Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-23

The Baby Show.
No feature of the fair attracted so large a
crowd and such undivided attention as did
the Baby Show, which was ID in Meonian
Hall on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. At
an hour long before the little ores were to
undergo the ordeal of stage exhibit,
mothers with their babies were coming into
the hall and were shown by the committee
into the art room where the final tucks and
pats were bestowed upon tn. infantile speci-
mems preparatory to inspection. What
congregation of little ones was gathered in
that one small room Fully twenty babies
were there up to twenty minutes of the ap-
pointed hour and still they came. They
were Of all ages, weights, sizes, compile xions
and dispositions. Here is wee bit Of lit
tie babe with lots of black hair on her little
head who has just seen the sunlight Of sixty
days and it is as good as can be.
Over in the corner little fair haired
youngster is getting lots of consolation out
of a generous bottle full of milk. The
others are intensely gazing into each others
eyes, with the babyish stare so full Of won
derment and surprise. Some are laughing
all over their fat, dimpled bodies, others are
grave with most becoming seriousness.
Some of the more forward ones trudge about
making hosts of friends for themselves and
their mothers, while others undergo the
amount of pattlDg, iouncing and tossing ne
cessary to keep them in good spirits. 1t
is "a novel scene, yet lively and handsome
one withal. The anxious mothers gaze with
pardonable pride on their own babes, while
with q watchful eye they criticise those
of their neighbors With feelings more
easily imagined than described. They are
all there to be weighed in the balance, and
the one absorbing query is, will they be
found wanting in weight or good looks.
While the trotting and nursing, patting and
fixing is going on the scribe examines the
CT try book of Secretary Fletcher and finds
inscribed therein the name, Of the following
babes who are to compete for the Grange
prizes and special prizes offered by individ
uals:
Rose f. Penney; Willie Cotton Sylvester.
~ mos; Albert T, Stilkey, 20 mos. :;
Frank Davidson, IS mos. 2l days; Roscoe
Manson Jordan 10 mos Angie May
Beal, mos; Louisa Belle LeClair,
e mos Albert Hodgkins 10 mos :;
William Scott Rollins, 10 mos. Edith Smith,
10 mos; Susie Hall II mos. Chester Albert
Harvey, l6 mos Della May Copp I6 mos :;
George Hinckley, 20 mos Alice Hazel
Roberts, IS mos. Mildred Berrie Clark, 10
mos ; Roy Harold Brown, Is mos. Georgi-
anra Dill, 2l mos. Chester Clayton Stevens
mos. Julia NJ Gillispie. I mos Harry
s. Marden, 10 mos; Effie NJ. Grover
10 mos. Cbas. +. Taber, 13 mos Edie
Vertie Smith. 10 mos. Ray Littlefeld
Chelsea, mos Chas S Porter, ~ mos !;
Bernice Isabel Newton, mos.
1t is a grand display of infantry and the
thp nd tba IL
more than satisfied. Presently the word
comes that all is in readiness and the mother.
with futtering hearts bestow a final pat,
gather their small charges into their arms
and file through the crowd packed about the
stage, through the little side door and up the
stairs upon the stage where competent lady
| attendants seat them in the comfortable will
low chairs which the Atkinson House Fur
| nishing Company have placed at their service.
| They are arranged in half circle and when
all are comfortably established II surely is
an animated and handsome scene.
| The little ones kick, crow, laugh and cry
themselves into public favor Immediately "
and the audience accOrds every individual
kid the measure Of praise and admiration
| They have every baby the prettiest baby
and long before the judge has decided the
ye1ed question they have q full slate made
up and will accept no other The judge
rolls up his sleeves, dons the spectacle. OF
wisdom, and pencil and entry book in hand
scans the faces of the assembled babes with
cri ical eye and bated breath. II 10 a ques-
tioD Of 'wait till you see the whites Of theil
eyes for second time in the nations his
tory. Carefully. considerably and con
scientiously the work progressed, unit
finally all bings are decided beside the res.
peetive weight Of the assembled little ones
A pair Of platform scales 10 produced ant
a. each piece Of personal property is placed
| thereon the beam goes up or down in III
telI-tale can't be-bought-off fashion, unit
the traveller makes 1t balance exactly and
| the weight is recorded.
Twenty-seven little ones undergo the per
formsnce with heroic fortitude and more o.
l,zs noise until the last one tips the bean
with his avordupois and the work is com.
pleted. The judge who 10 none other thai
the inimitable Howard Owen, figures owe
the account Of stock. gets matters into read
able form and rises to explain. He invite
the audience to come again in the evening
announces that he has . battery Of revolver
in his pocke, and FIRE escape in the rear o.
the hall, and with expressed misgivings and
pleas for ienisncy. announces the following
prizes: A silver ring IN the handsomes
baby, goes to Harry $. Msrden, aged 10 J..
months. The crowd appIsuds, the bapp,
mother lifts the handsome babe for the peo
pie to see, takes the silver ring and agair
the Judge reads. . solid silver knife. forl
and spoon for the heaviest baby. awa-de'
George Hinkiey 20 months old weight 81 II
ibs, Again the babe 10 displayed, the crow
clsps the heavy weight champion and pro
eeeds to listen
i The judge awards solid silver napkil
ring for the lightest baby to Louie Isabeli
LeClair Who 10 two months Old sod weigh
but ii IL pounds. Mrs. LeClais bring
forward the dainty little mise Who receive
the sppisuse Of the sudience with becoming
dignity. This closed the regular pFizes IN
the following special psizes we're awarded
To the lightess complexioned baby. Mildre'
Bernice Clark, vorsted cape given By ID
J Grunge To The youngess baby. Louis
; Belle L<Claif. tvo months. pair Of plsse