Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-11-03
The Baby Show.


Show we shall still persist in calling
It, although we found that the managers
had ignored this word as derogatory to
the institution, and substituted the more
digniiied title of convention Why nnt9
When everybody, even the hens, have a
convention, shouldn't Young American
aspire to the same elevation? 1t was
great affair, though made up of small ma
teIials. Novel, eXhilirating and stimula-
cing by force of example; carrying with
it the admirable precept, 'go thou and do
likewise and we may as well finish the
quotation, the young man went away
exceedingly sorrowful' ... r. r5f
The show originated in this wise:
Messrs. Cassidy, Paist, and one or two
others OF the managers of the county fair
started the idea one evening, half in Jest,
and each subscribed hundred dollars
The paper was sent around and numer-
Gus others, thinking it a first rate joke,
added their names; when pretty good
sum had been footed up, the prizes were
ordered from New York, and the subscri-
bers in jest paid up in earnest. The most
sanguine did not calculate on the invasion
Of such corpse of infantry in arms as the
day brought forth, and consequently the
preparations for their reception We're not
so extensive as they would have been.
The tent wherein the babies were groom
ed and trotted out, was scarcely thirty feet
in diameter-the big tent expected from
Buffalo not arriving until just day after
! the fare. SO, when the committee had
finished their inspection, the babies and
their mothers were ushered into Floral
Hall, to the accompanying strains of an
= excellent brass band, which scared the
= babies some, but at the same time drown
ed their cries.
The flowers, vegetables, &c, had been
removed, and babies put in their places.
Tor three hours the rush of ten thousand
persons to look upon those fair counten-
/ aDccs. created the most consumate iam-up
that we ever endured. 1t was a great
: crowd, bnt it was most good -humored
u and delighted one; for if one baby is
sunbeam in the house. what think YOU
; Of the combined influence of some two
hundred rays? 1t was shrewdlv limited
IS that no small share Of attraction was due
: to the magnetic forms of the mothers,
most Of whom were young, and many Of
D. .ham very bcantiftl
10 One hundred and twenty seven babies
were enrolled as competitors, while there
re We're many more who did not enter the
III lists. a friend counted one hundred and
+ seventy-one, and then gave it up. There
'e was every degree of comglexion, (except
N.Y. M0tt'c Dntc \ o,,oe bo;, ..J Il.
It. with an infinite variety Of development in
G. juvenile propenSitieS. Some sucking their
p thumbs, some sucking candy, and others
ed something else; while not few belliger.
Ia ent5 manifested an earnest desire to wool
ce one another. But the most prevalent de
in monstration was an almost universal pro
Ie cIivity to swallow themselves -beginnin,
he with their fists in the first instance, ant
ng going suddenly to their feet by way o
hit anchoyy.
ne The majority of these minors wer
he very well-behaved babies, totally unlik
that ill-bred juuenility, described by Shaks
. poare as 'muling and puking in its motf
er's lap although candor compels us t
Nv admit that a few demonstrated their pos
,nt session of the same qualities attributed t
their shakspelian prototype. -s' .s
ny We have seen infant schools, and hear
their thin voices rise in concert as they re
ID poated their little lessons on what w
)os think was called the Pestalozzian systeu
but never before did we realize an infan
,ut Babel, Laughing, crying, growing an
footing, all in full blast at the same me
ment, mixed in with the chatter of tn
is anxious mother each impressed with th
insane dclusion that her own baby was il
the and not out; the caressing words and er
aid doaring phrases enunciated in the lingr
ing franca which pathological babies are su,
posed to understand, joined to the deep
the voices of the crowds Of masculine admi
ers, altogether made up scene of live
confusion not often encountered. Ever
u body called to everybody else to mo
ed along, and nobody stirred a peg, till, Il
Lo outside pressure getting strong, the who
7..r- crowd would break ahead like wave
IN a few feet, and come to another stand sti
~ 8, However, the pursuit Of knowledge und
tha difficulties is sure to be rewarded, and '
aao enjoyed the babies faces the more for t
trouble they cost us. h..
. B
H., 1t was announced by Mr.. Cassity tn
next year every provision would be mad
dnq and the prizes awarded in gold.
The following memorandum Of t
awards was handed ue by one of the co,
mittee. 1t will be observed that one
;. c"S the names differs from that as publish
4p lte" in other papers: aga1
ncr, First prize--A splendid service of {
yer plate, including large salver--to |
s,,f. daughter of William Aronimous, of
emma, Clark comfy, aged ten months
tbo Second prize-A service Of silver pl
Ito the son of William Mcdowell,
the Fulton, Hamilton Co.. Ohio aged II
teen months.
Third prize--A service of silver
yng the daughter Of Mr.. A. Cannon, of Pl
IFS a adelphia.
lleE These were the regular prizes for
the finest children. A fourth gratuity
ov own group in Parian marble Of Christ bless
nice, little children, was given to the II
'creu daughter Of Mr.. Henry Howe. of 1iAs
g. oos' natl, as the prettiast child at the fair
ing sentiment in which erybody,concurr,