The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-14
49, 800
WHAT The BABIES DO
Some in Rags and Some in
Tags and None in Velvet
Gowns Howl All Day.
DAY NURSERY CARES FOR THEM
Where They Eat, Sleep and Play
"A Coney Island and Gym
nasium Share the hopors.

AtLMtH ttzE
There is a charity having its headquar-
great deal Of good in a very quiet and
transformations way. It is the Day MUIR
sery Of the Peoples Palace. and it has
benefited a class of people seldom helped,
washerwomen. The Nursery was organ
lied two or three years ago by the Peo-
pies Palace because of the increasing
demand made by working women for a
place to leave their little ones while
they earned a days wages. Four rooms
In the upper floor Of the Palace were
taken for headquarters and there the
Nursery still is. At the time of its or
ganlzation cards We're distributed through
the city telling of it, and saying that
babies would be cared for between the
hours of seven and seven for the small
sum of five cents a day.
Last year 1.-THE News gave an account
of the way the ladies of the Board of
Managers painted and papered and clean
ed the rooms themselves because they
have no money to pay for 1t. The rooms
are always kept fresh and clean and the
matron frequently is called upon to ex-
plain the work n show the rooms to
visitors. The large front room is bright
and sunny and is used as a sleeping
room for the very young babies. In it
are iour or five little cradle-cribs Of
different patterns, which have been do
mated at various times by interested peo-
pie: a desk, where the matron keeps the
accounts: a small stove, which is in use
very cold days, and one or two comforts
able chairs. The small front room next
y 10 ,rcAF3 br 4ha ~ %yzDAL NH. 10 nrn rn0ra
at the rear is used as a kitchen, play
room and general living roem. Here the
meals which the tots get regularly are
cooked and served. and here at all hours
of the day babies of various ages and
sizes. y alas! various tempers may be
seen The small room at the back is
used as a store room for the stacks of
good things which the children of the
Tabernacle Sunday School give the Day
Nursery annually as a Thanksgiving
offering.
A visit to the Nursery any day makes
the visitor coincide in the opinion ex-
pressed by Mrs. Scudder. President of
the Board Of Managers, that the matron,
Miss Stewart, is THE greatest saint in
Jersey City and has the most patience"
Whatever dayAit may be there is sure
are constantly being changed, in fact,
quite as ceaselessly as Jersey City's pop
ulation, the class of babies always re-
mains the same. There is always one
R60J ~ AOfIA oLOR2 ~ LIE
mamma, mamma" there Is always one
who wants to be carried all day long
and who bowls the moment he is put
down, and there is always one poor be-
nighted baby who will not go to sleep.
Then, of course, there are some dear lit
tie things who contentedly play with the
blocks and few toys at the Nursery, and
who. in the parlance of some of the
visitors, "are just too sweet for any
thing"
The babies are received at seven O'clock
in the morning, are washed, dressed and
fed. Those who are old enough go to the
Whittier House kindergarten on the same
block. where they stay until twelve
O'Clock; Again they are fed; are put in
for plenty Of play and noise. The Peoples
Palace gymnasium has a flight of stairs
leading TO the day nursery, and the chill
dren are allowed 70 use the gymnasium
as a play ground. In summer there is a
little shaded piece Of ground known as
the chiidrens Coney Island, where they
nave their fun. This little Coney Island
was planned and executed by Mr.. Scud-
der. He had several loads of sand carted
to the Palace and dumped in this little
shaded place. Then he erected swings,
Island was ready for occupation.
There is some talk of making a roof
garden for the children, and this will UNI
doubtedly be done if the money is forth
coming. The Palace roof is fiat and could
easily be rallied and rooted. Another de-
partment IT the nursery has been
office, with the distinction tina nothing
is charged either party. People who need
help in housecleaning, washing, ironing
or scrubbing send to the nursery, and
the matron sends a good reliable woman
to do the work. Since the nursery has
been opened over 1,500 children have been
cared for. The Board of Managers is de-
sirous of e~nlarging the work, and is max
ing every effort to do SO. The member
Of the Board are Mrs: Scudder. president;
Mrs. Clerihew, vice-president; Mrs.
Hiram Lutier. treasurer; Miss Allenetfe
Frost, secretary; Mrs. William H. Turn
er. Mrs. William j. Hunt. Mrs. William
ROWlandS and Mrs Sam11el q Nep14a