Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-23
Taxing the pasy Down The Rivcr.

THE PRESENT SYSTEM BAD oSE-How TO REM.
Kpr TIA BRIGHT suGGEsrloN-A STEAMER
FOR MOTHERS AND BABIES.
To The Editor Of The Star:
have baby. There is nothing whatever the
matter with 1t, but every mother with one baby.
like every hen with one chicken. knows iiial
anything may happen at any minute. / have q
celored wet nurse, who has also baby. II
suited me recently to take the nurse and the
two babies down the river. Ii also suited me 10
hold the colored baSy-the black baby. not 10
put too fine point upon it-upon my lap seve-
raj times during the day. while my own baby
had romp in her mammys strong arms There
was country excursion party on board the
steamer. and between the dances squads OF ex-
cursionists promenaded the deck, frequently en-
tertaining themselves while both amusing and
annoying me, by wondering audibly whether
that could be my baby.
'Oh-h-l.-h; did you eos'," said the excursion
lists
similar freedom marked their conduct in all
respects. and their simple confidence In them
selves. together with their utter disregard of the
TACT that steamer is a public conveyance. and
that other people have rights, were almost
worthy OF admiration. Amazement was freely
accorded them.
At present if mother takes her nurse and
baby down the river her life is burden till she
takes them inside her doors again at night III
she takes her baby without a nurse the burden
Is almost greater than she can bear. Ii she takes
,hree or four children. heaven help her. Her
hand Is against every man and every mans hand
against her. The women on board without
babies join hands against her ALSO One cannot
piafhe them very much. She is decidedly in the
way with her rampant children, particularly if
the children manage the mother
Scoid MIN. please, and make him give IL
oack TO YOU He'll mind you and he won't me-
said mother whose boy was prancing up and
doWh The deck astride OF my parasol That is a
solemn state of things. but one sees such
mothers ashore. sometimes
There were at least forty sick babies on hoard
the boat on that dreadful day. What could be
worse Tor all concerned? The excursionists evil
GENTLY felt that the mothers had conspired against
thehl, ana swept down upon them an army with
nurslng-Dottles and ratties. Mothers on their
sue, Iound the eXcursionists public nuisance
ana would have abated them if they could.
There is a current belief that FREQUENT trims on
the water will help sick babies on the road In
recovery; A mother sends for the doctor TO see
her sick baby.
Take it down the riyerI Go directly and co
two or three times a week. Sick or We'll that
W.li DO IL good, cry the doctors Even those
VINO could not get inside the White House gates
agree IN this and swell the chorus Take il
down the riveri"
pat that must not be thought OF. and she begins
her dreary wanderings up and down in search of
a breeze for the baby.
For those who can not do this there is another
way only trifie more wretched. know three
colored women VINO wash and iron every day I'm
the week, and who at O'Clock in the morning
take each poor. little sick baby and 90 for a
ioriorn walk to and fro through the mists along
the river front. There is no salt in the breeze
tney get Tor their babies. The health officer
Himself could not tell what does enter into its
composition. but 1.-The doctors saw that the
river breeze is healthy and these miserable little
HVeS may be prolonged il not saved these
mothers think. They could not 90 down the
river with their babies, to be sure; but SO strong
is their belief in breeze that have no douht
that success awaits the man who takes nv adj
vice in this matter
Let steamer be fitted IN for mothers and
Dables The one from whose deck l caught the
breeze had no basin, no towels. no hot water
rs an Old nurse put it, "NO nothin' and no WAYS
for nothin'''
But this ideal boat will have rocking chairs.
cribs perhaps, dozens Of towels and dozens of
towei-racks: i'm short. let committee of mothers
pe consulted as to furnishing. There will be a
daily trip OF this boat 1t will leave saw at half
past nine o'clock i'm the morning. and will reach
the City again at about five i'm the afternoon,
making no landing during the trip.
In place OF the usual lunch counter, some en-
terprising person will establish bazaar for the
Saie oil rubber rings rattles, balloons dolls, hob
Dy-horses seed cakes. soda crackers and milk.
Candy, shrill whistles, penny trumpets and
drums should be placed under an Injunction. but
there will be stacks of hats from which to re-
place those that are lost overheard
NO band will be needed, for every mother viii
sing her baby to sleep in any kew that She
chooses
A boat load of mothers could endure the wor-
rylng. crying and playing of boat load of ba-
Dies, and any courageous father or any woman
not mother who came on board would do SO at
his or her own risk.
Upon the whole, am so pleased with nv own
plan that if somebody doesn't take it up pretty
soon, may carry it out myself
wish owned good steamboat.
MOTHER IN ISRAEL