habits!
Grateful
by Mary Haskins, GRAY, July 1941
In this year of 1941, we should express our appreciation for the blessings and the privileges we enjoy. Summer camps for boys and girls are found only in the United States of America because war and strife prevail in most other countries. In other lands boys and girls are kept in continual fear of their own lives and of the fate of their loved ones: this is such a contrast to the feeling of safety and security that we have in our own country.
Do we, however, stop to realize how fortunate we are? Here at Alleghany we spend our days laughing, playing, and doing constructive things. Most of us haven’t a care in the world. Do we fully appreciate our opportunities? With world conditions as they are, we are unable to know what the future holds in store for us. Let us therefore be mindful of the privileges we enjoy at camp and be thankful unto God that we live in the “land of the free and the home of the brve.”
Table Talk
unknown writer, August 1943
“I wasn’t hungry today.” “Why?” asks a friend. “Are you sick?” “Oh, no, it was just the table manners at my table.”
It’s not because we don’t know what good table manners are., but when we come to camp we feel like we can relax our standards. The Alleghany swimming standard is high, the Alleghany rifle standard is high, so why not have the standard for our table manners equally as high?” And in order to accomplish this, let’s review what good table manners are:
- Pleasantness throughout the meal.
- Cheerful acceptance of the food served.
- Restraint from remarking on food that others may be quite fond of.
- Care and attention in passing the plates.
- No gulping of milk or gobbling of food.
- Good posture.
- Elbows off the table.
- Do not leave spoons in cups.
- Fix the silver on your plate carefully at the end of the meal.
- Always be neat in appearance when coming in the dining room.
So come on Alleghany, whether it is that hump in your back or that slump in your table manners let’s do something about it!
Table Manners
by Ginny Cone, July 1953
Good table manners make eating pleasant. A good way to start off is not to eat fast. Our food is easier to digest when we eat slowly.We should also talk about pleasant subjects not gruesome ones at the table. It certainly helps’ one’s appetite.
Courtesy to fellow diners is very important also. We should pass food immediately when it is asked for. Keep one ear open at all times in order to hear the request for butter or jam which comes from the other end of the table.
The Hoppers have a hard jon. Let’s make it easier for them by asking only for things which we really need.
“You, you, when you eat, keep your shoes upon your feet.” Don’t set a bad example and don’t put those elbows on the table.”
Try to follow these simple rules of courtesy. As a result you’ll help yourself as well as making the meals more pleasant and the dining room a more enjoyable place.
