The Republican journal., 1913-07-31
The Better Babies Campaign.
Correspondence of The Journal I

/
| East Side Mothers, whose babies were
contestants for the prizes awarded, nor
to physicians and specialists who most
fully realized the educational Importance
of such shows The general public
eagerly perused the news of the new
form of baby contest, where all are
measured up to the same scientific stand
ard, and mere prettiness scores few
points. Pictures of the winning babies
and their mothers were printed, and in
tervieWs reporting the methods used to
rear them to such high standards were
presented prominently in all the leading
papers.
| What is now known as the Better
Babies Movement began in agricultural
regions, as feature of State and county
fairs, and was inaugurated to induce
farmers to see that their children were
reared at least as scientifically as their
live stock. Well known physicians were
the judges, and the scores employed for
marking points were similar to those
used for passing on prize horses, cattle
and dogs.
When a farmers baby scored lower
than his live stock his pride rose in arms,
and the child was placed under the care
of a baby specialist, and brought up to
standard. Oranges discussed child life,
and batter babies began to count as
items in the farmer standing.
Physicians and agencies that deal with
children in the cities at once saw the
value of this movement for the educa-
ton of city parents, and it is being used
with telling effect in many centers of
population. Municipal authorities, pure
milk committees, child welfare associa-
tons and woman's clubs all cooperating
in holding better baby contests where all
classes and conditions are judged by the
same standards.
THE DENVER SHOW.
Early in January of this year Better
Baby Show was held in Denver under
the auspices of the National Western
Live Stock Association. Three hundred
babies were entered, representing many
walks Of life, and many different nations
in their ancestry. The show lasted five
days, and five thousand persons turned
out to do homage to the winners, when
Col Cody ("Butfalo Bill') rode round
the open arena of Denver's famous stock
yards with the two prize winners perch
ed on the saddle in front of him.
Beneath all the ceremonies ran a
mighty undercurrent of parental pride
and anxiety. The wife of the White
Wing was just as anxious to secure a
practical education in motherhood as the
wife of the lawyer, civil engineer or
shopkeeper. Better Babies" had be
come a Slogan alike on farm, ranch and
in city dwellings, though the more inteli-
gent mothers entered their children for
the purpose of securing score card and
profiting by the advice Of experts rather
than for honors and prizes.
IN NEW YORK.
Realizing the value of the wide inter
est excited by the New York Better
Babies Show, a prominent department
store arranged reception for the wiz
ming babies and their mothers, where all
who were interested We're welcome, and
throngs of people took advantage of the
opportunity to see what experts pro-
nounced perfect baby.
One of the most encouraging features
of this movement for better babies is
that children counted out as unfit for en-
trance at one contest frequently qualify
as winners later on when intelligent care
and feeding have developed the lacking
points. The need for a standard score
card, uniform every where has at last
been supplied by the cooperation of
leading specialists.
ESSENTIALS.
Cleanliness of surroundings, fresh air
and food that properly nourishes the little
growing bodies, are the primary essen
tals for babies as they are for other
young animals, coupled with constant in
telligent care. The many Injuries are IN
necessary, or even harmful and that moth
ing takes the place of motherly, human
coddlng, is proved by the fact that the
majority of the prize winners come
from plain homes. Institutions filled
with every scientific appliance, and run
by trained experts, have shown such
an appalling mortality, that other means
Of caring for their charges has been
found necessary Placed in the care of
poor mothers, under a certain amount
of supervision from the nurses the
babies thrive. Italians proving espe
cially successful in raising the "bam-
binos" entrusted to their care.
AS summer advances, and the milk
that in some form must be given TO
the youngsters, is so easily contami-
mated that only the most careful and
scientific handling makes it fit for the
child's use, all the various agencies in
cities cooperate to reduce that appall-
ing slaughter of the innocents which
results from every hot wave. Mothers
in all circumstances are apprehensive
at this season of the year.
Cows milk, while the nearest thing
to the natural food, needs to be prop
erly modified, pure, perfectly fresh,
and to be obtained only from inspect
ed healthy cows. Condensed milk of
the best grade is favored by leading
specialists, as a safe baby food that
has many points in its favor. No pre-
servatives are employed for the best
brands of this product, and only the
purest high grade milk goes into the
condenser, as any faint would result
in running the whole product. The
natural fluid is heated in a vacuum,
which makes it perfectly sterile, and
carries off the extra water, leaving
the thick, creamy residum, which
sealed in air tight cans, remains sweet
and wholesome under all climatic con-
ditions, fit to nourish the most delicate
digestion either at the tropics or at
the poles.
COMMISSARY SUPPLIES.
Eagle brand Condensed milk which
went with Peary to the North Pole,
is specified for governmental use, in
camps, hospitals and army posts as
we'll as for forestry stores, and forms
an important part of the commissary
outfit of travellers and explorers all
over the world