The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-03
ToMoRRow's ToTEp BABIES.

AonoESSkcN ioifD BRbtFS.
Tomorrow In many places VIII be crowds of
people-celebrating the Fourth Of July and
nakingsholiday. They will be real crowds and
throngs and there will be generation and ex-
change of animal heat and temptation to ami
malsaemper, Wherever the crowds gather, push
or move there Will be babies usually. we hope.
heavyrbabies Unhappily the baby has the ten
dency to- become heavier when toted in patient
and loving,ar1ns. many OF these holiday babies
everywhere on the continent will be- and to
gain weight at the astonishing rates OF pound
an hour while carried by woman, of ten
pounds every fifteen minutes. while borne by
a. man. There Is a knack abont toting a baby
Just as there is about heavy lifting. punching
people effectively on the jaw, hammer throwing
and taking a three story trunk up four flights
OF stairs. This last feat see performed
occasionally by a one hundred and twenty-five
pound coored man. who will climb long sue
cSssions Of steps conveying twice his own
Weight and be grateful If he receives a quarter
orr escapes scoidtng fore chipping the plasterng
on landing Lovely has her own
standards. limitations and senses of proportion.
ShA win travel with a trunk larger and
heavier than anybody on earth but "a travelling
mad ahouTd4 have.and expect small men to han
dleJit with ease, grace and safety: and yet
Will feel in conscience and pity bound to ire
1ievt"a a. stalwart sx-foot husband after he has
became. exhavsted<by carrying fifteen pounds of
baby across station platform. Perhaps she
has Nhe yinstinctive knowledge that she knows
huws andshe does not and that her physical con-
struction as well as her beautiful. tireless
maternat1love fit her especially for the task.
She has tho knack of carrying the baby with
comparative ease ands comfort
Nevertheless. her body and nerves can be
exhausted even If her affection and readiness
for seltssacrihce are endless; and she should
be giverrkfull opportunity to enjoy her holiday
and the excursion. visit picnic party or what
everett~may be She has right to her full share
OF the pleasure of the day.
Whens.a- man is seen doing his part In the
carrying or wheeling OF the baby we may as
sumo with assurance that he has within him
the essential elements OF a gentleman--con-
siderauon, tenderness. chivary. In fact there
Is no record that any of the knights or Knights
errant or heroes OF the Round Table had the
nerve to carry about In public their own babies
There is the beautiful legend Of St Christopher,
the strong ferryman, who bore swift
river through the darkness OF night and the
beating OF furious storm a strange little crying
child, which became heavier and heavier with
every step until even Christopher's great strength
was taxed and he was tempted to save himself
by abandoning his charge; but resisting this, he
struggled desperately to shore at last and learned
then that he had carried In his arms the Christ
and so had won his saintship, Let us hope
that by tomorrow uigst many a ;.aan VIII be able
to sympathfze with St Christopher and find
his reward In rested wife and the knowledge
that she has had peaceful and happy day and
some OF the freedom and feeling Of girl
which she is entitled to have and then.
People who are married are entitled to have
babies and TO have and enjoy holidays and such
pleasure trips as their maybe modest can
command. Comparatively few of them can af.
ford to carry with them nurses, even If nurses
worthy OF trust be. secured, which rarely
n the case The holiday loving holiday
making spirit is to be encouraged II is whole.
some Buns, malcontents and miIlionaires know
nothing OF holidays The people who have
nothing to do but enjoy themselves rarely enjoy
anything The real fun and enjoyment OF a
great holiday day is not among those deliberately
IN appropriate costume who ride secluded In the
reserved coaches or go everywhere in automo
biies. IT is among the masses OF the people. the
crowds and throngs. who Just put ON the best