New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-26
TRAINED MAIDS FOR BABIES.
ONE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE
WORK OF THE BABIES HOS
PITAI. EXPLAINED.

flIAL ENPLAlE Ell
The Babies Hospital now in its eighth year. is an
institution having for It's object the solution OF
some of the vexing problems which concern moth
ers and babies and babies maids. Similar insttu-
lions exist in most OF tho larger towns now. Chi
cago. Philadelphia Boston. and recently Newark,
have fallen into line
The Babies Hospital performs a double function.
First. II cares for the sick babies OF poor mothers
who cannot afford to pay for skilful treatment at
home who must be about their daily work. and
who cannot give the sick child necessary nursing.
In the second place 1t trains up-to-date nursery
maids who much sought after by mothers.
The really important part OF the hospital seems
TO be its training school for nurses. The proper
ton OF TO babies Is one three the
youngsters are sure OF good care and the nurse Is
not so overburdened with work.
Since the agitation for improved nursery maids
grew so strong a few years ago. efforts have been
made 10 make the day nurseries training schools
for babies maids. The effort hasn't been much OF
a success. however. because the managers never
had funds enough at their disposal 10 employ
large enough force OF nurses When a girl has
10 attend 10 twenty-five or thirty babies she can
hardly have time TO learn 10 battle and dress and
care for baby she would be expected 10
do in n millionaire's home. At the Babies Hos
pltal the nurses receive $ month besides their
board and lodging while they taking the cou'se.
The trained babys maid knows just what is ex-
pected OF her. She Is expected to be seamstress
and chambermad and dshwasher. She has GER
tain defined duties certain days and hours TO her
self. and a certain amount OF authority In the
nursery. All these things are settled between the
mistress and the superintendent OF the training
school. Whenever any difficulty arises. the super
intendent OF the training school is arbitrator. III
the mistress is wrong and refuses to make amends
she get from the hospital; II
the maid is the offender she Is suspended from the
privileges Of the hospital registry and not allowed
to wear her uniform .or a certain period.
For year after her graduation the nurse Is I'M
der the supervision OF the training school. and re-
ports intervals. Her wages are fixed by me
school For the first year she must receive ~ "a
month; during the second year. SIS and II she mas
two children 10 look after or sickly chid she
may accept $50 Trained maids are not allowed 10
leave one mistress and go TO another VINO oilers
more wages. unless the circumstances are excep-
!iona The demand for the trained oaoys maids
No younger than twenty or Older than thirry
year The applicant having given satisfactory rel
erences 10 character. and having passed an ex-
proba ton for month If all goes well at the end
OF that period she is allowed to wear tne hospmai
gngham gown. with null collar and CUFFS white
i'm the hospital and Is given instructions as to the
care. Of children in sickness trained nurse .,
from the time Of its birth until 1t is several years
old. She learns all about artificial feeding and
practice and observation 4 kindergarten Is organ
lied and an expert teacher comes from the Teach-
ers' College and shows the babys maid how the
babies should be amused secure the best results
In summer the hospital. babies nurses ana all
from the town house. No. 60 Lexington-ave..
a country house at Ocean Grove. where iittie
colony of delightful cottages have been built within
sound OF the waves Here the weak youngs'er OF
the tenements breathes In great draughts OF health,
giving salt air. and the babys maid learns a lot OF
things which will be of service when she accom-
panies little Mr.. Millionaire TO his country home
No small slice OF the iiamersley millions suf'ice'i
o
and several other well-known society people have
| helped put the Babies Hospital on rs - ser I
substantial footing. II Mrs. Robert {. cha Mn
who first preached the idea Of such an institution.
and her fashionable friends TO work 10 make II
a practical matter. Miss Mariana Wheeler. a
trained nurse. the present superintendent. added
the idea OF trained babies maids. About twenty
five Of these maids graduated every year. and II
the number five times great. they would
still fall short of the demand for them.