New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-03
Miss Mabel Parker Says 1t
Would Be Great Aid to
Tenement Mothers.
COST WOULD BE NOTHING
Kitchens and Dietitians Now on
Hand, and Price of Meal,
5 Cents, Would Pay
for It, She Asserts.

Mabel Parker's prenatal restaurant work
Incorporated in the public school luncheon
system. Women about to become mothers
could then 80 10 the public schools and
for five cents receive a hot. nourisnng
meal. instead of living on bread and bo-
logna, as they do in their own homes.
The schools give uncheons to the chill
dren for one or two cents but for women.
Miss Parker thinks. the menu should Le
made richer in proteids. which you'd
bring up the cost to five cents.
Miss Parker outlined her scheme yes
terday at the first fall meeting Of the
Legislative League at the Waldorf-As-
toria.
The public schools have all the Kitten
en- equipment necessary" she said. and
they have the skiful diettians to super
intend the work. It could be done at
practically 10 expense. because the
cost of the food itself would be covered
by the five-cent charge. We have kept
one prenatal restaurant running this sum-
mer. but Of course. that is very small
and poorly equipped. We need many snch
restaurants all over the city. Why coup
new ones, when the public schools are al
ready prepared for the work?
I'VE have taken the subject up with the
Public School Luncheon Committee. and
the members are very favorably inclined.
but no official action will be taken fer
three or four weeks yet Meantime IN
organization is being effected by winch
we can raise funds for the erection ~
home in the country. where women can
20 for a few days rest from household
cares before their babies are born.
I'VE have learned from our work il the
Board of Health milk stations that cdu
cation is not enough. The people of tie
tenement districts simply cannot afford
good food. even If they have learned how
desirable 1t is. That is why the city is
willing to sell them milk at cost and Why
mothers must be provided with good food"
Dr. Mary Halton offered a resolution
asking the Board OF Health to have
baby show every year. to take the place
of the baby shows held under private
auspices last spring. 1t was Endorsed by
the league.
Nothing ever did as much TO save
babies" she said as those three little
health contests. Women all over the city
came 10 the milk stations with their
babies.
"'Wnl my Sammy get a prize they
would ask. And then we doctors would
examine the baby just as If it were in a
contest.
NO. Mrs Goldstein. we would say.
Your baby is year old and hasn't any
teeth. He can't get prize. For shame,
you didn't feed him regularly. as | told
you TO- You take better care Of him, and
maybe he'll get prize next year.
Then the women say. ! brought up
my baby just the way my mother did all
Of hers.
We'll. that won't do. We answer.
You want 10 raise up a great magnii-
cent policeman TO stand on Fifth avenue
You don't want your baby to be any COM
mon old man. You're right-you could
get good enough babies in the old way.
but you can get policemen in the new
way"
Mrs. Ella Guilford discussed the assets
and liabilities of the suffrage life as
she lived 1t at Atlantic City, where she
We'll. 1t cost me Si76.' she said. bat |
certainly had one magnificent suffrage
spree | talked all summer long, and was
my own boss. Ever since | was su;fra-
gist / have been marching in parades or
addressing envelopes for somebody else.
This time l had a chance to express my
self
1t was the happest summer OF my llle'
but II might not appeal TO many. | went
10 only one matinee in four months.
never left my little shack except TO pa
rade I'D and down the Boardwalk covered
with votes-ior women flags. | couldn't
wear a piece of jewelry all summer. he
cause | was afraid Of being robbed
stayed alone all night right there on the
Boardwalk Ny only weapon was "A bot
tie of ammonia and a hatchet' ! used TO
think | could do something that would
count with them However. before the
summer was over | lost my fear, and
used up the ammonia 10 clean the win
dows.
Il haven't a nerve left now. The paint
ers didn't come to my apartment fer
three days, the wall paperers left my
room half papered for ten days; but |
didn't care.
"Oh, well, maybe they'll come to-mor-
row." said |. Nothing bothers me any
more. / don't know how long that will
last though, now that l have resumed the
disguise of "A lady