The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-04-15

4 magazine which | read when 4
child contained al illustrated article on
.'Thc World in the Year 2OOO' Among
other improvements propheised for
that time was sort of hum ane incuba-
tor, planned to do the work Of hum
dred mothers. It represented a wide
sunny room with tiers Of shelves rum
ming around it. and on these shelves,
sitting IN long sober rows, were babies,
babies. babies. 4 mouth-piece and
tube connected with huge reservoir
Of warmed milk was within easy reach
of each little mouth. and gaunt spec
tacled professor in cooks cap and
a butchers apron stood near this res
ervoir, carefully noting a thermometer
and ganging the temperature of milk
and room accordingly. A network of
bars kept these shelf babies from fall
ing onto each other and from tumbles
onto the floor. but cannot remember
rs any provision was made against their
reaching through the rods and scratch
ing each other Is faces. All were dress
ed alike in 4 single sleeveless garment
that strongly resemblcd shirt, but
doubtless was "A tunic. All were plump
wholesome. healthy looking children.
Some were contentedly sucking the
mouth pieces of their tubes, some were
playing with their toes. and q few. in
corner shelves where the light or the
artist patience had failed to fall as
strongly, were dismally howling. But
the saddest feature of the prophesy was
this: NO mothers. no mothering, -
that the author confidently assured us
will come with that cycle of time.
Thirty or forty years have rolled
about since the propbesy was chrOni-
ced and illustrated, and surely this
year of 1886 finds the tide setting
strongly that way. Read what the
mothers say in any periodical or book
which airs their theories, and the bur-
den Of their cry is, ..How can l get
along with the least tending of babv?'
Is it possible that in the majority of
our homes, the busy mother cannot
find time to take her little sleepy one
in her arms when his nap hour comes
and rock or hush him to sleep? 1t
surely ought not to be 50, vet why the
cry that baby must not be humored to
cosy, comfortable times in being rock
Ell and cuddled and crooned to sleep?
What need. mothers, that baby be
taught to 60 to bed alone, wide awake.
in the dark and in the sunlight just
when and where Your big will and per-
haps palm, shall dictate?
No mothers. no mOthering.' Is
not this the goal t. which some OF us
are looking? See the cunning skill and
money that are expended on toys now
adays. and for what? TO make baby
happy. Yes, happy without mamma.
SO the dear kensington stitchcrs and
painters needn't spend time on their
babies. See the subterfuges for moth
cts milk that are offered for sale, and
for what? To spare the maternal
parent the bother and confinement Of
4 nursing baby. There are cases. no
doubt. when it is better for both moth
CT and child that the little one should
be bottlc-fed. but is not the great army
| OF bottle-nnrsing babies made sc
| through selfish whims of those who
bore them and not through necessity
Babies have their birthrights. and
one Of them is to be mothered, bro0ded
and >nugglcd and petted and purred
over, caresses which the dear, sensi-
tive. little things appreciate and love
50 well-not turned off when their
sleepy times come as though work OF
self was first and baby second in our
thoughts and homes. Cidrissa Potter