The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-19
SUPPLY OF BABIES
EXCEEDS DEMAND
Christian and Chiidren's Homes
Are Overcrowded With De-
serted Infants

"'This is the day we give babies away
With half pound of tea"
1"Or even less than that" unused the
troubled matron of the Christian home
last night.
The matron was speaking of the lull
in the baby market. and as she finished,
a dozen or more infants. ranging in age
from two weeks all the way up to two
months, gave vent to their approval or
disapproyal of her remarks in manners
peculiar to babies. Some cried and
some cooed-at least that is what the
kindly matron said they were doing
and still others showed their utter con-
tempt for all surroundings by sticking
diligently to their bottles of milk.
The Christian home, at 4S0 North
street, where homeless and deserted
infants are cared for, is overcrowded
So is every other similar place in the
city, while the babies are coming in
every day, very few are being taken
out
We have seven babies to give away
at once" said the matron last night,
and we must get rid of them to make
room for more. Usually, we have no
trouble in finding homes for the poor
little things, but we seem to have over
stocked the last few days.
Babies Accumulate
"Out at the Minnesota Children's
home, where we often send our babies,
the place is crowded to its capacity,
and they cannot care for any more un-
til they have found homes for some of
those on hand. They have something
more thap<ffty infants out there now,
and Mr.. Savage had to refuse our ba-
bies admittance because there was no
more room. Now we must find homes
for the babies ourselves. I suppose
you don't know of any one who wants a
nice baby"
The reporter didn't know, but he
suggested that he might help to find
homes for the babies by printing a
story about them. Could he say the
babies were all kind and gentle?
They're not horses" said the Offend
ed matron. 'You may saw thew are
pretty and have sweet dispositions
dimple in her chin, and the chubby
little hands and the pretty blue eyes
Why, I can't see how any one could
resist taking a baby like that, and to
think that we have SO many that
homes can't be found for"
Good Homes Much Needed
1t is the desire of the Christian
Home authorities to find homes for all
of these babies in good, respectable
families, where they will be cared for in
a proper manner. Not even at this
"marked-down sale" will the little tots
be given over to any but good, respon-
sible families. But it is very much
desired that homes be found for them
as soon as possible.
The Christian home is taxed to its
capacity and similar places are so
crowded that it is impossible to care
for any more little ones until some
disposition is made of those on hand
Il didn't know these places were so
overcrowded," said Chief O'Connor
last night. ''This condition may ac-
count for the babies being left on door
steps SO often of late. 1t certainly
should have a tendency to do away
with any fear of race suicide. won
der if they couldn't get rid of the lit
tie ones quicker if they offered trading
stamps with them"
The assortment out at the Christian
home, where the matron is most anx-
fous to find good homes for them, is
varied enough to suit the most partic-
ular. There are blondes and there are
brunettes-some are boys and some
girls-and, according to- the matron,
they are all Just too sweet for any
thing"