Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-24
FASHIONABLE MOTHERS.
Tho Care Rich New York Women Bestow
Upon Their Babies.

Tho Care Rich New York Women Bestow
Upon Their Babies.
Correspondence Of the Dlspatch.)
NEW YORK, June 2s.-Do the rich and
fashionable women OF New York make
good mothers? The general impression is
that the demands OF society are permitted
TO interfere with intimate relations be-
tween parents and children, and. there
fore. 20 the tender mercies Of the house.
maids and doubtfully good-tempcred gov
ernesses are carelessy confided the
morals, manners. and good health Of their
small boys and girls.
There are mothers and mothers among
the -Four Hundred. Some OF them, no
doubt. are neglectful of and indifferent
to their babies. but a woman who knows
about the domestic regulations existing
in fashionable homes vouches for II that
a goodly majority Of the very young
people are not Ill treated.
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, for example.
Is mother whose methods any woman
might profltaby study. Her first thought
each day is for the inhabitants OF her
nursery. and nursemaids vote her some
thing Of a faddist In the care Of the little
VaDderbilts. So long as there was baby
in the family Mrs. Vanderbilt never failed
TO battle. rub. and dress 1t every morning
with her own hands. Not even her head
nursemaid. a capable. elderly English wo-
man. is permitted to perform this office.
The mistress held that her children ran the
gravest risks TO health when getting their
morning bath. and that IL Is every
mothers duty to personally protect them
against any dangers from chill, careless
rubbing, or over-hot water.
AS her children have grown out OF
babyhood. Mrs. Vanderbilt has never re-
Taxed her custom of early rising to SUI
perintend the beginning Of every day.
Nursemaids know that nothing escapes
her keen eye, and that she never fails
TO test the temperature Of baths and
exact liberal supply of big Turkish
towels for every youthful bather. To
this care she attributes In a large part
the excellent health her children enjoy.
and to whom above all else she is devoted.
SEVERE, BUT JUST.
Mrs Vanderbilt is a severe, but just
mistress, and by her friends considered a
reserved and rather stern person. quite
undemonstTative: an opinion her children
would be surprised to hear expressed. To
them she is a most tender and indulgent
mother. She is ardently ambitious that
they shall grow up possessing many ac-
complishments, and with her husband she
takes every precaution against anything
like snobbishness and ostentation. How
ever. II would be hard for her sons and
daughters to remember an occasion on
which she ever rebuked them sharply or
repulsed a caress.
Mrs. Willie Vanderbilt is not so much OF
a nursery mother as her sister-in-law, but
is none the less solicitlous of her chill
dren's welfare and particular as to the
wholesome simplicity of their lives. They
enjoy no finer wardrobes. no richer food.
nor greater abundance OF toys that the
children of any ordinarily well-to-do pa
rents. They are carefully taught how TO
ride, drive. swim. row. dance and the
boys know q great deal of yachts.
Though Mr.. and Mrs. Vanderbilt enter
tain lavishIt, both in New York and New
port. the children are neither seen nor
heard of on such occasions. Once year.
however, Mrs. Vanderbilt. In her beauti-
full grey-stone house on Fifth avenue.
gives a grand ball In the children's honor.
usually a fancy-dress affair in the after
noon with as splendid music and floral
decorations as money can buy. with
banquet the youngsters remember for
many a long day.
The public has seen and heard a great
deal OF the little Gould children. They
are not kept very strictly TO their nursery,
and unless there is a dinner-party OF
formidable size arranged for, the entire
family dine together after the American
fashion Mrs. George Gould is very much
of mother. She is fond of discussing
her babies. and not the most experienced
nurse can take her place when one Of the
boys or small girls are Ill.
MASTER JACK.
The most devoted slave Of young John
Jacob Aston Is his grandmother. for his
mother though mindful Of all her duties
toward this plump. blue-eyed little heir
of many millions, is n firm believer In the
English system Of nursery-training ana
exact discipline. The servants speak OF
him as Master Jack" and up 10 date
the little fellow has not tasted bit OF
candy very seldom sees strangers, ana
long ago learned that tears and bad tenn
per were not to be tolerated. lie has
never been seriously III day In his lie,
and once a week, for what meal he and
his governess can never tell. his mother
drops i'm to sit opposite him at the nur-
sery-table. share his simple food ana
spend an hour In a fine frolic. One OF the
very first things little Jack began 10 learn
was the Dutch language, such as MS
great great grandfather spoke when ne
first came trading 10 America. Facts Ike
these. IT seems. might 20 TO prove TO the
pessimists that babies are not wholly out
OF fashion in New York, and that the
mothers have done very sensible thihs
I'm establishing a stern nursery etiquette
and I'm adopting the English code, which
SAYS. though small children should neither
be seen nor head by general society, they
need not for that reason be forgotten py
their mothers.