Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-08-04
A BROKER IN BABIES.
A New York Firm Whose business
is to Supply Babies When They
Are Wanted.

OF all the thousand and one profess
sons on which the inhabitants of this
city are dependent for support, it is
probable that the pursuit OF the baby
broker has as yet attracted the least at
tention. Very few are aware OF the ex-
tent and Importance of the business.
The recent researches of Journal re-
porter revealed the fact that there are
at present something like forty or fifty
individuals and firms employed in this
industry. 1t has been generally held
that the ''blessed baby" was not usually
regarded as thing to be desirable in
American families, and that Malthusian
ideas We're exceedingly popular; but the
volume of the transactions in infantile
humanity furnish striking refutation
of this theory. "0f course will tell
You something about it, said a prom
inent operator in infants to a Journal
reporter yesterday. Come around to
the Office with me, and I will give you
a few points. At present the crop is
coming forward but slowly. and a as nat
ural consequence my stock is rather low;
however, you shall sec what have.
There is desirable youngster about ten
days old, fair hair, blue eyes, and boy.
He has, you observe, dimple on the
left cheek, and that always enhances
the value Of child. | am asking Sl00
for him. The girl next to him. OF about
the same age, will probably go for half
that sum. She would fetch more, but
her hair has every indication of devel-
oping into what is euphemistically
termed an auburn shade-in other
words, .red However, boys always
bring more than girls"
"How do You account for that?''
swell, l don't know; all know is
that girls, with the exception of partic-
uiarly fine specimens, are at discount.
/ prefer not to deal in them.
"What nationalities do you find most
in demand?"
"It depends entirely on that of the
customer, and l endeavor to satisfy
them in that respect to the best of my
ability. OF course, once in while
mistake is made, and child of Hiber-
nian extraction is disposed of to Teu-
tonic foster-parcnts, but as a general
thing | manage to avoid such errors.
No, we have no Chinese habies as yet. !"
"Do you find it difficult to suit your
customers ?"
Sometimes l do. Some women are
very particular. They have in their
minds eye an ideal baby, and expect me
to be able to produce it. As a general
thing | find that the blonde type is
most in demand, although many of my
clients ask for such curious combina-
ton as blue eyes and dark hair, or dark
eyes and fair hair. A lady who came
here this morning produced lock of
hair Of a rather unusual white, which
she expected me to match, for all the
world as if she was buying yard of
ribbon"
"Dn you find the business profitable?n
"Well. generally the demand is rather
in excess of the supply, and hence tho
chances of profit are fairly good; but my
expenses are large My rent is heavy,
and doe.ers' fees make a large hole in
my profits. My competitors are very
numerous, and Of course that cuts down
prices. Things are not what they used
to be. Now, if a customer is not satis-
fed with my rates she goes elsewhere
in fact, goes shopping. The establish
ment opposite has been great source of
loss to me. Where I used to get $500,
a year ago, | must now be satisfied with
s75.p
eDo you ever have applications for
colored babies p
"No. The extreme brunette type is
not popular among white people, and
the African population do not seem to
stand in need Of my service. A large
part of my trade is in what we term fu-
lures. | have here" referring to a
ledger, contracts for July and August
delivery; some. indeed, as far ahead as
September, those being the months in
which my rustic customers, among
whom most Of my business is done, visit
the city.--Ne,o York Exchange,