Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-03-13
BABY DRESS REFORM.
SUCCESS OF MRS. BERTHA JhNET'S
NOVEL ENTERPRISE.
Her Heart WINS Touched by the Crude and
Cumbersome Garments Which Custom
Had Prescribed for InIanss-Common.
Sense I-ayettes to Kennedy the Evil.

Mrs. Bertha Janet Gum. the in
vcntor of the infants dress reform. is
a sweet-taced. gentle-mannCrcd little
woman. not resembling in the slightest
our ideal woman of affairs. When
seen in her nome she talked pleasantly
OF her work, but seemed surprised that
any one could speak of her invention
as other than the most natural thing
in the world.
Why, 1t seems remarkable to me
that soIso Il hadn't thought It out
long ago she said in answer to her
visitors question as to what first gave
her the idea. Jus. thi:.n Of all these
years and years hat mothers have
looked upon the daily dressing of their
little ones as a task to be dreaded.
as 'squalling limc.' Why, the child is
1rctted to Il frazZle. if it is not in ac-
tuai pain. l contend with the doctors
that whenever a baby screams there is
something the matter. And. believing
there Is something amiss with her
child. what mother is il that would not
Try her utmost TO get at the root of the
matter? That Is just the way ! began.
! Nd worried by my hahy's screlms
when il Was being dressed. At first
I tried every method l could think OF
to shorten the bath. Then l began to
nin of its little clothes and contriye
means whereby they could be put on
In the shortest possible time. This led
me to consider and notice each gar
ment separately, and I soon began to
see how Omfortablc some Of them
must be. A heavy diaper, for in
stance, which always holds the child's
legs bowed out. or the flannel belly
band which Is pulled SO tightly around
Its yielding little body and fastened
with pins that are forever In danger
or slipping out and sticking into its
delicate flesh l began to think of a
baby's whole wardrobe as barbarous.
set to work to try to improve
them one garment at a time. OF
course my object was to make ny own
baby comfortable, and, sclHshly. l new
er gave other children q thought.
After moving to the cast form
erly lived in Ohlo-I received a letter
from 4 cousin asking me- to send her
some patterns Of hyglenlc baby
clothes. If such articles were to be
had. l looked around and could find
nothing hat | considered as good "a
my own baby's clothes; SO I Thought:
why shouldn't l cut a set Of patterns
OF my W and send them to herr
Later did the same thing for several
friends, and finally began TO think 1t
might be a good thing for other chill
dren in whom l felt no personal inter-
est, and at the same timo furnish me
Il means OF support. At that time |
was supporting myself and child.
AS l had no capital, l began In a
very small way, furnishing sets of pat
terms and making layettes to order.
MY work gave satisfactiorS and moth
ers. seeing the wisdom of such gar
ments. recommended me to their
friends. In that way my custom in
creased and my system became we'll
known. Now | have orders from ey-
cry state In the Union and from several
countries. l employ several
sewing wonen to 90 my stitching and
- htAAtC vi thiittl tIlJIOluoTerS.
while l have my patterns manufac-
tured. My laycttes, which are onlv
made to order, l always do the cuttins
and stamping of myself, and PERSONAL
ly examine every garment before 1t is
out. Often, While mothers take
pleasure in making their own baby
clothes, | cut and stamp the sets and
Il a I-n ft.nrn 1aStNl -, o., -.
ing and embroidery is much simpli-
fled. My patterns come in sets Of ff-
teen, and are draughted to fit into
each other. so they can be put on the
child all together. In hat way. you
Will see, 1t is only necessary to TURF
the child one white dressing. and all
these clothes hang from the shoulders.
Another point about my system which
mothers highly approve-there are no
pins, and every part Of the body ia
equally protected.
What do l consider tho best ma
teriai for diapers?" repeating the
question asked by her visitor. well,
l use a fine grade OF stockinet, so. of
course. | consider that the best. But
| think the shape OF the garment has
much to do with its comfort. The
old-fashlOned square which was drawn
50 tight over the scat and pinned to
the band I believe not Only caused
chatting, but. IN many Instances, crSpk-
ed legs. My diaper Is cut on the bias.
so that the seat 10 large and baggy.
and there is very little cloth to fold
between the legs. SO the little legs can
lie straight out. OF course my system
required much thought to perfect It.
and, undoubtedly. would never have
thought Of dress reform for infants
and children had l not had the neces-
sity brought home to me by my "
child, so you see. after all, my success
is but another proof of the old adape.
Necessity is the mother of iuyen-
tion.'"
A Big Strawberry Farm,
Two miles west of Van Buren,, Ark,