New-York tribune., 1908-07-31
ANNUAL BABY SHOW
Tro Hundred of 'Prettiest, rath
Parents, Capture Happyland.


cinating turns. In vain the sandwich man shouts
Hot frankfurtersi' In vain the Egyptian fortune
teller offers to read palms, and the barker at the
entrance TO the scenic railway intones. This way
ladies and gentlemen. for trip through the AR!
In vain each and every regular attraction at Hap
pyland South Beach Staten Island holds out Sc
ductive arms. King Baby is there-and Queen
Baby And what does anybody care about scenic
railways or frankfurters? The whole crowd swarms
to do homage to the monarch of the day.
II is the annual baby show at Happyland. and
the relatives of the finest baby that was ever born
have brought hfn-her-to the number Of consid-
erably hundred.
During the first part Of the afternoon sweet
peace broods over the assembly. Every mother
feels kindly toward every other mother and rather
sorry for them in that they should have taken so
much trouble when it is scarcely possible that
their babies will take prizes babies don't care
pin who ge-s the prizes. They lunch unblushins-
ly out of bottles all over the grounds: they utter
profound "goo-gOos' about the milk problem, or
whatever it is that babies discuss. And if they
feel like crying, they cry, without caring at all
about the way 1t will make their little noses look
when it comes time for the parade
The observed of all observers are John and
Rebecca Often and their children John and Re
becca, though he is only forty years old and she
only thlrty-eight, have thirteen boys and girls.
but the great distinction is that the last six
In sets of two. Lillian and Sophy four years
Old Oscar and Theo two years old, and George
and Lydia nine months As the family meanders
about or waits under the trees small ten-year
old holding proudly aoft a banner inscribed, Twin
Club. they are sight TO make glad the oppo-
nents of suicide The other mothers not
envious. Little CALCULATIONS of wonder and pity
go popping off all sides of the Ottens.
My, amt ii terribIe'
How does she stand it,
That's enough to kill her. and she don't look
so bad for it,
Mrs. Often looks very we'll considering that she
had
of Lyda's rot being well. Mrs. often says fer
rently that she never took the babies out before
and never will again. You may think what job
it is to dress Them she They re better off
in the yard at home Oh. don't ask me how felt
when the last twins came. But it does seem
queer adds Mrs. often. that things don't go to
the people who need them
Mr. often who sits with George on his left arm
and a nursing bottle in his right hand, and Oscar
and Theo cIinging to his knees. looks proud, but
chastened-naturally.
There isn't another family New York state
that has three sets of twins in it, he says with
modest self glory.
The Ottens live at Elm Park. Staten Island.
John often when he isn't trotting babies. works
hard in factory to support them Mrs often
says that the money he earns goes fast as it
comes
At 4:9o the parade Of babies starts Round and
round the judges stand it winds. propelled by per
spring mothers sisters and fathers. and led by
band The Judges take one quick look behind to
see that the way of retreat from the wrath of the
mothers of non-wnners is clear. and settle to their
task of selecting the prettiest baby. the fattest
baby etc from the mass babies that
IA rIy butted at them from below The eye Of one
Judge picks out a likely baby. and the with
the megaphone is told to order him up.
Hand up Uncle Sam bavls the man with the
megaphone.
Uncle Sam-in private life Francis Schnidt-one
and a half feet high and dressed in flags a.d gilt
eagIe * handed up His mother comes by way OF
the stairs
How cunning, Is it girI2'' chorus the judges
sure no.. saws the mother. Indignantly
,yyou1d vou have Uncle Sam girl? I'd turn him
out meself.
Francis gets first prize. Elizabeth Koch SIX
months old is picked out as the prettiest BABY
hoisted to the platform and lowered with A SILVER
desk set part of which she proceeds TO put N he1
mouth Then I'D comes Agnes Moran. vision in
white and pink adjudged the pretiest OF the chill
dren between the ages of two and four Lii Han
sen the smallest baby. brings down the crowd
Lii four months in age and fifteen pounds IN
,.,g++ ie dressed in perfect innocence and little
earze shirt picked out with blue ribbons. She puts
her arm confdngly around the head of the man
with the n1egaphone who holds her up TO view ana
the contrast between his size and hers strikes the
crowd as funny.
All. Fatty, It's cruel 10 load you do"h IKE
that" they yell.
willie and Johnnie Hicks are lifted the plat
form, carriage and all. and get the gold collar
nins offered for the prettiest twins No prize on
the list exactly hitting the other Case-the Often
chiIdren-a special prize Is given these tVins-a g
bill each.
The prfze for the most Handsomely decorated
hahy carriage goes TO the one that holds small
FveIvn Fealy. 1t is covered with innunlerable and
wonderful pink paper roses. Another prize Is won
nv = carriage got up TO resemble a railway engine
and another by one made to look like a house on
wheels.
The minute the prizes are given out the judges
make a ouck rush down the back stairs of the
platform, and the management Of Happyland bolts
itself in its office and piles ali the available desks
etc against the door For a while the mothers
whose babies didn't win prizes can't believe the
thing is over and their prides and joys overlooked
one mother who has been thrusting her baby at
tho platform is particularly slow TO believe that
,,,- human heing could be blind. At last she
takes II in and scorn darts from her eyes
"ahl the prizes ali season tickets. she calls
etirginpIy Il wouldn't bother me head about
EN-
trailing behind them
..CIiving the prize to that skinny little -
And I saw 'em looking at my baby, and know
tbev knew he was the prettiest-
Al last the crowd melts away. Crowded trolley
cars carry loads of tired babies, bowling in Wag-
merriam chorus.