Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-06-14
SOW LEGS EASILY CURED.
Breaking the Limbs Unnecessary n .
Child Can Go Barefooted.

Mrs. Bassett had spent the first five
years of her married life in England
and when she returned TO her native
town she brought, together with the
twins and a baby girl, a grtlt many
novel ideas.
The twins we're 3 years old fine,
sturdy little fellows. with rosy cheeks
and sparkling eyes. straight limbed
and vigorous as young athletes. The
Bassetts were "well TO do, and it was,
therefore a matter Of great surprise TO
the village in general, and To the
young mothers in particular, TO see the
infant Bassets running about from
morning till night sans shoes and
stockings.
Ii was soon a~scertained tsat the
baby girl who was just beginning to
walk was also destitute of these Two ar
ticles of attire, and the Society," for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children had
serious thoughts Of calling upon Mrs.
Bassett and demonstrating in a body
with that dcrelict matron.
But it was the general opinion that
il Mrs. Bassett chose 10 he unconven.
tional she had reasons of her own for
conduct which might be worthy of
consideration, and il was finally de.
cided that a committee of two-ladies
Of an inquiring turn of mind-should
visit the Bassett household and fuYuish
forthwith To the community at large a
report of the various heresies which
had been put into practice.
Mrs. Basse,t received her visitors
cordially and smiled pleasant, chen
informed of the nature of their call.
II am very willing to talk aboutmy
b~arefooted babies" she said frankly.
for. to tell the truth. lam rather proud
of them. Whoa the twins were ba.
bies,' she continued, seating herself in
a low chair, they Were treated. | sup
pose. very much like other children.
They lived out of doors a great deal
and We're healthy and strong, but soon
after they began To walk | noticed in
them a decided tendency 10 toe in !
was horriied, for if there is one thing
| detest it is a bow legged man, and
here were my little men of a year and
a half actually setting out on the
crooked journey of the nursery jingle.
My friends all said that most chill
dren were bow legged at first and all
that would come right itself in the
course of time.
Il waited with considerable impa.
tience, but saw no signs of improve
ment. Finally | consulted a doctor
and asked him if | must put the two
pairs of legs in irons.
"~'Irons!' shouted the doctor. 'Fid-
dlesticks! Take off their shoes and
stockings. Their muscles have prob
ably been cramped and weakened al.
ready and irons will only increase the
trouble. OFF with their shoes
Blu: won't they take collar | ven-
tured to humbly inquire.
"'Cold! he said. Why should theyi
You don't keep their hands tied up, do
your If your house is fairly comforta-
BILE and they are active and vigorous
their feet will be as warm as their
hands. At first perhaps they had bet
ter wear shoes out of doors, but in a
short time they can dispense with them
even there, except, of course, in sever
weather.
II vas not altogether convinced,
but ] thought the experiment worth
trying. Another suggestion which the
doctor gave me | also found a most
useful one. He advised me 10 let the
boys walk up hill, and when they
could not be out of doors to have an
inclined plane arranged in the house
for them to practice on. In the effort
to walk up a steep incline IN aatur.
ally throws the feet outward.
let your boys try il for awhile al
any rate, said my good doctor. Don't
cramp their feet and | will wager that
nature will give them as straight legs
and as firm muscles as anybody need
wish for
Il have followed my wise doctors
advice; the results you can see for
yourself" added the young mother,
proudly, as her two barefooted boys
came running into the room
''But your baby, does she actually
60 barefooted, tooi" asked one of the
visitors. Yes, indeed" replied Mrs.
Bassett. She has never worn a shoe
in her life. When she goes out for an
airing she wears warm wooden socks,
for until she can walk she cannot of
course take sufficient exercise to keep
her feet warm. But in the house she
is as b~arefooted as the boys. She is
just beginning TO get OF her feet and
her little bare toes are almost as useful
to her as fingers. They have saved
her many "A falL."-Home Maker.