Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-07-18
A BROKER IN BABIES.
A New York Firm Whose BuSi-
ness is to Supply Babies
When they are
Wanted.

Wanted.
OF all the thousand and one profes-
sions 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
attention. Very few are aware of the
extent and Importance of the business.
The recent researches of a Journal re-
porter revealed the fact that there are
at present something lika 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 Matthusian
ideas were exceedingly popular; but the
volume of the transactions in infantile
humanity furnish a striking refutation
of this theory. "Of course / will tell
you something about it," said prom
inent operator in infants to Journal
reporter yesterday. "Come around to
the office with me, and l will give you
few points. At present the crop is
coming forward but slowly, and as a
natural consequence my stock is rather
low; however, you shall see what l
have. There is a desirable youngster
about 10 days old, fair hair, blue eyes,
and boy. He has, you observe, a
dimple on the left cheek, and that al
ways enhances the value of child. l
am asking 500 fer him. The girl
next to him, of about the same age,
will probable go for half that sum.
She would fetch more, but her hair has
every indication of developing into
what is euphemistically termed an au-
burn shade-in other words, red.
However, boys always bring more than
girls"
"How do you account for that 2"
"Weil, don't know; all / know is
that girls, with the exception of par
ticularly fine specimens, are at a dis
count. l prefer not to deal in them"
What nationalities do you find
most in demand 2"
at 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 awhile
mistake is made, and child of Hiber-
nian extraction is disposed of to Teu-
tonic foster-parents, but as a general
thing / manage to avoid such errors.
No, we have no Chinese babies as
yet"
"Do you find it difficult to suit your
customers 2"
Sometimes | 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 gen.
eral thing ] find that the blond type is
most in demand, although many of my
clients ask for such curious combina-
tion as blue eyes and dark hair, or
dark eyes and fair hair. A lady who
came here this morning produced lock
of hair Of rather unusual white, which
she expected me to match, for all the
world as if she was buying yard of
ribbon"
"Do you find the business profit
able?"
"Well, generally the demand is rath-
er in excess of the supply, and hence
the chances of profit are fairly good,
but my expenses are large. My rent is
heavy, and doctors fees make 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 customer is
not satisfied with my rates she goes
elsewhere, in fact, goes shopping
The establishment opposite has been
great source OF loss to me. Where /
used to get 5000 year ago, | must
now be satisfied with SIS.
"Do you ever have applications for
colored ?"
"No. The extreme brunette type is
not popular among white people, and
the Afican population do not seem to
stand in need of my service. A large
part of my trade is in what we term
futures / 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 the business is done,
visit the city. ."-Ne,o York Erchange.