, 1888-01-06
IN THE BETHESDA MISSION.
Baby Boys and Girls in Chicago's "Da,
Nursery''-LittIe Ones Mt Dinner.

Baby Boys and Girls in Chicago's DAY
Nursery'-LittIe Ones Mt Dinner.
There is one bright spot in the very
heart of the '~levee'' district. It is the
Bethesda Day Nursery. 1t is in a wretched
neighborhood-a district where dissipa-
ton and sin and sorrow and poverty
abound. The population is a horrid
mixture, including the worst colored
element and the most vile characters of
the levee white population. The streets
are frequented by bad characters by day,
md are the scene of brawls and fights by
night. Dives and dens and gambling re-
sorts, and doubtful lodging places, make
the place one to be avoided by all re-
spectacle people. 1t is in the very heart
of this place that the Women's Christian
Temperance union is carrying on its most
effective local mission work.
Blu its most furnishing department is
the Bethesda day nursery. The work of this
branch is presided over by Mrs. William
Sevant, who seems to be peculiarly
adapted for charitable work. The nur-
sery was opened in November, 1886, and
from that date it has been the home Of
the babe from the little thing Q weeks
old to the child of z. There the little
ones live and chatter and COO and crow,
and cry and laugh and eat and drink
during the day time, while their wild
owed or deserted mothers are out
s%crubbing or washing, striving to earn
a livelihood for her family. Mrs. Sevant
has been very successful in her work,
but, of course, docs not receive the liber-
al donations in aid of the little ones that
she desires. She has secured as matron
Mrs. M. b. Smith, who has the immedi-
ate care of the nursery. 1t is located on
the second and third floors Of the build
ing, Immediately above the mission
chapel, and is fitted up with q view to
the comfort of the babies. Mothers who
are striving to earn an honest living and
who are obliged to work out by the day,
may carry their little ones to the nursery
in the morning and call for them again
ut night when they return from the hard
days toll to their miserable homes. They
are asked to pay each day ten cents, if
they can; five cents if they cannot afford
ten; two cents if they a spare it, and
nothing if they have naught to give.
The reporter was taken into the nursery
the other afternoon, in the midst of the
twenty-three babies, and the sight that
met his astonished gaze cannot well be
described. 1t may be said at the outset
that the nursery clothes and feeds these
little ones, as well as furnishes them a
day home. Hence they were all clean
and neatly clad. The youngest was three
weeks old. 1t was tugging away at a
well filled bottle for lear life, and had an
extensive growth of black hair. Its eyes
were jet black and piercing, and there
wa n smile upon its fat little face.
In the "crib ROOM babies were sleep
ing and cooling and crying and laughing
and rolling upon the floor. 1t was a
queer sight. To see the babies in the
dining room is worth the walk to the
nursery. There are three long, narrow
tables. One is about twelve inches high
from the floor, and the little chairs that
surround it give the scene an old
fashioned appearance. The other two
are a little higher, but the ''high chair
business has been abolished. Twenty
babies at dinnerl Well, it is worth
seeing. 1t takes four nurses to pick up
spoons. And the baby food. 1t is de
Gcious, which is evidenced by the keen
appetites of the babies. They are u
friendly lot at the table, and are allowed
considerable latitude. Johnny dips his
spoon, for instance, into Eddie's dish.
AS an appreciation of this Eddie lands n
left hand full of bread and milk Just under
Johnny's left eye. Spoons are thrown
aside and n hair pull tug of war sets in,
which is lovingly terminated by the
gentle hands Of the nurse. Such is
happy baby life at the Bethesda nursery
-ChicapO Herald