Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-12-11
BREAD AND BABIES.

We are constantly asked, if women vote
what will become of the bread and babies?
In view of the heavy bread, and badly
cooked food we find on most tables, and the
shocking mortality among infants, we con-
template, with wonder and pity, the blind
faith of man in the maternal and culinary
intelligence of the weak minded who have
no aspirations beyond Heeker' -four, Mrs.
Winslow's soothing syrup, and Wheeler 4
Wilson's sewing machines Seeing that
women have devoted themselves through
the ages to domestic economy and failed, as
miserably as men haze in the art of govern
ment, he have, after mature thought, come
10 the conclusion that just as womens en-
lightenej interest in political questions will
improve the state, so man skull and science
are neces ary to redeem the home from It's
present disorder, disease, and death If
there are TWO things we thoroughly under
stand, ay are babies and bread, and for
our knowledge Of both these divine arts we
are indebted to philosophical, scientific gen
tlemen.
The only valuable work we ever saw on
infancy was written by man, Andrew
Cope, of Scotland, close observer, a sound
thinker, and learned Psychologist We
shall never forget how tempest tossed We
were when we first found ourself the happy
possessor of a male child without the sligh-
test knowledge of what to do for his comfort
and protection An ignorant nurse 6dgeted
rouud the room day and night, sang melan-
choy ditties, and rocked vehomently, while
the child cried continually with loud voice,
and we wept, prayed, aud philosophical by
turns. Reasoning on general principles, We
at last came to the conclusion thatinasmuch
as the child was large and vigorous, there
must be some mistake on the part of the
nurse that he was not quiet and comfortable
We fortified ourself in the opinion by faith
ful reading of what Mr. Compe had to say
on babies in general. The result of this
consideration of his opinions was prompt
revolution in the whole nursery department
and transfer of pain from the baby to the
nurse. who stood humbled and chagrined as
she saw her time honored system summarily
set aside-the pins paregoric, catmiut, and
cradle driven out-while pure air sunlight,
and common sense walked in. Oh wha
sighs, what groans what doubtful shakings
ofthe head, what suppressed laughter and
whisperiDgs in the ball we heard during the
first few days after the Inauguration of that
dynasty Of health, happiness, and rest to
that newborn soul.
When the three hours cry began that day
which ancient danes assured us was Gus
tom that had been faithfully kept by all the
sons Of Adam from time immemorial, we
ordered the little sufferer to be promptly
stripped to the skin and putin warm bath;
that brought instant relief after which he
was dressed in few light garments hung
on the shoulders, with no swaddling bands,
no pressure on the lungs or bowels, and laid
down to sleep. He was fed according to
Combe) every two hours by day, and but
once during the night. After that we had
peace, though eternal vigilance on our side
was its price The custom oil pinning ba-
bies up tight as drum is both cruel and
absurd We asked the antiquarian who
tortured our first boIn in that way, why she
did it? ''The bones Of young babies are so
soft and their flesh so tender" she said,
"ihat they are in constant danger of dissolu-
ton unless tightly pinioned together We
soothed her fears BY pointing to the fact
that colts aal calves, puppies and kittens,
al lived and Aourishcd without bzndagoa,
and fo. ne benefit Of he race we said we
would make th9 experiment on one e the
human lmily
Ifbab5es are regularly fed, bathed, and
comfortably dressed, and in a pure atnos-
phere, they will be quiet and healthy The
ignorance of women on these subjects is
truly lamentablc We have seen children
a year old that had never tasted water, when
they should have it half dozen times day
from the hour of their birth. We have
found fathers who worked hard all day
complain bitterly Of being disturbed atnight
by crying children. hence the common use
Of Mrs Winslows's soothing syrup, which
only tends to increase the irritable condition
of the nervous system, and permanently
weaken the BRAIN
Young mothers no doubt imagine that
this Mrs Winslow is some experienced, hu-
name old lady, who loves little children,
knows just how to soothe them to sleep, and
pilot them through all the pitfalls of infancy
while, in fact, this abominable syrup, is
compounded By some ignorant manin whis
kers, broadcloth and boots, who lives and
fattens on.his i'll gotten gains. while babies
are sent BY the hundreds to untimeIy graves
or made idiots or lunaties for life -Nys 2.
Cody StaatOa.
AN experienced paper-hanger states that
turpentine, mingled in the paste at the time
of papering, is a sure remedy against bugs
and insects of all kinds in walls that are