Evening star., 1900-07-07
WHEN BABY GOES RIDING
A CHAPTER toN PERAMBULAroRs
AND THEIR F1x1NGs.
Little Hints in Arransements-Nece
.ity of Sun shade-whee1 to
the Right.
Written for The Evening Star.

BE good and you will be happy" .ageIy
admonish the monitors of youthful virtue
BE happy and you will be good" is a
much more plausible version of the advice
| for one may be very good indeed and still
| far from enjoying life, while many persons
whose condition Is far from commenda BILE
from the ethical standpoint may expert
| ence some very felicitous hours 'Be COM
Portable and You will be both good and
happy" is much saner and still more
end-of-the-century axiom. Those poor be-
ings whom Lombroso is fond of talking
about-creatures whose brains are pinched
| into mishtting skulls or whose senses are
| knocked out Of moral plumb by an occi-
pital or parietal splinter-can scarcely be
| classified as in the possession of all the
advantages of physique and health, and
even Signor Lombroso, whose pets they are
would hesitate to refer to their melan-
choly satisfaction as Joy
TO begin the building of goodness of
character we should begin with a founda-
tlon OF goodness and should live a life of
comfort from the cradle of infancy to the
cradle of old age. which latter is horrify-
Ing only because We have been taught to
| call 1t the grave. No one really knows
much about the desirable comforts 81 the
cradle life because those who could ex-
plain with the authority Of present expert
ence have not yet learned to speak, and
we know even less of the comfort of the
grave because it's humanity has ceased to
speak to apprehending ears. All the great
young and the very old, uncompaining
martyrs both.
A Baby's Comforter,
The beginning Of this homily would not
suggest perambulators That very vague
ness, however. proves it to be an inspired
contribution to the literature of up-to-date
infantology worthy Of the superintendent
Of a babies hospital, the manageress of a
founding asylum, kindergarten profess
soress or any other of that army of gifted
spinsters who have professionally theorized
King Baby away and left us a precocious
| little animal whose business it IS to be
healthy
No baby can be happy without his per-
amouiator, because no baby can be COM
tortabiy healthy without the attendant con-
ditions Of fresh. air and exercise. Every
baby needs an airing once or twice each
sunshiny day. In the summer the more
time he can spend outdoors the better for
MIN, but even the strongest and most will
Ing nursemaid should not be expected to
carry child. light or heavy. about for the
| nursematd will double the little form up in
to all sorts of uncomforta BILE positions The
little one is better off stretched out on his
comfortable pillows in the carriage, where
he is cool and at rest
No family Is nowadays too poor to own
carriage for baby. One may have been
bought for the first infant in the family
and been handed down a long line of chill
dren. yet the use Of q little enamel paint
or varnish will make 1t look shipshape
again. Even the most old-fashioned and
shabby perambulatOr may be pretty II it
| Is kept neat and spotless, fluffy cushions
and handsome cover doing more than
anything to compass this object When a
family Is forced to practice the most pain
Iui economy, carriage may be obtained
from some friend neighbor whose chill
dren have outgrown 1t. or at some second
hand shop, for small proportion of its
original cost The body of the carriage
should be thoroughly washed with disin-
fecting water. for it Is always safer to Sc
| lect carriage one knows something about
than one likely to transmit the germs of
scarlet fever, whooping cough, measles or
other contagious ailments.
Plenty for Choice.
The perambulators with the bamboo or
wicker frames are most serviceable, for
| they can be washed of time after time,
and, moreover, they are cool for the little
occupant. Boxes made entirely of wood
are now seldom seen. Convenience dictates
the position of the handles. Some persons
| prefer them placed that the child faces
the propeller: others prefer that the child
should be seated with the back to the han
| dies. Small. three-wheeled carts or chairs
do very we'll for the home garden, but the
covered perambulator is much safer for the
morning airing. Slowed away inside should
always be the oilcloth cover and side pieces
which are buttoned on as a protection from
rain when 1t Is not possible to find shelter
at once from some sudden summer shower
The perambulator sunshade should al
ways be adequate. One sees in the parks
and on the streets many handsome car
riages with elegant shades affording lit
tie protection that they condemn the little
| occupants of the carriages to the most in
| tense suffering. When the baby is taken
| out by nursemaid or by one of the young
| er children, the shade ought to be one that
nrDtpcf
how the position Of the sun may vary. I'm
| mense injury Is done to childrens eyes by
| the carelessness of nursemaids In allowing
| their charges to sleep with the sun shining
| directly into their eyes.
Pillows and Shades.
The bed of the carriage should be filed
with cool and soft cushions for summer.
| Feathers make the best winter cushions.
Air pillows for baby's head and body are
comfortable and will help to stave off
| prickly heat. Cushion covers should be
| washable, stout and serviceable as well as
cool
The smartest shades this season are made
| Of pique trimmed with washing lace and
| are mounted on a brass frame with fitted
| straps. Both oblong and round shades are
popular, but the oblong cover is the most
| sensible. 1t affords the most protection
| from the sun. 1t is the sort that Is used
| in the nursery of the Duchess of York, who
| is one Of the most Intelligent of mothers.
Pique covers are made little more elab-
| crate than the former style, with appli-
| qued groups Of true lovers knots on the
pique. Sprigged or spotted muslin. with
knitted frills, makes simple and dainty
| shades.
All these should be lined. Green is the
| better lining for the eyes, but pale pink is
| prettier, as 1t casts soft glow over baby S
| face. ,,
| In wheeling. a perambulator always re-
| member the rule in driving. For another
| perambulator or foot passenger turn out to
| the right Do not forge relentlessly ahead
| regardless Of others run into unhappy
pedestrians who may not be prompt in get
| ting out of the way. 1t Is such actions as
| these that convert man to cynical bach
| elorhood and embitter thinking woman
| into adopting a "careeM
| & 8THEL KNOX.
| Summer Novelties.