Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-10-20
The Babe In the Car.

Although it has been long established as
8 general fact that "a babe in house Is
well-spring of Joy," yet there are in GER
tain houses little youngsters whose coming
was never hailed with gladness and whose
presence is not a source of delight. 10 get
rid of such exceptional babes as these, hu-
man ingenuity, especially of the feminine
sort. is at times taxed to its uttermost.
There are few mothers who like the idea
of getting md of baby by knocking it on its
little head, but there are many who think
no more of leaving an infant to the chance
mercy of stranger than they would of
strsying away Cat or of presenting to the
neighbors litter of puppies. In most Of
the large cities of the Old World the unde-
sirable infant can be anonymously left at q
founding hospital. Here there is no such
provision, and the woman who seeks to
stray her infant away must be constantly
on he alert, with some degree of watch
fulness and low cunning, TO find some un-
suspicious person with whom TO leave her
burden.
There are way-worn and weary men who
love to snatch from the hurry and wory
OF the day ever so brief season of repose
COAbC VI luC-C udNC DN lux
practice habituated themselves to sleeping
whenever and wherever opportunity offers,
regardless of the proprieties of time and
place. So customary has it become for
these men to slumber as they ride in the
street cars that the introduction of sleep
ing cars on our principal lines has been
suggested. 1t looks so uncomfortable and
distressful to see a slumberer, whether So
Der or drunk, trying 10 sit erect in the cor
ner, yet with his limp and heavy head
dropping over sideways to find a resting
place on the shoulder of an irritable neigh
Dor. Yet thus, for lack of better accom-
modations, did Herr Fritz Won Something
orother lose himself in slumber in a New
York street car which traversed enc of the
leading avenues OF that city. Next to him
sat a woman with babe, apparently tax
ing rlde for the purpose of giving the
child some fresh air. Watching the slum-
bering Herr Fritz, and noticing that his lap
seemed broad and ample, she quietly made
up her mind es to what she would do.
Having gone as far Us she thought good to
ride, she rose from her seat, tenderly de-
posted the child IN the lap of the slumber
ing Fritz and remarked to the conductor
as she left the car: dot ish mine hus-
bant" The conductor, thinking-h he
thought at all-that this was pleasant
way she had with that husband of hers, put
no obstacle in tue way OF her departure.
Laughing in her sleeves at the unsuspect-
ing conductor, at the boozy and snoring
Fritz and at the success OF her ingenious
trick, she trlpped lightly away and was
soon out of sight
La the course of the ride. Fritz, who has
been but short time in this country, and
who has not mastered all the Intricacles VI
our language, awakened from his sluInber
and excitedly gave vent to the emotions
which racked his soul on finding a strange
baby in his lap. The conductor, not un-
derstandIng his remarks, was unable to
impart suitable advice. Indeed, it is no
part of car conductors business to give
advice, nor can he afford, at Sl.75 day,
to give it, even if he should have q car load
of it on hand. 60 Fritz, with crowd OF
citizens around him, was escorted, with his
baby, TO one of the subordinate police sta
tions to see what disposal could be made
of the little stranger. Failing to make
himself undersood, he was directed to the
NtutIdl OiiCC CbdtlOut nhAlhCA uS HooeSA
ed his footsteps, a constantly augmentlng
crowd, composed largely of small boys, fol
lowing IN the rear. After much trouble and
protestalion that he had never seen the child
before, and hoped never TO see 1t again, he
was elIeved of his burden, and was, at
least, as glad TO b. rid of it as was the
cunning fellow possenger who had left 1t
on his lap.
Hereafter Herr Fritz will do all his sleep
ing at home, In the hours generally assign
ed for this prominently home duty. Her
says thatno consideration will induce him
to slumber in public vehicle, for he wants
no baby; and he intends to keep sharp
lookout for the women of this country,
whose stated and pernic Gus practice, he
believes, is to to dep, sit unconscious child
ren on the laps of un vary foreigners.