The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-06
A SYMPATHETIC REPORTER.
How Young Reporter Sympathized with
an Unfortunate Mother at the Recent
EXPOSITION of Babies In New York City.

Exposition Of Babies In New York City.
Rochester IN. " Democrat
A young reporter OF New York pa
per attended the baby show and in
spected pair Of twins.
:" Very pretty, indeed" he said. with
| est ~
Neither!" said the mother, looking
surprised and somewhat angry.
II observe" he continued, pointing
at one of the cherubs with his pencil,
THAT this little one does not look well.
] trust he has enough to eat ?"
"He is girl, sir - replied the mother,
with intense dignity Her diet is prop
erly attended to, sirF'
Eyes, of COURSE" continued the young
| reporter, looking more critically at the
child, II was aware OF that. | misspoke.
Now don't you think that the paleness
| would not insinuate that 1t has not
enough to eat, but 10 the food Of the
right kind2 Now know that nothing
builds up the system more rapidly than
roast beef, You have heard OF the
blood cure, [ suppose. [ would not re-
commend that in this caseas yet; but
the child ought to have liberal supply
Of roast beef at once"
II do not understand you, sir" re-
marked the mother in q frightened
tone, but in such low voice that the
reporter did not hear her.
"Hahl" said the young man, looking
more closely at the cherub. why, see
here the little one has no teeth. This
is extraordinary. Born so, madam ?"
| Eyes, SIR" was the reply Of the I'M
happy lady, as she searched with her
alarmed eyes for the police.
"No teeth" pursued the reporter,
musingly. "That'ssvery bad, indeed.
I suppose the unhappy child has been
brought here as q curiosity. And, by
Jovel it has no hair worth Mentioning.
Poor thingl" He turned to the mother
and remarked knowingly and patron
izingly: ''Let us be thankful. my poor
woman, for the progress Of science and
the arts. This unfortunate child can
be provided with teeth by the dentist,
| and there-there are hair restoratives.
Should the latter fail we still have
switches, and puffs, and that sort Of
thing. Indeed, my good woman, take
courage! It takes. skillful man to
discover what Is false and what is genu-
inc in the women Of the period; and
we may overlook the comparatively
slight misfortunes OF your innocent and
still beautiful child. All is well, madam !;
all is we'll, believe me-"
| He looked with serene wisdom at the
wide-o open eye of his mother. "Why,
bless my SOUL" he added HASTILY, as he
turned his attention accidentally to the
sleeping blessing. whats become Of
the-the lower limbs Of this unfortunate
creature?" He placed his hand softly
upon the long white dress, as il 1t had
been one OF his own boils. There was
two yards Of dress below the waist. and,
apparently, nothing inside OF it.. II
l ,nuor eo IN, tho IiIyoID oaiI m toI1rp
reporter. "And the little one-what
there is of it--seems to be so bright,
| too. It's really marvellous. Born 80,
my poor woman?"
| "Ye-yes, SIR" replied the mother,
nearly fainting with apprehension.
| "Ah, well, never mind" remarked
the reporter, dashing away surrepti-
tious tear and turning with philosophic
tenderness to the agitated parent.
Mature has so ordained things that
what one never has one seldom misses.
How, much better 1t is that your, be-
loved child should be born without legs
than 1t should live to have its legs cut
off In Ave will say in railroad disas-
ter. Think OF that, my poor woman,
think of that. And here comes the
ameliorating influence Of science again.
I dare say you will live to see this child
walk yet. The time will come when you
will remember in every prayer the
genius OF the inventor. For there are
cork legs, madame, there are cork
legs"
cry. The latter made the young re-
porter jump so violently that he shook
off his eyeglasses.
whats that2" he said, hastily re-
placing the glasses and turning to the
gentle phenomenon. "Merciful heav.
ens what's the matter with it's face?
It is the countenance OF an old man--oi
a fiend. Observe those wrinkles, mad
anne. Note the unearthly look. Is II
angry? Is it crazy? Have offended il
somehow? [ never saw such look on
an alleged human being before. This
is the most extraordinary misfortune OF
all"
The baby opened its mouth for yell
"Therei" shrieked the young reporter
his hair standing on end and his teeth
chattering, sits gone There Is nothing
there but a horrible chasm, through
which / think / can see the spotless
; pillow below. 1t Is meaningless
shapeless mass of abominable pink,
hedged around with faint suggestion
of damnable blue and black. 1t Is 3
monstrosity, madame. Take 1t away +
He turned pale and acted like sick
| person., DuU TeCOF6Ieu uluSSli uALeCtly
TITS hard case, my poor woman" he
said, struggling to be calm and cheerful
"a very hard case, indeed. But take
comfort. Do not be discouraged. Have
you not read that nothing is created In
vain Even this semblance Of humanity
' awful as it is, comes in that category,
am sure. We may at least assume thai
it has soul; and we know that not 6
sparrow is permitted to fall to the
, ground unnoticed. Even the hairs Of
our head are numbered; and you may
rest assured that this miniature repre-.
sentative of our truly fallen humanity
was sent hither for some good purpose
: It is awful, my good woman. admit
But let us look higher, let us cast ou
gaze into the blessed future. Think o
heaven, my poor woman! think o
heaven"
He smiled sweetly and brightly; bu
he turned hastily and sought retired
} corner wherein to hide his tears.
|