The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-03-07
SOUTH BEND LADIES IN PLYM-
OUTE SPEAK TO COMPANY
OF rs AT HUMRICHoUsER
RESIDENCE.
EXHIBIT TEACH S MUCH
Patriotic Women of New York and
Chicago Doing Country Much
Good-New Question For
Mothers.

The reception to the Club women
and a few others held at the home
of Mrs. Humrichouser Thursday
afternoon was attended by about
seventy-fve ladies. The features of
the day was an address on the
"Child Welfare Exhibit" by Miss
Addie Van den Bosch, of South
Bend, and one on "Eugenics" by
Mrs. w. J. Hickey, also of South
Bend.
The talks were highly entertain
ing to those present, as we'll as full
of suggestive and helpful thoughts.
The Child Welfare Exhibit was put
on in New York at an expense of
100000 and three years work of
many, many experts. 1t was brought
to Chicago at an expense of $4,000,
being financed by Mrs. Cyrus n.
Mccormick. Much local matter was
added in the latter city. The ex-
hibition was attended by hundreds
of thousands of people in Chicago,
more children than adults, and is
still on its way of education visit
ing various cities over the country.
Men and women, educators.
mothers, legislators and those hav-
ing most to do with the welfare of
children were generous in their
patronage of the exhibit, and its
worth to generations yet unborn can
never be estimated.
The startling fact that we lose
one baby of every four born in this
country, was illustrated wildly by
an arrangement of a black cone
surrounded by doll babies while a
mechanical figure of death was busy
regularly cutting down each fourth
one. The children watching it seem
ed deeply impressed and would ex-
claim sadly "o-oh' as each fourth
doll baby fell into its grave.
Mothers were instructed by experts
in the care and feeding of their
babies. while a free dispensary,
where the best of medical aid was
given, was busy all the time.
As an illustration of the thor
oughness of the investigations, Miss
Van den Bosch spoke of the at
tention paid to the matter of cloth
ing. 1t was estimated just what per
cent of the average income is spent
for clothing. Materials of various
textures were shown and the prices
of each marked and the results of
tests on their wearing qualities
shown. There was large exhibit of
ready made and home made cloth
ing and the first cost and endurance
of each compared, even taking into
account the time and effort expend-
ed In the home to make them. Tt
was shown how to tell whether
goods is real wool, and various
frauds practiced by unprincipled
merchants were exposed. In fact it
seemed that no matter in reference
to the subject of clothing had been
overlooked.
In the same way play, public
Fairgrounds, gymnasiums. milk dis
pensaries, the child's diet and all
other matters which concern his
welfare had been thoroughly studied
out and were illustrated by poster,
moving picture, actual demonstra-
ton with living models, or by
mechanical device.
Mrs. Hickey, being the mother of
four children, was especially fitted
to talk on the subject of Eugenics.
She made this new study interesting
to those who heard her, her wit
provoking their smiles and her
scholarship commanding their re-
spect.
There are two sides to the subject
of Eugenics, the positive and the
negative. 1t is being thought by
philanthropists over the world that
it may be said of many poor soul,
as Christ said of one, "Better were
it for this man if he had not been
born" Doctors and reformers are
beginning to consider this subject
from a new standpoint. Idiots.
epileptics, decided criminals, those
with trsnsmissible disease and hope
less paupers, should not be allowed
to propagate their kind.
While great deal is being said
today abiut race-suicide it is mad
ness for us to cry for "More, more
while we lose one fourth of the
babies born into the world. We
must apply ourselves to preserving
the lives which come to us now.
On the other hand, if the unfit are