The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-04
THE BABY SHOWS.
They Are n Good Thing, and May Inn
prove the Race.

They Are a Good Thing, and May I'M
prove the Race.
New York Sun.
A baby show in which children of aris-
tocratic parentage competed for prizes,
was held last week in London, and the
winners were a son OF Lord Castlerosse,
an II months old baby, and laughter
of Lord Ashhourne, IS months old. The
first weighed thirty-three and one-half
pounds and the little girl twenty-eight
pounds. and she had already cut four
teen teeth.
This sort of competition was devised
originally as a novel circus attraction.
and hitherto il has been regarded as
vulgar show of comical interest only,
but now that il has received aristocratic
sanction a British medical journal grave
ly discusses il as an established fashion
able innovation of serious Importance.
Unquestionably. too. it would be of such
Importance If there were the prospect
that IL would result in an Improvement
of the human. species corresponding to
that which has been stimulated in brutes
by the horse. cattle, dog and chicken
shows, in which The public interest has
increased so much of recent years. FIX
actlv what were the standards Of judg
ment adopted in these aristocratic baby
shows we are not informed. but they
seem to be physical only or chiefly. and
II is hard 10 see how they could so fur
Their. and measure moral and intellect
uni qualities. II may he possible TO de-
termine which is the baby that is sound
est in its physical constitution. 3nd most
symmetrical in its bodily development.
or, In other words. which is the best ami
NAL as an animal. Such superiority is.
Of course desirable. and doubtless II is
useful 10 the race that more attention
should be attracted 10 its Importance.
In the long run II might induce in men
and women a higher sense Of their re-
sponsihilities as progenitors of The race.
and lead them 70 think moro seriously
OF the physical inheritance they are 10
hand down 10 posterity
OF course the brutal theory that the
principles applied 20 breeding on a stock
farm can he enforced on human beings
nv legal enactment dlsregards condi-
tons which make impossible such an eN-
tension Of the control exercised over alb
salutely subject hrutes; but the cultiva-
ton Of the emulation that these BABY
shows provoke may be both morally and
practically profitable other things being
equal the physical superiority Of a ba-
by Is of the highest Importance. That
- the capital upon which II must draw
"a life but there also comes in the quail
~ of is stock. Il may be thoroughbred
or u NAV be OF a coarse. though enduring
strain Nor does this difference depena
on the social situation Of its parents
whether u be high or low. FOR in either
case its Inheritance OF qualities may be
bad or good. superior or inferior There
are also different standards by which
babies and al human beings are 10 be
Judged. according 10 the lives they arr
likely TO lead o. the spheres or activity
in which they should he fitted 70 engage
This Introduction Of the baby show into
the ranks Of arsstocracy and fashion IS
another among many evidences OF the
increasing interest which is now mani
Tested in all physical development for
The human being, Both men and women
IN these DAYS aye looking al this more
than ever. and thinking more about it
Emulation in Il extends through all soci-
ETY. Admiration FOR physical strength and
bodily excellence and competition for su-
periority in athletic sports and exercises
are carried 50 FAR "a some circles OF So
cicty that intellectual eueinence is ig-
uoreA Almost the sole subject OF con-
Ne-sation relates 10 this single side ~
humaa development, and ambition for
distinction in Il IS the absorbing passion
OF course. this is carrying = TO an ex-
trcme. IN which the proper balance Of de-
sira6le qualities and capacities s. lost
sight q: but generally the tendency has
pTofJed the race already and IL viii con-
4uce % rs highest advantage more fully
hereafter. This generation % young neo-
pie, both men ana women. has increased
n stature and n hardiho0i u IS better
axle tS 60 tie week of TIE .Mo.l1. and