The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-10-29
What Is Baby Worth To Your Community
And The Racer

Long ago, statissicians figured ou
the earning capacity of each wee cltl
zen until be came of age. The law has
tried to settle the question by awarding
certain damages to parents of children
killed or injured in accidents. But
only recently have scientists realized
that the real value of a baby depends
entirely upon the start it gets in life.
A baby is worth to itself and the race
much or little in prrpor ion TO the
working power OF the BODY. founded on
good physical proportions, muscular
and mental development, and the regu-
lar operation of its various functions
The better start it gets during the first
three years of its life, the more 7alua-
BILE to itself and the nation does the
child become with advancing years.
Started wrong, it is handicapped
through no fault OF its own and may
become burden to society and the
state.
To prevent this catastrophe, govern
ment, national, state and municipal, is
giving much time to the consideration
Of child welfare. By preventive and
remedial measures, adopted while the
child is still in its infancy, the small
body is developed to its full powers, ano
the race as well as the Individual child
profits. The very latest and one of the
most popular forms OF child welfare
work is the Better Babies contest
which has taken root wherever think
ing men and women are found. 1t is
practical because it rouses parental
pride, creates desire 10 study child
life, and helps humanity by teaching
each parent TO help himself
The Better Babies Contest consists
OF competitive examination of chill
dren three years of age or under, by
physicians, with prizes for the high
scoring babies. The entries are made
as in a stock show and measured by
practically the same standards OF ply
sical perfection, with added tests for
mental development. M're beauty
does not count. but the intrinsic value
of the baby as a human machine, we'll
proportioned. properly nourished and
developed. does.
Parents are given prizes for healthy
offspring, and also score cards showing
VIC SIll0 CSdSV SISoA SSaN'eaSo'
This record can be kept from year TO
year and not only is the parental pride
aroused and an interest in child-study
created, but the child itself, seeing
how its body and mind are respected
by It's parents, soon learns TO care for
both and to study itself intelligently.
What the report card is as a stimulent
to the student, this score card is to the
growing child as 40 impetus TO right
living.
Many states have organized this
work at their state fairs, including
Oregon, Washington. Oklahoma, Neb-
raska, Iowa, Minnesota, Louisiana,
Wyoming, Ohio, Montana, Illinois and
Michigan. Hundreds OF county and
city fairs are introducing it not only as
an attraction which is sure 10 increase
gate receipts-for every one loves q
baby, but as a means to arouse interest
in child welfare in the community.
The School Improvement Association
OF Clarendon county will hold its first
contest at Manning on December 18th,
when town and country babies will
compete for prizes amounting to SIX
teen dollars contributed by the fair
officials, and bronze medals and cer-
tiicates offered By .he Better Babies
Bureau of the We : 3ome Com
panion.