The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-07

| baby. "were called after literary per-
son. I believe"
IT trust so: a Boston lady OF social
and historical importance" said Miss
Priscilla Cod with dignity.
"And you, Miss Detroit?"
Miss Detroit shrugged her dimpled
shoulders and laughed frivolously as she
replied, "Sappho." at which Miss Cod
tainted away and had to be revived by
the cupid OF the fountain.
"I" continued tho New York baby. "am
| Desdemona Rocnefoucauld Craven de
| Castellance Bradley Martin Smith, a real
| New York name, as you will notice
| Then there Is the affectionate-comparison
| annoyance. the discovery-of-,e semblanco
| mania.
when was two days old they declar-
| ed | had hair like my mother and a nose
| like my father. I declare. | had neither
nose nor hair worth notice. certainly not
worth comment.
yesterday my uncle came to see me.
NV eyes. II you will pardon my vanity.
are my one beautiful feature. The whole
family at once exclaimed that | had eyes
| like my uncle Now, that Is not n
pleasing thing to say.
Uncle has goggle-eyes," said the New
York baby, after pause.
A DEMAND FOR NICE DRESSES.
The sun had crept around the park
| slvly as the babies discussed these burn
| ing wrongs. gravely and Indignantly, and
now IL glimmered down between the
| branches, gliding the bark OF the trees
and making a golden circle around the
| fountain.
The Brooklyn baby. who had climbed
out OF her perambulator. hastily scram-
| hled back. and from that lofty point OF
vantage proceeded to voice her pet griev-
ance.
1T is dress" she said, plaintively. in
appropriate dress. that makes weary the
! life of the average baby. Look at this
parasol, for instance" pointing to me
chef d'oeuvre in silk and lace that danced
over her head.
rs not that enough to cause an intelli-
gent child not to mention an inquisitive
! child to have Mysteries?
1T makes me cross-eyed to watch that
| frill OF lace dance all day. 1t obstructs
my view of the church steepes OF my
native city and It prevents me from see
ing which policeman my muse is talking
! to.
Then there is that ether insult 10
ones intelllgence-the selection of dress
! without a by-your-leave or with-your-
: consent J. as you will observe, am
| dressed In lace and ribbons. l should
prefer a well-cut. tailor-made suit, in
white II they wish. but tailor-made and
Of cloth.
And look at that boy baby. He is
dressed like a French doll. and I have no
doubt that he has almost a femininely
strong mind
Speaking Of French dolls" interrupt
ed the Chicago baby, II have word 10
say on that subject. Ny nurse IS French
and it is only because l am a hustler
that I have been able to pick uD what
English | know.
Il hear nothing but gibberish all day
long. and see nothing but tearing Of hair
and wringing Of hands. This sort OF
circus is not confined to the nursery. II
extends through the entire ranch. The
cook is IRISH the butler Briton, and
the footmen are Swedes.
II heard a visitor-I think she was from
New York-say once that my mother
spent six days in France six years ago.
and ever since has felt IL incumbent upon
her 10 keep six French maids. So YOU
see / am victim TO effete monarchies."
Then it IS resolved" said the Boston
baby. impressively. glancing toward the
clock in the stceple nearby that we
meet here every morning and tell our ex-
periences I'm trying 10 enforce the good
resolutions which we have formulated.
Remember my friends. that. as dear Mr..
Emerson used to say practice makes per-
lection, and ] may add myself that pa
thence also has something to do with II.
u am pleased with the attendance here
to-day. / find an encouraging stimulus
I'm the presence OF these gentlemen" in
dicating the boy baby and the marble
cupid Of the fountain. " and L can say
with pride that for dignity and order we
have far outdoIe our grown-up oppres-
sors
I'VE have had not a single fight hard
IS q dissenting vote. not a rough and
tumble encounter such as my distinguish
ed compatriot John l.. Sullivan was wont
to engage in. and not a single opprobri-
Gus epithet has been hurled. In other
words our initial meeting has been dis
tinguished by its lack of similarity to
all other meetings of the kind ever held.
II thank you for electing me president
Of this Eclectic Society. and trust that
at our next meeting | shall have an OPP
portunity to illustrate what our dear Mr..
Emerson used to call the executive ora
torical excellence Of New England ora
tory"
THE convention IS convened" said the
New York baby with dignity.
Just then the clock I'm the steeple struck
"A cloud of nurses I'm white caps and
aprons descended upon the convention,
and carried off the babies with the same
facility with which a mouse sometimes
breaks up a Woman's Suffrage meeting.
In another minute there was not q
baby in the square. The birds in tho
big oak came swshing down with great
futter of wings. and the cupid of the
fountain suspended operations long
enough 10 take a long breath. The breeze
blew gently the sun glmmered and tho
birds sang n lifting paean as they found
the silver rattle Of the Boston baby and
a bit of gingerbread forgotten by Miss
Sappho. Of Detroit.
What was it all about?" asked a rob-
in.
ASK him" said n sparrow, pointing TO
tho cupid OF the fountain.
But the cupid Of the fountain only
laughed JOSEPHINE MEIGHAN.
4 HvpnOtist