St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-15

our present SUI
perior position through the dim. narrow
avenue of babyhood. But there is more
to be said than that. 1t is undeniable
prejudice exists. The prejudice, as will
| presently appear. is foolish and
ill-founded-bu there it is. People
are apt to contemplate babies as
Mr.. Gladstone does the Plan of Cam
paign, and to pronounce them a dis
agreeable necessity. Naturally this rule
is not of universal application. Youth
full parents, for instance, upon whom
the novelty and joy brought by ''the
little stranger" has not begun TO pail,
are different from the rest, and some
other Xceptions-notably in the direc-
ton of maiden aunts- will suggest
themselves.
Yet even those who appreciate the
baby do so on the comparatively made
auate grounds of natural affection
rather than in consequence OF dispas
sionate and scientific estimate of his in
trinSic merits; while it is safe 10 affirm
that among the great host of those who
are too much married las the saying is),
and those who are not married at all,
his position as benefactor to the conf
munity meets with no kind of recog-
milton whatever. The baby, as baby
and while baby, is an eminently use
full member of society, and yet society
, does mot see it. Such blindness is little
short Of deplorable.
Good for the Soap Trade.
In these hard times it is greatly TO the
baby's credit that he is good for trade.
He is not like chicken OF an infant
alligator, ready to shift and do for him
self as soon as he opens his eyes to the
a =
ably dependent upon others for the sup
ply of his multituuinous wants. He is
helpless. and nurses make a good thing
out of him. He has TO be washed fire.
quently, aud the purveyor of Some
body'S soap is advantaged. He has fits,
whooping-cough. humps CT measles,
and the hearts of doctors and apothe-
carries are made to sing. He wears long
garments, curiously wrought and many
sizes too large for him, and the design
ers of the same rejoice and are glad.
He takes the air, and the carriagemaker
finds in him a source of profit. He
wrinkles his alabaster brow. and silver
smith and coraimaker combine their
skill for a consideration to rattle his
smiles back again.
But 1T is unnecessary to pursue this
train of reflection further. Once indi-
Gated it is obvious enough. Nothing
can be clearer than the fact that were
our babies to be suddenly banished
from our midst, the forces making for
industrial depression would straight
way be enormously strengthened and
increased. ,ssf 4
But the baby is not only benefactor
to commerce. He is, in his own sphere,
an ornament to society as we'll. TO be
sure, it is possible TO have too much of
him, as of any other good thing. The
baby in Dickens novel, who used to he
handed around regularly from one WISH
tor to another as if he were some
thing to drink, was no doubt trife
too much in evidence. But in
moderation he has much to commend
him. In himself, he is cOmelier to the
eye, and scarcely less interesting to
watch. than our poor relations behind
the bars in the Zoo. He affords his
young mother opportunities for all kinds
of graceful poses and demonstrations.
His coming hair or tooth furnishes a
ready topic of conversation to the shy.
He enables young LADIES, skilled in de-
liciOus endearmentS, to reduce Onlook-
ing bachelors of q susceptible turn to
distraction and despair. And if, from
desire of refreShment, or from the I'M
pleasing proximity of an urgent pin, he
is led to lift UP the voice of protest. and
SO TO render his absence desirable. he
can, unlike other social bores, forthwith
be sent away.
RaSa J5haIS ON tho Infant