The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-27
Opening Of the Baby Show
at Midget Hall.
ALL KINDS OF BABIES.
What They Look Like and What Their
Mothers Think Of Them.

duced this other host Of the admring gaze OF
the public. Unfortunately the show, though adver-
tised to embrace every imaginable kind oil paby-the
fat tho lean, the noisy the quiet the beautiful. the
ugly. &c-represcnted only the oherubs OF Now York
and vicinity, while there had been expected great
national baby exposition showing oil the diversitcs
and marves of babylon from Name to Texas
and from New York to California Is New
York tho Empire City not only In wealth
and material grandeur, but also IN babies!
Every proud mother In St. Louis. Chicago,
Cincinnati, &c, vehomently shrieks "Nor' and
hence, can that baby which s crowned as the most
beautiful and perfect In the show be justly considered
the champion baby OF the Uni,ed StatcsS This IS
what the manager Of tho New York baby show claims
He declares that New York babies being the ness In
the world. the very cream OF the whole baby world
is now exhibited At Midget Hall
BABIES RAIN.
The baby show having been extensively advertised
and great Inducements having been held out 10
mothers to bring thor babies by the promise of
brilliant series OF prizes, the opening yesterday
morning would have passed OF with great fcIat
had 1t not bcen for the rain, which dis
maly descended until the afternoon Babies
don't like the ram, under umbrellas. and
hence there some usty screaming as the mothers
brought their motley loads Of iniantiie humanity
to hall Most Of the mothers belonged to the we'll
ASSPoes"oio
mechanics, OF ''butcher, baker and candlestck
maker" while few even arrived in carriages from
homes of comparative ease and elegance. At first
blush II would that few women would like 10
exhibit themselves and their babes to crowd OF
strangers; but what Of thaty VIII the hope OF seeing
your babe carry away the prize for beauty not COM
pcnsate for a tar greater sacrinccf The fond
mothers at Midget Hall-all respectable and estmabe
women-manfesty thought SO, and they seemed TO
intensely enjoy the kind attention bestowed upon
themselves and thoir little by the visitors. who
belonged, for the greater part, to the fair sex.
SCENE OF THE SHOW.
The rooms where the exhibition took place were the
two upper floors of the building The visitor who had
pcen attracted by the words "Baby Show" on the
terror OF the building, in illuminated letters II It
was evening" enters from tho street into a small
tibule decked with some tempting photographs Of
babies, and after handing his admission fee to lady
peeping upon HIM from behind box Office window
20 the Iuli ana Unrestricted enjoyment of ali the
babies present, but also to vote upon the ques-
ton which mother ana which BABY Is tne hand
taken TO decide that puzzle or delegated II 10 COM
nittee, the disappointed mothers, alter the dlsribu
ton OF the prIzes would have sent up . cry OF
venge compared to which even their babies' tones
might be considered melliauous. And the
itors themselves decide the question-thcy paid for
the maintenance OF the snow, let their votos dts
pTlZeb. u.
marked. strokng complacentiy his venerable whito
beard, ..makes IL thoroughly democratic show;
every baby stands the same chance, and that's the
way, I'm cure, II ought TO be-"
REcRIvK PRIZES.
Every baby being numbered, the visitor assures
himself or herself OF its number and then proceeds
10 I'LL out The following coupon attached 10 each
ticKet:-
Handsomest mother.
prettiest baby
Pr.tt,est twins
Greatest novelty.
prs!!ies. ,hrss.year.oid.
Prettiest fve-ysar-old.
There 10 q p. S. at the end Of this coupon convey
ing, doubt, hope 70 some respondent mothers
breast by saying, "A special committee decides other
quali,ieso Tho coupon beng duly filed by each
visitor. who is thus pleasantly occupied during his
her STAY Is returned ut tho exit TO the doorkeepor,
who drops II into the ballot box
SURROUNDINGS
But to pass up siairs the large hall OF the
ond floor presents strange and confused medley
mothers, babies, chairs, cradles, baby ayes
&c The room is fairly smothered under the Stripes
Stars-don't you that every OF these whiu
ing baby boys may become the President oil tho
United Statesa-and pleasant little notices ornament
the walls 'what Is q Homo without y baby ~ says
one; to which an unappreciatve horrid monster re-
pied, s.IL's nicely quiet" ''The hand that rocks
the cradle 10 the hand that moves tho world" an
other am ounces q sentiment which Mr. Thomas thus
inaorsed:-"well isn'titf What should We do with
out any mothersY''
At the east end OF the hall, commanding the Fifth
avenue, inscriptions such as "rwins," srriplets"
&C., showed where the visitor had 10 look Tor these
wonders OF babylon. Al the west end piano, harp
and violin flied up the gaps OF tho babes music.
which, however, was wonderfully quiet. Even the
most confirmed bachelor hator OF inautile shrieks
dare venture Into this very den oil lions Whethor
tho babies feel nstlpcsvely that they are on their
good behavior and that ruflie on their faces may
spoil tner best line OF beauty. whether they
themselves aware what an Internal row they would
qucnty AFRAID or each other, enough that most IN
baby like calm regncd yesterday among the mites
OF Midget Hall Nurses were provided 70 relieve tho
mothers when they got tired, and lunch was served
the third floor during tho afternoon Partilioned
of from the wost end OF the hall was lavatory, tho
entrance which, ms an invitation TO the babies to
come and be washed, bore this highly appropriate
legend "SuGer little children TO come unto 40, and
forbid them not, Tor OF such Is the Kingdom OF
heaven"
Thomas said who seemed very proud OF the display;
"Americans, Irish, Scotch Germans Russians, Turks
Swodes Danes, Dutch, &c. The two floors full OF
them and the third is reserved Tor the overflow We
have 400 entered already, but many have been kept
away by the rainy weather. Among others we have
a promise OF quartet; we've already got triplot
two months old boys or course, you can imagine
that l nave pretty trying time OF It. Occa-
my baby is heavier than tina. oney'' Or lady
looking indignant blurts out this remark-
n lady over there snss D.Sy Is
came 10 me- and sad-"I have weighed my baby, and
It weighs fifty pounds. Now, that woman there
cooking scornfully at rlvaD says hers weighs sixty
pounds, while l know that mino. Is the hoavicsI"
(Well who expect correct arithmetic at q baby
show, particularly when IL Is the babcs weight that
Is In questionY)
SOME BABY MARvRIa
Mr.. Thomas SAID they had indeed some wonderful
babies. There one boy Of eleven months who
would stand on his head tumble about like aero
bat new like Cat, bark like dog and perform other
sucn MANTLE marvels He then showed The writer
through the hail. and certainly seldom has collection
OF such beautiful babies been here assem-
blod. The ideal baby was there-at least the Anglo
ideal OF the little cherub, far more beautiful 10
his eye than any al-lcaged nIle angel Raphael
painled--that colt, chubby lair, dmpIed Daby, with
pink and white downy cheeks, big blue eyes aud
curly cloud OF golden nair waving over It's snowy neck
The baby Mr. Thomas led the writer TO was fat
plump, creamy little thing in dainty toggery, its stout
legs encased IN -colorcd silk stockings.
"Just look at her ioot the enthusiastic worshpper
OF babies exclaimed, and then exposed to view tho
most dimnutve doll'e FOOT which the old gentioman
rapturously led to HIS lips The child being quito
largo age, the loot remarkably small and
the baby acquired at once reputation IN the room Tor
having the smallest feet
No. 2s6 WAS u sweet golden-curcd baby, wheeled
about by her mother, n German who said that she
ono OF twins, and added, sadly, thas she had
buried the other.