Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-12-10
BREAD AND BABIES.

Mrs E. Cady Stanton's paper (th
Recctution, says:
We are constantly asked, II wome
), vote, what will become OF the brea,
e. and babies !?
, In view of the heavy bread, an,
badly-cooked food we find Oh mos
tables, and the shocking mortalil,
> among infants, we contemplate witt
wonder and pity the blind faith .
Il man 10 the maternal and culinary in
j telligence of "tho ak.minded. !" " h,
have no aspirations beyond Hecler'
Hour, Mrs. Winslow's soothing syrup
and Wheeler q Wilson's sewing ma
Z chine. Seeing that women have de
voted themselves through the aye,
to domestic economy and failed, as
miserably y as men have in the art OF
government, we have, after mature
thought, come to the conclusion that
Just as women's enlightened interest
IN political questions improve the
state, so mans skill and science arc
necessary TO redeem the home from
its present disorder, disease, and deatl.
II there are two things we thoroughly
understand, they are babies and bread.
and for our knowledge of both these
divine arts we are indebted to philo.
sophical, scientific gentlemen.
The only valuable work we ever
saw on infancy was written by a man,
Andrew Combe, of Scotland, a cl0se
observer, sound thinker. and
learned physiOlogist We shall never
forget how empest-tossed we were
when we first found ourself the happy
possessor Of a male child without the
slightest knowledge OF what to do for
his comfort and protection An igno-
raet nurse fdgeted around the room
day and night, sang melancholy dit
ties, and rocked vehemently, while
the child cried continually with
loud voice, and We wept, prayed, and
philosophical, by turns. Reasoning
on general prncipl es, we at last came
TO the conclusion that inasmuch rs
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
that opinion by a faithful reading of
what MIR. Combe had to say on babies
in general. The result of this consid |
GRAFTON of bis opinions was a prompt
revolution in the whole nursery de- |
partment, and trai sfer of pain from |
the baby to the nurse, who stood I
humhled and chagrined as she saw
her time honored system summarily (
set aside--the pins, paregoric, catmint.
and cradle driven out--while pure air,
sunlight, and common sense walked in
Oh what signs, what groans, what
doubtful shakings of the head, what
suppressed laughter aud whisperings In
the hall we heard during the Grst 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 custom that had been faith.
fully kept by all the sons of Adam
rom time immemorial, we ordered
the little sufferer TO be promptly
stripped to the skin and put in warm
bath that brought instant relief, af-
Ter which he was dressed IN few
light garments hung on the shoulders,
with no swaddling bands, no pressure
IN the lungs or bowels, and laid down
% sleep. He was fed according TO
Jombo) every two hours by day, and
1ut once during the night. After that
we had peace, though eternal vigilance
IN our part was its price The Gus
ON of pinning babies up as tight as
! drum is both cruel and absurd. We .
Isked the antiquarian who tortured !
'ur first born in that way, why she !
lid itl "The bones OF young babies !
IRE so soft and their flesh so tender !
aid she, "that they are in constant 4
langer of dissolution unless tightly 5
'inioned together" We soothed her q
ears by pointing to the fact that colts J
nd calves, puppies aud kittens, all =
ived and flourished without bandages, D
nd for the benefit of the race we said I
We would make the experiment on :
me of the human family. !
If babies are regularly fed, and y
athed, and comfortably dressed aud :
4 pure atmosphere, they will be quiet T
nd healthy. The ignorance OF wo-
nen on these subjects is truly lamenta- I
lie. We have seen children year o
Id that never tasted water. when they a
hould have il halt dozen times !
ay from the hour of their birth We y
ave found fathers who worked hard 7
u day complain bitterly OF being dis. ,
nrbed at night by crying children, I
ence the common use of Mrs. Wins ,
'w's soothing syrup, which only tends ,
D increase the irritable condition OF a
he nervous system, and permanently q
'eaken the brain.
Young mothers no doubt imagine
nat this Mrs. Winslow is some expe- i'
enced, humane old lady, who loves I"
tile children, knows Just how to o.
Dothe them to sleep, and pilot them D
trough all the pitfalls of infancy, r.
bile, in fact, this abominable syrup i'
compounded by some ignorant man, o.
J whiskcrs, broadcloth, and boots, a.
bo lives and fattens on his i'll gotten "
aims, while babies are sent by the y
undreds to untimely graves, or made I
lots and lunatics for life. a