The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-11-02
crAotrs Foe eAeles.
some Singular Prisons Prepared for In.
fant~ ln Disfast Lanes.

Some Singular Prisons Prepared for In
fants in Distant Laness
The Chinese have queer Institution
which they call tho winter cradle. IL
Is shaped somewhat like ar hour glass
and stands on end. There Is an open
ing above and below. ard the waist,
which II contracted. serves 70 keep
the celestial baby ON his feet. Day
after day little nlmond-shaped eyes
peep over this top OF the cradle and
little hands play with miniature dragons
and other toys until the nurse puts I'm
an appearance. Some OF these winter
cradles are rnade ~ wicker-work and
are beautifully painted by Chinese wo-
men artists. It Is almost impossible
for one 20 be upset; but now and then,
when two are placed together and the
occupants declare war and measure
arms. two crndies roll over the floor
TO noises that bring down the house,"
The Lapp baby very often has n snow
cradle. for when the indulgent mothcr
attends church she makes hole in tho
snow outside and deposits the young
Laplander therein. II Is no uncommon
sight 10 see circle Of these snow
cradles In front Of Ilapp chapel. and
now and then a lot Of fierce-looxing
dogs are ON guard ~ keep of the
wolves that might mediate a raid ON
the baby contingent. The Lapp cradle
In material differs essentially from that
used by the Bushman baby. whose
mother digs hole IN The hot sand and
chucks him therein I'm the shadow OF
some lonely bush. Sometimes the
cradle IL ready TO hand in the shnpe
Of an ostrich nest, and now and Then
some feathers left by the mighty bird
help to soften the nest OF the future
Bushinan warrior.
There Is "A tribe In the pelrn region Of
the Amazon that cradles the young in
palm leaves. A single leaf turned up
around the edges by some native pro-
cess makes an excellent cradle. and
now and then Il Is made TO do service as
bath tub. Strong cords are formed
from the sinews Of another species Of
palm, and by these this natural cradle
Is swung alongside tree, and the wind
rocks the little tot Co sleep. Long ago
the Amazonian mothers discovered that
ii is not wise 10 leave baby and cradle
under a cocoa palm. for the mischIev-
Gus monkey delighted to drop nuts
downward with unerring precision. An
older child Is stationed near by 10
watch the baby during the siesta. and
the chatter Of the monkeys overhead is
enough to cause a speedy migration
Patagonian babies are kept in cradles
made OF nat pieces Of board Two.
pieces OF guanaco skin are so arranged
across the cradle thai the child is firmly
fastened inside. aud can be carried thus
suspended from saddle bow without
danger. In the rude hufs Of this people
these cradles are hung bammockwise
10 the rafters, and amid the smoke that
darkens everything. including his very
nature. as il seems, the Patagouian in
fant passes the first stages OF babyhood.
When the village migrates the cradle il
swung from the saddle. and In SWIM
ming stream it floats like canoe on
the surface, while the horse Is almost
entirely submerged. Sir Francis Head.
who saw Il good deal of PatAgoraian life
years ago. leaves ON record the state
ment that the Patagonian baby in his
queer cradle is one of the best natured
representatives Of the infant world.
One would hardly go 10 KafIiriand for
a fantastic cradle. and one almost as
queer as IS il IS fantastic at that. Yet
he would find such a one there. The
kaffir baby. when he comes into the
world. is put into a cradle or bag made
of antelope skin. with the hair on. This
baby castle, narrow toward the bottom.
widens TO within a few inches of tho
opening. when it again suddenly con-
tracts. The skin il turned inward. Civ
ing the young Kniiir as soft bed as
some found in the cradles of royalty.
-Four long strips of antelope skin are Ut
tached To the cradle. and enable the
mother to swing ii on her back after "A
peculiar fashion. brakes Magazine.