Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-12


dens, the outdoor space so beloved and
made so famous by j. M. Barrie in
1.-THE Little White Bird"
But despite the title of Nurseries"
the house in Pembridge square Is
hotel as we know such places in Amer
lea. For instance, a baby could drive
up to the house in cab with its bag
gage, register and be assigned a room
just as a grownup might at any Amer
lean hotel.
Must Give High References
The great difference, of course, comes
afterward. That baby would, to be-
come more than a transient guest of
night, have to give references. And
these references must be of the high
est.
There are also restrictions as to
guests They must be from one month
old up to years And then they must
be gentle folks and white as to color.
Accommodation at the hotel includes
apartments from a single room to a
suite. With each apartment is included
the exclusive use of one or more nurses.
In connection there is a cottage hotel
at the seaside for summer use.
The idea OF the babies hotel is Mrs.
Walter Wards, an Englishwoman not
ed for her accomplishments in the
cause of practical education. For
years Mrs. Ward was head of the Nor
land practical schools in the north OF
London. She found the greatest need
of Englands social and domestic life
was skilled and carefully trained
nurses for children. So Mrs. Ward,
who is a very wealthy woman, estab-
lished the Norland institute. She
bought house at 10 Pembridge square
in the west end Of London. There she
a;,,fy cnhnnI for
but nurses Of infants and children only.
1t is now the greatest training institute
of it's kind in the world. Its graduates
are in demand in the four quarters of
the earth at high salaries.
Is Idea of American
From this institute was evolved the
babies hotel. IT really was suggested
by an American. 1t came about this
way: The Norland institute supplies
nurses to the families of the royal prin-
cesses of England and Europe gener-
| ally, and to all the duchesses, mar
chionesses, countesses and other people
of high degree. An American millions
| aire and his wife, with their first baby,
arrived in London one summer on a
tour through Europe. Their American
nurse was taken Ill. A relative, an
American peeress, suggested Norland
nurse. But none was to be had.
| It is one of the strictest rules that
only graduates are allowed to take SER
vice.S It happened that in weeks time
| a temporary nurse engaged by laird
| in the highlands would be available.
The American Immediately said:
telegraph her to pack up at once.
Order a special train and get her to
London tonight. We want to start for
Paris in the morning.
1t was explained that one did not do
,aI. III IN TT,1o
"But money is no object" urged the
American. "I'll give the girl 800
bonus If she will come at once, and as
for that highland laird. I'll pay him
compensation"
Idea Huge Success
But his suggestion was not carried
out. The Nordland institution inform
ed him he must wait. He demanded
to see Mrs. Ward. She again explained
that English manners and customs for
bade such doings Then the American
declared she ought. in connection with
the institute, to have a babies hotel.
The idea, merely roughly sketched, was
taken up and another big house in
Pembridge square, No. z, was bought,
and the babies hotel became fact.
1t is huge success The first guest
was the months old girl of wealthy
American mining engineer. He had
been suddenly called to South Africa
and wanted to take with him his wife,
but not the baby.
The children of British army officers,
of wealthy widowers, of people who
are off on long travel. of those who
have no houses but live in hotels
these and the children of American
visitors who want to rush around
Europe without the impediments of
babies and nurses, are the principal
guests.
Frequent letters and kilograms are
received instructing nurse to meet one
of the American steamer boat trains to
20 cboroa oP bah hxr far r1,optl,,c