The silver star., 1898-04-21
GARRYINGTHEB BABIES
METHODS ADOPTED Bv MOTH
ERs OF DIFFERENT RACES.
Papoose strapped to Bosrds-Tiny Chill
drsn In the Orient slung to Their
Mothers Back by strsps and Loops-
Tho Dutch Method.

familiar with the cradle-board OF the
North American Indian. 1t varies con-
siderably In its construction and dec
Grafton in different tribes. but in all
cases the comfort and safety of the
child are considered. A well-known
writer of Indianology tells us that
among the Omahas the child is laid
on its own bed soon after its birth;
the bed Is often beautifully decorated
and always portable. says the San
| Francisco Examiner.
In a majority OF cases board about
foot wide and three long Is used.
| This Is covered with feather pillow
or soft skin and to 1t the child Is fast
ened with broad bands of flannel or
calico or with fine thongs OF hide.
When asleep the child's arms, in some
cases. are bound under cover, but they
are released when it awakens. When
not fastened to the cradleboard the lit
tie one lies upon soft robe or blanket,
where it can kick and crow to its
hearts content II, however. the
mother is so engaged as to be called
out of the tent frequently the baby is
laced upon its board and fastened tothe
center-pole or hung upon the branch OF
a tree. where there is no danger of fall
ing. When the tribe is on the march
the mother slips the strap OF the era
dleboard over her head and the little
papooee goes with her, winking and
blinking through the trackless forest.
In these latter days when long jour
neys are made on horseback the child
q CnuO1v mn oh W 70 ctop cd
to the cradleboard. which is slung from
the horn of the mothers saddle. By
this simple and comfortable device pa
pooses are secured from tumbles and
many other mishaps which befall the
children of all countries. In spite of
our belief in the advancement of the
human race, we might go back to many
primitive methods with comfort to our
selves and benefit to our children. The
infant rests upon its back. so that
nearly all Indian heads show a slight
hattening at the occiput, but that could
easily be avoided by turning the child
daily. Alaska babies are rubbed with
grease as soon as they are born and
then tightly rolled up in a skin or blan-
ket padded with grass. Their bodies
are bound down with thongs of deer
skin. which are undone but once a day,
when the grass is changed II the
child cries too long or too loudly his
head is held under water to teach him
to be still-rather a dangerous meas
ure, one would think. Still their par
ents find heroic treatment very sue
cessful. When the little ones are set
tied for the day they are sometimes
attached to the yielding branch Of a
tree. which sways gently in the breeze.
Then again they are set up in a secure
corner OF the lodge, where they can
not get into mischief The New Guinea
mother carries her child In a more
novel way than any other woman. Her.
self scantily clad. with only a fringe Of
shredded fiber about her hips, she puts
the naked little thing into a net, which
is held In place by band passing over
her head, resting on her ears. The net
Is made OF fiber like that used for the
Mexican hammocks and is strong and
durable. AS the child rests securely In
front OF her the mother has her back
free for any burden she may have to
carry and the use Of her hands and
arms for work. The Dutch children
are carried about on the arm and hip,
like the Anglo-Saxon baby. They are
dressed In garments cut after the pat
tern Of those of the parents. When all
are put on except the outer robe they
are folded over the feet and securely
fastened. During all their younger
years children in all parts Of Holland
wear a multitude Of petticoats and
thick-wadded caps to prevent serious
harm resulting from a fall. The mir
haired child Of Sweden is wound about
with bandages Of narrow cloth, for the
purpose OF giving It an upright car
riase. II Is then bound to pillow and
again tied about. and then to another
pillow. which envelopes him complete
ly with the exception OF his little skull
capped head. When carried about the
little ones are dropped into a cloth
packet. which Is suspended on the
mothers back. They are carried to
church swaddled In the pillows. but
they are not taken inside to the service.
They are buried In u snowbank which
Keeps them snug and warm, while their
elders are performing their devotions
within. When the mother goes abroad
In one part Of Sweden she tucks her lit
tie one snugly In long narrow basket.
which she carries on her arm. The
decoration OF this basket with ribbons
and tassels is an important feature Of
the child's layette. The Italian bam-
bino is swathed In as many wrappipgs
a. the dead Of the ancient Egyptians
were. The outer covering Ii held In
place by multi-colorcd bands OF cloth
or ribbon. Elder brothers and sisters
delight In carrying about these num-
mined little ones and thrusting them
into the faces Of unsuspcctIng travellers
with . psteous plea for aims for the
bambino. The German baby comes In
FOR senerous portion Of the universal
swsddiins He Is bound up In a long.
narrow pillow Of the softest down, kept
In place by long loops Of colored rib.
bons. cut here and there ma tied with
large bows as big as the baby's head.
He hnds shelter In his mothers or the