The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-01-15

How the Mothers and Babies Were
Pooled in st. LOUIS.

A couple of weeks ago a fellow nam,
Menges, from New York, got up a bal
show in ST. Louis. He rented hall, ar
advertised 81 200 in premiums. Motbe
came with their babies from far and nea
They neglected their own homes and SAT
tine hall exhibiting their infants, day aft,
dav, until nine O'Clock every night, eac
with the positive assurance OF carryin
away a big prize. On Friday the thin
busted A reporter 'put head" o
Menges, and Saturday morning the haI
man locked the baby man out. TIL
mothers, who were unaware of il, cam
around promptly on time Saturday after
noon. The Republican thus describes ia
scene:
Astwo o'clock drew near the unreasona
bic women began to arrive, each with
bundle of shawls and nubias and furs, tn
nucleus Of which was Il phenomenal baby
As they passed in front Of Fifth street. th
officers on duty there in ormed them tina
the hall was closed and it Was useless 70
them TO lug their loads up those stairs, bu
they were
NOT SATISFIED
with this. After few indignant questions
as to how such men were permitted to de
ceive decent married ladies in such an ont
rageou5 fashion az this, they invariably
struck up a walk-around in the lower hall
giving their babies hitch every now and
then, and occasionally swapping out some.
thing very savage on the subject of bogus
baby shows. This continued till quite a
crowd Of interesting parents and offspring
had gathered, and the walk-aronnd, as
sumed the dignity OF grand march, il not a
war-dance. Then Mr.. Dyer, net wishing to
ee any more suffering on the part of the
victims than was absolutely necessary, noti-
fled them that they might go up into the
directors room, on the third floor, and
thither they went in solemn procession.
The arrivals grew more numerous, and by
half-past three o'clock the directors room
was TANNED with babies and mad women.
A Republican reporter made his way in
among them, and as he realized that he was
the centre of the glare Of fifty pairs OF
eyes, assumed pacific, innocent, propitia-
tive expression OF countenance that must
have been beautiful to witness. Hearing
some one mutter that she believed that long
legged, cheese-faced fraud had something
TO do with the swindle," he turned, with
the instinct of self-preservatidn strong
within him and pulse at two hundred
minute, ard begged to assure her that the
was unjust, and that nothing but
. deep and kindly interest in the snfierings
II humanity, and desire to make the
world purer and better, prompted his visit.
He watched the effect of his noble declara-
ion, and was srleved to note that he was
till regarded =
WITH SUSPICION.
lie had consorted with some of the worst
nObs in the great strike. and his courage
lad stood by him-but this was no mere
trike, and there was dash of desperation
n the remark that that was the finest col
ection of babies that he ever saw. which |
anne from pale lips. "Finest fiddlesticks."
he said. She just wished she had never |
cen baby, if che couldn't have one with
ut making a tarnal fool Of herself tagging
II week al the heels of a man that ought |
D have his neck broken. She just wanted
, near somebody say baby show TO her
gain. The reporter took advantage of
his diversion by getting acquainted with
he lady's baby and trying to get it to sing
i'm the 'Sweet BY and Bye" or something
{ that sort. He succeeded in the humani-
arian role to such degree as to disarm
uspicicn, and was soon enabled to sit
own and take observations, without pro-
oking comment.
'Ob, what a mean man he must be.
[ere we've been all week, coming and going
trough the cold, and now he's just run of.
Oh, myr' And the little woman's brows
nitted in most forlorn fashion, as she
iped her little baby's nose.
"Yes indeed' could he heard in res
onse. my baby's got its death Of cold
oming here SO often, and nothing in the
orld to show for it. That man ought to
e just put in the calaboose y
How tins exchange of views further pro-
ressed could not be determined BY the re-
orter, as the din of many voices,
HIGHLY KEYED,
lade it impossible to follow any one thread
conversation.
Il wish we'd had pounded him last night
hen We had him at the door. ira a had
nything but my baby in my arms I'd have
roken it over his head. SO I would" said a
adgy little woman with FIRE in her eye.
81 proposed to give him what he didn't
argain for when We met him last night,
ut none of you would help me, and so he
Of away," said stout woman in a gray
ress.
''Some folks sees something to laugh at
/ all this" remarked a thin, haggard
oman, shut Id like to know waat there is
,nny in my bringing my two little ones
ere every day and leaving the other three
/ home, and two OF them sick as they can
e. / think it's a shame and disgrace"
nd the poor woman began 10 cry.
SIN awful glad l didn't bring nv baby.
'ut read what the old thief said last nigh.
, R.puuioan reporter about his not going
, give any premiums, SO / left Clara at
ONE and just came down to see what hap
ened," said a very well-dressed young lady
no sat on a table.
"What man he was to lie, too. Now.
e agreed to pay Eve dollars for single
ahv EIGHT dollars for twins and eleven /