Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1889-03-09
CURIOUS CRADLES.
Brief Descriptions Of Some OF tho Beds
In which Babes Reposc.

Brief Descriptions Of Some Of tho Deds
In which Babes Rcpose.
Tho Chinese have queer institution which
they call the winter cradle. Il Is shaped like
an hour glass. and stands on end. There IL
an opening above and below, and the waist,
which Is contracted. serves 10 keep tho celcs-
tial baby on his fcct Day after day little
almond shaped eyes peep over the top Of this
cradle. and littlo hands play with miniature
dragons and other toys till tho nurse puts In
an appearance. Some Of these winter cradles
arc made Of wickcrwork and arc beautifully
painted by Chinese women artists Il Is
almost impossible for one TO 10 upSct; but
now and then, when two arc placed together
and tho occupants declare war and measure
arms, two cradles roll over tho fioor 10 noises
that bring down the house"
Tho lapp baby very often has n snow
cradle. for when tho indulgent mother at
tends church sho makes hole In the snow
outside and deposits the laplander therein.
II Is no uncommon sight to scc a circle of
these SNOW cradles In front Of a Lapp
chapel. and now and then lot Of fierce look
ins dogs arc on guard to keep OF tho wolves
that might mcditatc u raid Oh tho baby con-
tingen;.
The IApp cradle in material differs essen
TALLY from that usci by tho Bushman baby,
whose mother digs hole In tho hot sand and
chucks him therein In tho shadow OF some
lonely bush. Sometimes the cradle Is ut hnnd
in tho shape Of an ostrich nest. aud now and
then Some Of thc feathers left by tho mighty
bird help TO soften the most Of tho future
Busliman warrior.
There Is tribc In tho palm region Of the
al. Al.
leaves y single leaf turned up around the
edges by some native process makes an excel
lent cradle. and now and then it Is inade to
do service as u bath tub. Strong cords are
formed from tho sincws Of another species Of
palm. and by these this natural cradle is
swung alongside tree. and tho wind rocks
the little tot TO sleep. Long ago tho ANA
zonian mother discovered that il was not wise
to leave IA baby AMI cradle under cocoa
palm, for the iniss'hicvoLs monkeys delighted
to drop the nuts downward with unerring
precision I'm older child Is stationed near
by 10 watch the baby during his sleep, and
tho chatter Of the monkeys overhead 10
enough to cause u speedy migration.
Patagonian babies aro kept in cradles made
Of fiat pieces Of board. Twopicces of Guanaco
skin are NJ arranged across the table that the
clllu u uTiIiIS Iustcncu itlsluc, anu eau 10
carried thus suspended from saddle bow
without danger In tho rude huts of this
people these cradles are hung hammock wise
TO the raftcrs. and, amid tho smoke that
darscns everything, including his very ma
turc, rs II sccns, tho Patagonian ir FAINT passes
the first stage OF babyhooi. When the vii
lagc migratcs. the cradle is swung from the
saddle; and IN swimming stream II floats
like canoe on the surface. while the horse
is almost entirely submerged. Sir Francis
Head. who saw n good deal of I'aiaSonan
life years ago. leaves on record IL, s,a'c;ucnt
that the Paiasomian baby IL E,qurcr cradle
is ono OF tho b,Nt naturc.l representatives Of
the infant world.
One would hardly so 10 I:a:.irlanG for fan
tastic cradle, and one Glino-: 81, queer rs IL IS
fantastic. Vet hc would lind such !. o;,c there
The Eai!lr taby, whcn Lc cu..icS into tho
world, is put in;ua cradle or b.:; Eladc Of
antelope skin. with the hair oa. THIS baby
castle. narrow toward The bottom wit!cils to
within a few inches Of the opening. when il
again suddenly contracts The SAN /, turned
inward, giving the young kni..r u 'a.t l'cd
aS some found in the cradles m royalty
Four long strips Of antelope s..ii are attached
90 the cradle, and enable tie mother to
swing it on her back after u ucruiar fash.
ion-llall s journal OF llcal,h.