Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-05
The Babies,

The multiplicity of babies, if nothing
else, gives them the right, as large and
influential class of our fellow citizens, to
occasional editorial notice. Respect, too
for the future generations. of statesmen,
politicians, merchants, doctors, matrons,
authors, and clergymen, on whom our
country will depend for both its glory
and existence, demands some respect
for them also in their present helpless
and embryonic condition. We shall
make no distinction of sex in our re-
marks. The Chinese have way Of let
ting female infants drop into the river
if they feel inclined to show their obsti-
macy at 80 early an age; this distinction
in favor of the male sex among the Ce-
lestials we consider highly improper, and
shall not encourage the general idea by
making any distinction at all. AS poll
tics are shaping themselves, it is highly
probable that the girl babies who are now
engaged in growing, will be free aud in
dependent electors when they arrive at
wears of discretion and matrimony. We
are not obliged toiuso the male pronouns
in the general sense, as we do in speak
ing of the human race at large. The
pronoun sit " relieves the writer Of even
the semblance of partiality.
We suspect this mode of designating
baby without implying its sex was in
vented by the unfortunate bachelors, who
are always shocking sensitive young
mothers by calling their little girls ''hes"
and their little boys shes" Said the
poet Duffield, of Detroit, to a lady friend
Hes got head on him fit for Daniel
Webster" ITS a girl, sir, was the
halfinjured, half amused reply.
This confusion Of sex will often arise,
but the word "it " is great safeguard
to the bachelor; and in our desire to as
sumo an impartial position we shall
adopt it as a highly conservative pro-
noun. We have deliberated at some
length whether to treat the subject meta.
phorically and pyschologically, or sim
ply from domestic standpoint, or as
matter of political economy. We think
it deserves attention in each OF these d.
rections, and shall accordingly divide
the subject, not the babies themselves, a
la Solomon, into three general lines OF
thought-metaphysical, domestic, and
politico- economical
The baby is vastly more physical than
metaphysical By keeping . keen eye
on its daily or rather hourly supply OF
nourishment, it finds little use for it's in-
tellect And, yet, who that has read DIR.
Hollands Beautiful poem, entitled Bit
ter-sweet," does not remember the verses
expressive of that curiosity which we
have all ielt, to know what baby is dream
-, .c ,,Lar, So aeIoap Poets talk nrpt-
tily Of angels whispering to It, aud other
little celestial conceits, fairies aud the
like, and elves. New, we enjoy reading
Of all this, but our private opinion is,
that whatever visions, if any, Aoat
through the little things brain, have the
form of tables, and chairs, and faces, aud
trees, and milk, and whatever else its
eyes, and mouth, and hands, have made
familiar to it. But what is baby think
ing of when its eyes are wide open, and
moving this way and that, taking in eve
rythinC, but understanding nothlngr IL
is educating iiself-but the mysterious
proves aud the secret workings Of the
tiny brain are as little understood by
metsphysicians and psychologists as by
the baby itself And who will account
for the sudden smile that lights its little |
face when it seems to be thinking all by /
itself2 Unit, the memory has learned /
10 retrace its own steps further than It |
now does, We can hope TO know nothing /
about the workings Of the babys mind /
beyond its innocent starting at every |
thing, its gradually increasing intelii- |
gence, its smiles, going and coming 20 ]