, 1873-01-12


an exaggerated and aggravated condition, in
England, having assumed tho female ser, having
figured before Police Court ut the immature
age Of a years, and having been assigned to
tho workhouse in preparation for d long life Of
una1loycd wretchedness. The baby'a name is
Ida Ledger. Her mother is a woman
about q years old, who leads loose lie.
This he's been her occupation she hes found
her pnstino IN beating the little 2-year-oId
child. The mother and child were finally brought
before Justice. It WAS discovered that the
child's head and temple were confused !; the
check, nose, and lips formed one great suppu-
covered with scratches and scare. Here Was n
babe years old that had suffered more abuse
than forty children should have suffered
during their entire minority The In
human mother was aentonced to two
years imprisonment with hard labor, aud the
child was sent to the workhouge. It appears,
however, that these two years will serve simply
as respite during which ida Ledger may recr-
suffering. Under the English law, tho CHILD
must be returned to it's mother as coon Rs she
comes out Of the penitentiary. An English
Journal in reviewing the case, has looked in vain
books for some escape for the unfortunate Ida.
Tho mother could DO bound over to ba Of good
behavior toward tic child, but hor own recogni-
zance would bo worthless. Tho child docs not
como within the InduatriaI School net, so that
no order can bo made upon the parent for its
maintenance. This act provides only for
vagrant and criminal children, and little
Ida is not fortunate enough to come under
either of these classes. II some per-
son would settle sum Of money Oh
Ida, she might become WaEd in ChancerT,
but there is Httte likelihood Of such o con-
tingency, At the age OF 4 yeara, then, Ida
mother, whose Chief object in life will be to re-
rcnge upon tho chiId's body. the punishment Of
which it was tic innocant cause.
j. 4 year or so ago, woman was hanged in Eng
land for. keeping slaughtcr-houso for young
babies. This :waa baby-farming. woman
has now been aent to the penitentiary for
But baby farming and baby-beat-
ing aro not the only. GAUGES Of complaint
which the offspring Of English parentago have
There arc also the practices OF bab3-steafing
aad baby-aelling. An advertisement in tho !
Telegraph, about the time of Alice Ledger's con-
viction, reads as follows: ''Bahy-The lady who
held baby III Regents Park on Thursday while
the maid fetched d cake, and on her return could
not be found, is requested to send the baby to
10 Queens square, Bloomsbury.' This ia said
10 be q eamplo caso. Whi1e somo people
amuso themselves in England with etary-
ing babies to death, and others with beating
:hem to death, there is class Of gypeies who
prowl about, misappsopriating babies wherever
hey can find them. It is said to be about as un
safe to lenve baby lying around loose as it is
IN umbrella. What the thieves do With the pill |
'ered babies is a7 much OF mystery as what be-
comes Of all the umbrellas that are1ost, nislaid,
u stolen =,
Another variety Of the trials and t1ibu1ations |
o which the uno1feuding babes Of Great |
Britain are subjected ie bsby-selung. hrs. |
elizabeth Hacking, rejoicing in the more chr
'cteristic soubsiquet Of Bedford Bess, was
brought up before Police Court on : charge OF
'aying unlawfully abandoned and exposed her |
hi1d, 1e months old, whereby its life Was en-
s11sr &1+, ;n1 &1n
accusation. She made out good case. She !
lad overheard : laboring man say thst be had !
hree children that he would not sell for e, 600. |
he Immediately, and not unnatutall5, concluded |