The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-02

The ianitor looked at the visitor specu-
htively.
Are you the charity Lady," said she
mo-" replied the visitor.
Perhaps we're the doctor lady2' tenta-
lively.
mo, I'm from the Board Of Health
I'm hunting I'D all the little babies under
n wear old to see how they're getting on, "
sTbe Board Of Health lady is ut1 You're
n new one on me-" with naive frankness.
well, look in the last room back. fe IL
find the poor kid and it's in need OF fri nd,
It is, I'm thinkin' God help ut
The Board of Health lady sought the
last room back. A dark little room 1t was,
in the basement, with two small windows
opening on narrow. paved courtyard
vhereon the sun beat blindingly. dark
and dirty little room, with dark and dirty
little woman standing by, silently on the
defensive: a dark and dirty bed in one
corner and in the middle of IL a dark and
dirty balv, very small and skinny, mere
vayering little mite OF humanity, en-
veloped in dubious sheets,
Raby Schuer's mother was away at work
hacking olives at s. Il week. Inc httie
woman WIS the babv's grandmother she
was starthngly young for a grandmother
and must have been quite startingly pretty
a few years before But the smell OF some
thing strongly vinous was on her BREATH
though 10 was early in the morning.
She regarded the Board OF Health lady
as an enemy and her answers we're short
and m,ltinous. The baby's namef John
Jacob. Where was the baby's father!
Nobody knew he had skipped out. This in
formation vas given quite conposedly.
John Jacob looked up from the dirty
abeets with great black eyes that occupied
the larger part of his face, and seemed to
anot,ire what the Board Of Health lady
was going to do about it,
II was not the Board Of Health lady's
business to go into sociological problems.
Hers only 10 ascertain why John jacob
liutle arms and legs were so remarkably
skinny and sticklike. What did John Jacob
sat5 she asked.
JN,on learning she declared that John
Jacob must have milk; not loose milk,
from the grocer's, which was only lingering
death. but bottled milk. Then she took
out the little Board of Health leafiet from
her bag and read slowly and carefully the
following instructions:
I. From a fresh quart bottle OF milk
carefully pour or "a ounces from the top
taking az much of the cream AS possible
Place this with the sugar and barley water.
or boiled water. in a clean jar or aguteware
nail place the jar or pail In larger pail
containing four or Ave inches OF water;
place this on the stove and allow the water
surrounding the milk 70 boil for ten minutes
remove from the stove and allow to stand
han pla ral n
ns to cool quickly. This is the whole days
milk supply for the baby. Keep this covered
in the icebox, and I'll the baby's bottles.
whion had previously been cleaned. as needed
Tho grandmother listened. with look
of covert amusement.
Now, will you do that?' inquired the
nurse.
"Oh, sure" said the grandmother, with
an indescribable infection. and face like
a craven image.
IF you don't this baby will probably
die said the nurse patiently.
And why shouldn't it," said the grand
mother, suddenly. Wouldn't II be the
best thing for the poor young one? II the
moor could kill of all their children. wouldn't
it be better for them? Poor folks has no
t,sfness to have children and she
cl,,tohed John Jacob with nervous grip.
-rye had five," she said. 'and they're all
dead but Lizzie, and It's a pity Lizzie wasn't
dead. too"
Over the mantelpiece was document,
dark with dirt. but in neat frame that
showed that II had been priced when re-
oeiyed, IL was a certificate from some
school announcing that Lizzie Schuler
was on the roll Of honor for "punctuality,
diligence, department and progress, and
Il WAS dated only two years back.
Poor Lizzie SCHUYLER!
Rosa McSlee was the next young person
10 be called upon When the Board of
Health lady saw Rosa she lapsed into the
eechnical slang Of the department.
my. she's a buster" she remarked.
The proud mother smiled delightedly
and displayed Rosas pink legs, which
were mere rolls Of fat. Butter was nothing
10 them. No patent baby food for Rosa.
No condensed milk. No, indeed! Rosa
got her dinner in the only way fully and
entirely approved and Endorsed by the
BOARD of Health. The visitor had no need
TO read the rules about the top twenty-fotr
cunces Off the bottle to be boiled sixteen
minutes and half. or anything like that.
The trouble was the other way.
How does that baby eat?' she asked
II seemed that Rosa had an active appe-
tite. She ate every hour and half, il not
oftener.
NV dear woman, yoA'll have that b.ty
sick" said the BOARD OF Health lady. You
keep her little digestive organs at work all
the time. They never get minute to rest,
She'll have collie You must feed her only
once In three hours"
Rosa's mother look dubious.
What II she cries?" she Id family.
Let her cry" said the Board OF Health
lady, firmly 1T won't hurt her bit
In fact, It will do her good. Crying is the
only exercise baby's lungs get. 1t makes
them grow. Give her lungs some exercise
and her stomach rest. After few days
she'll get used to tho threc-hour plan and
then she won't want it any oftener."
do you hear that. Rosa McGee2' in
quired her mother.
Rosa MCGEE put her fat thumb in her
mouth and wrinkled her nose disdairfully
at the Board of Health lady. She knew what
she knew. Just let her start in to exercise
her lungs good and hard once and see what
would happen.
Mary Agnes was frail, gentle little
girl. with skin as white as milk and eyes
rs blue as forget-me-nots. Mary Agnes's