The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-23
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
The Raby,s RIahts.

To the Editor Of The Journal.
Noting an editorial item to the effect
that another wretched Scientific doctor
has risen in his wrath and declared that
it is criminal to play with babies; that it
does the little shavers irreparable injury"
etc. and to which the reply IS made:
whats the use of having babies around
If we can't play with them?' I am
prompted to a word in behalf of the ba-
bies and in defense of the Doctors wise
assertion. ra
Let us suppose that Mistress Chickabid-
die and Pa Chanticleer, in the great ex-
uberance of their joy over the advent
of the beautiful, dainty treasure Of a
chick, begin to chuck it under the bill,
shake its belly with a stout hand vigor-
ously, and in various other ways excite
it to excessive cackling and Growing and
tee-heeing every little while. What sort
of a chance would the tender mite Of life
have? Madam Chickabiddie is more SEN
sible. She hovers over the dainty bit of
life tenderly, sees that 1t Is fed properly
and in due time leads it about for exer-
else and change Of food and air, and Pa
Chandelier seems to duly respect her
high office.
Thousands Of fathers and mothers are
far less sensible in the matter of caring
for their babies. The fact Is that babies
are neither sent to be playthings or pests.
They are really men and women; each
one possessed Of their own personality
and inside purposes and impulses, just
like every grown-up being, and what
would 1t be to us big folks to be seized
upon by some immense great being and
tumbled about ruthlessly in the midst Of
our thoughts and pursuits and anxieties,
as some little babies are-and all because
the big fellow thought us so pretty. Think
what baby has to accomplish inside Of
the first two or three years Of its life-to
comprehend or become accustomed to the
bewildering cosmos upon which its eyes
open; to learn to adapt itself to the vari-
Gus and exacting and confusing conditions
that obtain therein to learn to use a very
difficult language; and, something far
more difficult, to have to learn folks, and
how to take them, not to mention the
Eincongruities, Inconsistencies and irregu-
larities Of the human nature about them.
Yes, by all means, respect the rights
of the baby, and do not break in rudely
upon it's deliberations and tender unfold
ings to the life it must live. Think Of
the sad unwisdom of the person who TAX
ing the babe Of a few months from its
bath, losses it about naked, and delights
itself in the display of the extreme beauty
and baby loneliness until point of chill
is reached-and all because the baby is
so pretty and the delight Is SO great.
Calm judgment would say: MY dear
madam, you will be the death of the
child" But the reckless person addressed
would probably reply, 20, that won't
hurt" SO really intoxicated was she with
the child's tender beauty; but death fol-
lowed, all too sure and swift.
| No. BY all means never make a play
thing of the baby; keep hands off, and
treat with due respect and consideration
a being possessed Of just as clear rights
| as any king or queen; stand in religious
awe Of the possibilities Of their little lives,
either for good or for i'll. Rejoice over
lit, be glad and happy in its possession,
but spare yourself the folly Of childish UNI
wisdom In it's treatment. .
The doctors assertion is right and true,
and don't you forget it when you are
| tempted to tumble and toss and rornp
with baby to excess. -Homilist
| Minnea polis Sent II