Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-08-02
4aistfllalrtons
Babies Ready Made.
How A NEW YORK DOCTOR PEDDLEs
NEw-BoRN INFANTS TO STRANGERS.


NEw-BORS INFANTS TO STRANGERS.
The following singular advertisement
appeared in morning paper yesterday
A DOPTED.-Aay ehildiess couple sincerely desir.
% e: ana & stGSns :. .ss 9c9 ~ hss1 .sR eofa
Ieetual and aFistocrssie Ameriesn parentase. can
5; s,Is ss e Il d.
bell's sanitarfum, l4s West le.h st.. New York
A Journal reporter called at the address
indicated with view Of learning DIR. Camp
bells method of doing business. and was
ushered into the parlor Of q handsome four
story brick house, where two young ladies
were playing the piano.
The doctor, very tall, good looking
man OF about so. presently appeared and
invited the writer into his Office in the rear
Of the parlor. The reporter expressed
wish to know what steps were necessary
in order to secure possession of the child
mentioned In the advertisement. The
doctor said he must be convinced in the
first place that the child would be well
treated excellent references would be re-
quired. 'What guarantee have DOCTOR"
asked the reporter THAT the child is as
described, can meet the pareDts?"
mot on any account. The only guar
ai,tee that it is possible to give is my word
Of honor. I will explain how impossible
it il to introduce you To the parents. You
see that 1t is point of utmost importance
that the mother Of the child should be
ignorant Of its fate; otherwise some
time in the future there would be
nothing to prevent her from chang
ing her mind and claiming it, but
l assure you in the most solemn manner
that the parents are people of respecta-
bility and wealth, and are both pictures of
physical perfection. The husband is tall
er than am-you see am six feet - by
fully halt head. and the wife is hand
some brunette Of about "a years of age.
- You mentioned the possibility of
mothers desiring to reclaim their children.
Do they often do so ?''
"Qnite often. have had at least fifty
letters from one lady who is anxious to
recover little one that had adopted for
her. but there is no chance of her ever
seeing it again"
"Do you not keep register of what
becomes of the children ?"
II rarely know what becomes of them.
Most of the people who apply for children
do not desire to have their names known"
'How. then. do you satisfy yourself OF
their respectability ?"
''ln this way. You go to your refer
ence. whoever he may be. and tell him
that at certain time a certain person,
whom we shall call John Doe - in fact
myself-will call on him for references
concerning Richard Roe, or whatever
name You wish to assume. If the result
Of my inquiries is satisfactory. notify
you that when the child is born it is at
mi
here at night and receive it. In order to
avoid any future complications / prefer
not to know the name of the person tax
ing the child. l always endeavor to Sc
lect people who are unlikely to have chill
dren Of their own, as, in the event of a
couple having afterwards child of their
own, the little waifi likely to be neglect.
ed, or perhaps indeed entirely discarded
'ls any remuneration expected ?''
Not to the parents. but always re-
ceive a reasonable fee.''
About what amount P'
well. the last one I received was 800:
before that $50. have received as low
as $25. leave it entirely to the gen.
erosity of the clients"
'Ilow long have you been in the busi-
ness. doctorp"
''Since 1856. ! have caused to be
adopted in that time great many little
strangers. l can give you references to
Mt least 800 OF the most promineet bank
ers. merchants and professional men of
this city,"
Another prominent operator in infants
displayed his stock in trade to the journal
lists
There is desirable youngster," said
he, about ten days old, lair hair. blue
eyes and boy. He has, you observe, "A
dimple on the LETT cheek. which always
enhances the value Of child. | am ask
ing 800 tor him. The girl next to him,
OF about the same age, will probably 90
for half that sum she would fetch more,
but her hair has every indication of de-
veloping into what is euphemistically
termed an auburn shade-in other words,
red. However. boys always bring more
than girls"
''iiow do you account for that p'
well, don't know. all know is that
girls, with the exception of particularly
fine specimens. are at discount pre-
fer not to deal in them"
'Do you find It difficult to suit your
customers P"
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 general
thing find that the blonde type is most
in demand. although many of my clients
ask for such curious combinations as blue
eyes and dark hair. or dirk eyes and fair
hair. lady who came here this morn
ing produced lock of hair of rather
unusual white which she expected me to
match for all the world as ifshe was buy
ing yard of ribbon.
do you find the business profitable
onee'
"Well, generally the demand is rather
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 big hole in my prof.
its. The worst Of it is that competition
has to great extent spoiled the business.
My.competitors are very numerous, and
Of course that cuts down prices. Things
are not what they used to be- Now II a
customer is not satisfied with nv rates
she goes elsewhere-in fact goes shop
ping The establishment opposite has
been q source Of great loss to me. Where
used to get eco few years ago must
now be satisfied with $75."