The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-11-07 00:00:00

treated

NATIONAL BABY CONVKNTION.-

Sasowcs loitnra, lacxis-4of Im kn. G-111. Auleitnit, bat
the -" National Baby Convention," reported in the Cin-
cinnati fines, as recently held at Sprineeldfair, Clark
county;. Ohio, beats everything of the sort'ever heard of
before: One hundred and. twenty-seven babies were en-
tered for exhibition : and: they came from ..alinost every-
where. Several counties, including Hamilton of Ohio,
vvere-wel/ represented, and there were babiesfronArer-Ana,
Louisiana, Pennsylvania; and Massachusetts,.all gathered
in a baby tent, to awaitthe inspection of the:,h.idges. Soon
there was " music withirie”—
" Astonished, probably, at finding themselves ha 'mass
meeting assembled,' the little ones sent up, a cry which
shook the canvas top and pierced the ears of' the people.
In-vain did the brass. band toot their'instrnments to
drown, if possible, the piercing cry.' Young America
was aroused, and, seeming to be beatenisent firth notes
which. shamed the keys of the bugle, and-made the trom-
bone blush for its weakness.. The babies !" the babies !'
was on the lips of every one. Ploughs,. embroidery, reap-
ing machines, fancy goods, mechanical skill, and agricul-
tural success, were all forgotten in aemoment. Blood
horses and short-horn cattle where 'no what, ! ' The
people—men, women and children; ladies,. gentlemen,
and growing juveniles--made a rush for 'the By Tent. " •
The judges, consisting of nine ladies-and sin gentlemen,
of whom some were, of the medical profession, were about
to proceed to their task, when a telegraph was received
announcing that more babies were coming and requestig
a postponement of the examinatienuntil said babies ar-
rived. The request was acceded to.. At twelve o'cleek.
the judges entered the tent :--
"The tent presented a novel, amusing, and intereseing
sight. There sat a Nether, her eyes. directed alternately
on the judges and on a little cherub which lay in hen.lap.
By her sat another,: holding up proudly a lovely little
girl, whose flaxen curls and sweet blue eyes would soften
the heart of the greatest baby-hater- in Christendom.
Next to her a nurse was endeavourieg to quiet a stout,
black-eyed, rosy-cheeked one-year-old,' who insisted on
pulling the jet black ringlets of another, about its own
age. One lady pointed with pride to the chubby legs of
her darling boy, while another glowingly referred to the
delicate, but well-formed features of her sweet babe. One
boasted of having the largest of its age ; another of the .
smallest and smartest. Some of the babies seamed to feel.
their importance on this occasion, and, in spite of, the..
most earnest entreaties, would be in mischiePand keep up.
a continued noise. Others. appeared 'unwilling to believe.
their eyes; and lay quietly in their mothers: arms,,watchl
ing the proceedings with, apparent interest, while others
insisted.on hiding their innocent faces their mothers'
bosoms, as if they knew-their refuge was there.
" Then the expression which fell on one's ears. Tome
to makes arms, mudder's 'ittle pet,' Oh ! you darling
'ittle toad !' Bless. its 'ittle heart, it shall have some
tamly.' Tot, tot to Baridyboss, on. its _marama's.'ittle
hoss.' ' Stan' up, muzzer's 'ittle pet." It's sweet, so it
is, mudder knows.it is. Dump if it-wants to, Cause it
tau jump. Tiss mamma, now, won't- it tiss mamma ?
Bouncety bounce, bouncety bounce." Now, what a
naughty boy, see, the gentlemen are, coming.' That's a
good baby—nurse can tome its hair, an' it don't try a bit.'
`-Sweety, sweety, mother's sweet,' and 100 more just such
expressions

It was generally admitted that decidedly the prettiest
child on exhibition was from Cincinnati, the daughter of
Mr. Henry Howe. We are tcld—

"Largo and fat children seemed to predominate. One
from Indiana, only five months old, weighed 2711b5.
Another, four months old, weighed Nabs.
" A pair of twins, of Clark county, attracted much at-
tention. They were very pretty, and as near alike as two

peas.
" An elderly lady was present with her 17th baby, only
two months old. She claimed nothing extraordinary, but
thought she was deserving of a premium."
The inspection and deliberation lasted till six o'clock,
when the -premium babies were announced :

" First Prize, a splendid service of silver plate, including
a large salver, to the daughter of William Romner, of
Vienna, Clark county, aged ten months.
" Second prize, a service of silver plate, to the son of
William 31c.Dowall, of Fulton, Hamilton county, Ohio,
aged 13 months.

Third prize, a plain service of silver, to the daughter
of Mr. A. Canon, of Philadelphia."
The public were dissatisfied that the pretty daughter of
Mr. Henry Howe did not get a prize, and subscribed for
one to be presented to her on their lawn account. " Fanny
Fern" had been invited to be one of the judges, but could
not be present. She sent a letter to excuse attendance, of
which the following is a specimen
"Nothing would delight m

more than to visit your
beautiful city, which I have so long wished to see, and the
added temptation you hold out, in the shape of babies, is
almost irresistible. God bless their little sweetnesses
But how could I choose ? I, who love everything in the
shape of a child—who believe that they are all that is left
to us of Eden—who never come into their presence with-

such as a devout Catholic muse have when he
crosses iiimself before the image of the Virgin Mary !
How could I choose ? I should turn from black eyes to
blue, from blue to grey, from grey to hazel ; I should be
led captive by a dimple, fascinated by a ringlet, enchanted
by a rosy cheek or a snowy shoulder. My dear sir, I
should be as bewildered as a bee in a ten-acre lot of
full-
blown roses."
Previous to the baby show there had been a contest for
prizes for the best horsemanship by ladies. The show is to
be repeated next year.

out a feelin

A CIIRIOSITY.—AII anchor was picked up and brought
in by the boatmen of Broadstairs last week, supposed to
have been under water upwards of 200 years. It had the
appearance of a mass of petrified iron, being entirely
covered with flints of all si7p Tt .c.,en tua unat the
authorities of theßritish Museum have been communicated
with, and we have no doubt ere long it will be exhibited
ilk that noble institution. Great care is taken that no
persons injure it by removing any of the flints, a
now lying on the piers—Kentio4 Gazette,