The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-09-13
PRIZES OFFERED BY
WOMAN'S HOME COMPANION

WoMAN'S HOME COMPANION.
SO many inquiries have been receiv-
ed concerning the Better Babies
prize offered by the Companion, that
they are given below:
In every state where the authorities,
directly or indirectly, set aside a sum
OF $20e for prizes for a babies health
contest to be held in connection with
the state fair. and where the women
of the state, through the Congress of
Mothers or other organizations, OF in
dependently, contribute a sum Of 500
also to be used for prizes, the maya
zine makes this offer:
The Woman's Home Companion will
give a prize Of 500 in gold to the
winner of the first prize in the city
class, and another first prize Of 500
in gold to the winner of the first prize
IN the rural class.
The Woman's Home Companion viii
also give q gold medal, designed by
distinguished artist and cast by a ia
nous firm Of jewelers., to each first
prize winner. It will give sp~ ctally de-
signed silver medals to winners of the
second prize, and bronze medals to all
other winners. To first prize winners
there will be presented also q hand
somely engraved certificate Of award.
appropriately framed.
Now to show how defect which is
considered unimportant by a busy
family physician or a duty burdened
mother may count against the baby's
score in a health contest, here is an
interesting incident Of the Denver con-
test, says Anna Steese Richardson,
writing of the Better Babies contest:
A 2year-old girl was creeping up
on the Burns baby's score. Hundred
after hundred graced the general ex-
animation card. Then came a sudden
slump.
shape. size and position of the
ears-7O."
Immediately the little girl was dis
qualified as a prize winner, despite an
almost perfect body and solid, ex-
quisitely tinted flesh. Later, her mo-
Their came to see me. She was a mag
nihcently built woman Of more than
ordinary intelligence, born mother
and the sort TO count her children os
her chfefest treasures. She asked me
to publish this warning to other mo-
TIERS
This has been the saddest, the
most humiliating, day of my life.
When my baby was born she seemed
perfection In flesh. Doctor and nurse
so pronounced her, and I was the
proudest mother in America But when
I began to battle and dress her. I no
ticed that her ears were too promi-
nent. This seemed remarkable. as my
ears and her fathers were set close to
our heads. However, / purchased
little ventilated bonnet for her to sleep
In. hoping to train the ears back.
"She did not like the bonnet. It
made her restless. consulted my
physician about 1t. He pooh poohed
the idea as a matter of foolish mother
pride She was fine baby, and had
no right to disturb her sleep by MAX
ing her wear the cap. In time her
ears would settle back, just from ly-
ing on them. Anyhow a girls ears
were not so important. Her hair could
be dressed to hide them OF to soften
their prominence.
MY husband, my relatives and
friends all agreed with the doctor, and
overruled when the cap was merely q
matter Of discipline or habit.
Yesterday when those physicians
ing eyes, and wrote that fatal 20 after
her name, it seemed to me that never
could forgive myself. It is not be-
cause she has lost the prize. It is be-
cause 1 realize that I might have cor
rected and lessened the disfigure-
ment If had perseversd from the day
of her birth. I never before appre-
ciated the right of the child to a good
start in life
And there you have it-one mission
OF the better babies contests, educating
mothers and prospective mothers to
recognize the physical rights OF their
children
More than once the physicians OF the
scoring committee paused to compare
what is known as the history card
and tho score card. The former bore
the name and family history of the
child; the latter only the entry number
OF the child and It's physical and psy-
Geological scores.
Among the interesting facts devel-
oped by comparing history and Score
cards after the first elimination Goa
test were these: The children VINO
scored highest were fed regularly
both before and after weaving. They
slept alone and in we'll ventilated
rooms. They spent much time out
doors. The city babies scored higher
than the country babies, and children
OF physicians. as a class, SCORED high
err than the babies of men in any other
professions or pursuits