Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-29
THE sIyTEEN MINED BABIES OF
NEBR ISH4.

1Dfs-A'As<hs
Haekberry precinct is a town in Nebraska.
II Is not very large town. and the inhabit-
ants are rarely visited by the travelling lee
mrer. the circus. or any other amusement of
that sort. They are thrown on their own re-
sources for amusement, and their principal
TeereatiOns are social parties and little "dfffi-
culties" at the leading saloons" Not very
bong ago blackberry precinct determined to
indulge in a bar to which all the citizens of
abe place. without distinction of sex or rank
should be invited. The largest available
house was rented for the occasion a superb
band Of music. consisting of n colOred man
with violin, was employed, and a magnif-
cent supper, of which sandwiches and hot
whisky were the leading features. was pro-
ylded. Preparations on so grand scale had
never before been made for any ackberry
precinct ball. and il was expected that the
affair would prove a magnificent success.
Ii 80 happened that sixteen of the youngest
and most popular matrOns of the town were in
the possession of babies under thirteen months
Of age. These ladies were extremely anxious
to attend the ball, but inaSmuch as bottles
except of the variety adapted exclusively for
the use of mature c1tiZenS-were not To be had
m blackberry at any price, there was practi-
cal difficulty in leaving the babies at home in
a hungry and mOtheTless state during an entire
night. In this emergency, man of rare in
Sentive genius. who was one of the managers
should take their babies TO the ball with them
and deposit them in room, where they would
BE- easily accessible. This plan was adopted
With much enthusiasm and at s o'clock the
sixteen babies were brought to the ball and
placed on large bed in the secOnd-stOry back
Bedroom.
Ii had been suggested by careful mother
that the infants should be checked, SO that
each mother could be sure of recovering her
own at the end of the festivities. UnfOr-
tunatety. no checks could be procured, and it
was, therefore. resolved that each infant
should be carefully marked with a bow of
eolored ribbon. Accordingly, this was done.
and when the sixteen babies. with their hunger
temporarily allayed, and their dresses deco
rated with distinguishing bows, We're laid side
by side on the bed. the sixteen mothers agreed
that the spectacle was too beautiful for any
thing and that the collected infants were one
and all perfectly sweet.
Dancing began at 500. and absorbed the
whole attention of the guests. 1t was not until
10 o'clock that it occurred To one of the moth
ers that her infant might perhaps be in want
of little luncheon, or might desire TO express
its views in regard to pins and things in gen
eral. Accordingly this excellent matrOn with
drew from the ballroom, assuring her partner
that she would return almost Immediately.
She did not return. however, and the next
mother who left the ballroom with like
promise also failed 10 return. Gradually the
mothers. one by one as they reeOllected the
existence Of the babies, retired To attend to
their supposed wants, until ten mothers had
thus vanished, not one of whom made their re-
appearance in the ballroom.
The remaining six mothers, who were prob
ably exceptionally fond of dancing, entirely
forgot their ba bies until the approach of dawn,
and the fixed determination of the band to go
Ia sleep on the floor caused the brilliant assem-
q body To the second story back bedroom.
whence loud shrieks and wild demonstrations
Immediately arose. Every one rushed to as
certain what was the matter, and. in response
to their inquiries, We're informed by distract
ed mother that the best babies had all been
carried on and that the remainder were mex
trieably mixed up. owing TO the loss of their
distinguishing bows.
Ii appears that no sooner had the infants
been left TO themselves than the bright-cOlored
ribbons had attracted their attention. The
Investigations which they immediately under
took were prosecuted with so much zeal tina
In presumably brief time every bow was torn
Oh. The first mother who arrived at the scene,
Al 10 O'Clock, was woman Of great GOODNESS
and resource. Finding IL impossible To select
her own baby from the mass of unmarked and
largest and best baby Of the lot, and carried it
home. Her example was followed by the next
nine mothers. each one OF whom picked out
good Seryiceable infant, and fastened away
With it. The result was that the last six moth
ers found nothing but refuse infants, and could
not agree as 10 any method Of satisfactorily
urally very great. Each one insisted that she
had brought with her a baby of exceptional
value. which was alone worth more than the
Cd that she should be allowed TO make the first
choice In these circumstances, with a view
10 check the further effusiOn of hair-pins and
eurls. Judge Doolitte proposed that, inasmuch
As the ladies were unacquainted with euchre
The matter should be settled by throwing dice
This was done, and each mother in her turn
kiChtu oul udDs anu Ntut HOiiit-
that she had been atrOciously cheated. but
that, il her husband was really man, as he
pretended Ia be, he would secure for her JUS
tice and revenge at the mouth of his revolver
The affair happened three weeks ago. and as
yet no redistribution Of infants has been made.
The mothers who. by going home early, Sc
cured the choicest babies, profess to he per-
fectly certain that they took their own private
infants: and the remaining mothers, while
they DANGEROUSLY resent the necessity which
compelled them to put up with cheap and CON-
paratiyely worthless babies. confess that they
cannot prove to the satisfaction Of jury pre-
eisely To whom the half dozen best infants res
pectiyely belong. The husbands, who take the
broad. general ground that one infant is about
As good as another, are unwilling to interfere
and il is only too probable that the sixteen
blackberry babies will never know their real
mothers, and that their own identity will be a
puzzle To them for the remainder of their lives
This tragedy shows the necessity of branding
or otherwise permanently marking babies and
suggests the question whether the managers of
Ne blackberry ball are not legally responsible
- the dissatisfied mothers. and cannot be- conf
Delled 10 make good the losses which the latter
have sustained--lN Y. Times.