Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-11
BABIES WIN PRIZES.
AN INFANrIIE EXHIBITION At THE
cOLOREO PEOPLES FAIR.
Tho Entries Were Neither Numerous Nor
Largo. But All We're Heard-Governor
Mckinney Pays . Visit.

were conspicuously absent.
Somehow the Indictment weather and tho
bleakness of the atmosphere dampened
the enthusiasm Of the " colored brother"
and the attendance was quite small. The
ham sandwiches and the three-day old po-
tato pies smiled their most seductive
smiles in vain and sighed for more worlds
(stomachs) To conquer.
Even the honey-tongued fakir and the
eloquent proprietors OF the wheels OF for-
tune talked III vain. and the rain-drops on
the roof created dismal sound. Some
how the day seemed cherries, and there
was little OF interest gong on.
THE GOVERNOR VISITS THE FAIR.
Governor Mckinney visited the Fair in
the morning. and though he did not make
speech. he complimented several OF the
prime movers Of the Fair upon their sue
cess.
Tho feature Of tho day was tho baby
show, which took place in the afternoon,
and which at tho final hour elected an
intense amount Of maternal anxiety. The
grand competitive contest for tho infantile
Championship OF the Old Dominion was
advertised to take place at 5 o'clock; but
some hitch occurred. and the real exhib
ton did not commence until nearly b
O'Clock. 1t took place in the music, hail.
which was singularly appropriate loca-
ton for the show, as the adolescent sons
of Ham soon began filling. " with their
harmonious sQuallings and kept up an
unterrified series Of war-whoop5 ana COO
ings during tho whole time.
THE PRIZES OFFERED.
FIVE dollars was offered for the "pickh-
ninny" between the ages OF twelve months
and two years who presented the finest
appearance and proved the most symmet-
rical, Vocal powers were not considered
as an accomplishment. while color was
likewise not in the question. The infant
between the ages of five and twelve
months who showed to the world that he
or she ut proved to be he) who surpassed
any other infautile specimen OF ike age
was promised the SUN of 81. while incip.:
lent representatives of the juvenile world
who bad not been here" less than one
month or more than FIVE were stimulated
to mighty efforts by the rich reward OF one
dollar.
Those having the matter in charge de-
cided to cause each "plckaninny who
entered the contest TO pay tax or 70
cents, while the admission fee was flXed at
dime. This proved fearfully bad stroke
of policy and was condemned by the
enfdnts teivibisS with a rird-roce vote, when
resounded through the rafters OF the large
hall
THE CONTEST OPENS.
A few minutes after o'clock George
Wiilams's mahogany features assumed
maternal look, and getting his mouth III a
sort of pie-eating shape. yelled in stento-
rian tones: babies who are gong to en-
ter the show. please walk this way"
Now, inasmuch as infants ranging be-
tween tho ages of one month and two
wears are seldom possessed of any remark
able perambulatory powers, the influx to
the hall was not by any means great. Ore
fond mother. armed with gallon Of milk
and about two quarts OF baby, marched
up. and 1t was plain 10 see that she expect
ed to get one of those prizes. Then others
followed, and soon the prospective voters
of Jackson Ward began 10 show up more
numerously, and they made their presence
heard, If not felt.
Some Of the tiny Afro-Americans had
whistles some had rattles, and all wore
white dresses and clung on with tahy-tolu
tenacitv to bottles and vials of milk. Tho
tints of the competing babies were as
variegated as the hues of autumn leaves.
WERE or MANY CoLoRs.
There were some whose chubby features
were Of rich chrome yellow. while others
were sobered by soft chocolate. The
stages of blending
would have afforded fine study for any
artist. Kinky-headed infant, were not
'in it," and bald heads, completely do
void of the capillary substance, proved TO
be largely in the majority.
George Williams is a man Of unlimited
ingenuity and considerable sagacity. but
the collection of infantile specimens CON-
pletely ratified him and it took at least
half an hour for him TO get the judges to-
gether. Meanwhile the babies, with
sponge-like suction powers. had absorbed
several gallons of milk and then turned
their attentions and cherublc finger, to
the pulling Of their respective mas "
and pas" hair. In vain did the fond
parents toss them up towards the ceiling
and cajole them and wheedle them. The
babies were wrathy and then and there
they held o great Indignation meeting.
While they were waiting for the judges
the young hopefuls" had discussed for
eiCn politics, the demonstration OF silver.
and the Darwinian theory until they got
thoroughly bored and they didn't intend
to stand such treatment any longer.
AHowL WAS RAISED.
They arose en- masse and raised terrible
howl-a howl which means business and
signifies that they have got to have their
way. The respective mas" and "pas
Of the interesting little Afro-Amerlcans
saw that they would have to give up. SO
they gathered up the dusky babes and
made their way towards the door. not for
getting. however, to ask for their admis.
sion-fees and not unmIndful of the quar-
tiers they had paid to enter their loved
ones. When the guardians of the thresholds
went to refund the money they were
fA 4,t,1 hot ooh in
FAINT had on an average OF three mothers
Mt least. it looked that way II the number
who called tor the disputed % cents were
to be taken into consideration.
Finally the judges appeared and oil the
feminine proprietors OF the infants were
told to take seats upon tho stage with the
babies. Ten mothers with ike nun Der
of little Afro-Amcricans and one happy
father with q solitary juvenile then climbed
upon the rostrum and the excitement be-
came intense. just few minutes before
it had been announced that the public
would be allowed TO see the show free, so this
augmented the crowd; When the dushy
babies realized that they were i'll an ex-
allied position and the object of all eyes
their delight was intense and they cooed
excessively.
THIS ONE WAS WHITE.
Inc Judges lauicS liou ID ooioH.
two gentlemen from Richmond. and
citizens from Manchester and Petersburg
were thea announced, and the owners OF
babies between twelve months and two
wears old were told TO stand up. One soil
tary INA" with her precious jewel"
arose. and as this was the only baby be-
longing to this class the IS was by fore" OF
circumstances his. The lucky little
"pickauinny." inconsistent as it may
seem, boasted of the proud name of George
Ruffin White. and was as rotuDd and club
by as babies generally get to be. George
Ruffin was pleased to death when he had
to stand up, and fiourished his neels 0nd
lower limbs around with as much pro-
mlscuousness as If he had been o ballet
dancer.
When the judges called for the babies
belonging TO the second class the solitary
pa" with his solitary progeny arose. and
with them likewise arose all the rest of the
mothers ana all the rest Of the babies. 1t
was mildly suggested by one of those
designated to make the awards that facial
beauty was not the only thing in question
and that the babies should all be made TO
stand. They oil did stand. and in so doing
some Of them revealed those curyatures in
their lower limbs which always suggest the
weapon used by the North American In
dian. Most Of those thus held up for pub
lie criticism enjoyed 1t immensely. but one
Afro-American was
" Awkward, embarrassed, silH without tho skill
OF moving gracefully or standing still,
One log. as II suspicious OF his brother,
DESTROYS seems to run way from tother."