The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-31
Are Blonde Babies Luckier Than
Bruncttes.

Blonde babies are said to be luckier
than their brunette brothers and Sis
tiers. This is somewhat broad state
ment, but it's borne out by statistics.
Just how this assertion got started is
impossible to tell, but since it has
gained currency, Investigation proves
it to be correct.
OF course, it would be impossible to
inquire into the lucky or unlucky con-
ditions Of babies in private homes,
and it is the foundling institutions
that have to be relied upon for con-
frmation Of the report.
In St. Louis foundlings are quite
numerous, considering the size Of the
city. The two principal founding
shelters, st. Ann S and the Bethesda
Home, estimate the number of little
mites that find their way to their
doors at about 300 a year each. That's
almost baby day. The season Of
stray waits huctuates like the provis-
ion market and the weather. In the
early spring or late winter months
castaway babies are most numerous,
and they raj idly bring up the average
to the figures stated above.
One baby week is also fair esti-
mate Of the adoption which prevails
at both institutions, so thaS about ff-
ty babies a year are adopted out of
every founding asylum. Now, it's
right here where the blond baby comes
in. The majority Of would-be adopted
mothers want blond babies. They
seem to represent the ideal mother
love. Early in infancy and late in
life we have been trained to love
blond babies. Nearly all the dolls
with which little girls play have Aaxen
hair and blue eyes. Cupids are paint
ed likewise with blonde hair and eyes
Of the heavenly color, and Murillo's s
cherubs are all tow-headed infants.
Nine out Of ten Of the requests for
children stipulate that the little one
must have blend hair and blue eyes.
Sometimes the adopted mothers are
disappointed, for a young baby blond
hair is apt to turn to brown, OF even
black. Then there is a popular be.
lief that blond children are more gen
tie and traetable than the bruno ones.
! However true tha; may be, even
blondes have choleric temperaments,
SO that it is fallacy to judge a baby S
disposition by its hair.
While quite run is made on blond
babies at St. Ann and the Bethesda,
there is now and then time when a
brunette baby is. very much in de-
mand. A few days ago a lady called
at the Bethesda Home for dark
eyed, dark-hai1ed baby. She was a
brunette herself, and wanted child
of like complexion. In and out the
wards and past the tiny cribs the
lady, accompanied blythe superinten-
dent Of the home, filtered. There
was no dark baby in sight. All were
blond, and the would-be mother went
away unsatis6ed.
The rule which guides the selection
Of babies by adopting parents is their
own style Of beauty. This statement
was made by the superintendent of
Bethesda and is confirmed by the
Mother Superior Of St. AIMS. Pa
rents want their little adopted chill
dren to look like them as much as
possible. But where father and
mother have contrasting compilations,
the blond usually carries the day, and
the child selected from the fold of
waits is generally a yellow-haircd,
bluc-eycd youngster.
Both at St. AIMS and at Bethesda
there are some Of the most attractive
blond babies ever gathered under one
roof. THERE'S tiny girl called Ethel
at Bethesda, who would take the
fancy Of any baby hunting mother, to
be sure. Ethel is five months old,
not large for her age, with rosy, sofS
little face, reddish hair and sky-blue
eyes. The baby features are well
formed, and what is best Of all, Ethel
is good-natured and laughs at every
body who comes near her.
She'd make any home happy:
said the superintendent, with smile
at her little charge. Ethel is cast
away, who was brought to the home
when she was not more than couple
of weeks old. She has no history,
save that of all waits who are deserted
in their infancy by mothers whom ad
verse fate makes cruel.