The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-07
BETTERIBAB|Es' CONTEST
PROVES GREAT SUCCESS
Mothers of All Glasses Are Gather
ing Instructions in Case
OF Infants.
JUDGING CAREFULLY Don
Weight, Physical Development and
General Condition of Moro Impor-
lance Than Mere Good Looks.
Plans to Reduce Infant Mortality.

\ Mothers of all classes are taking adj
vantage of the better babies contest
at the State Fair. according to Mrs.
William "A. Burress. president OF the
Richmond Federation Of Mothers Clubs.
under whose auspices the affair. the
first Of it's kind In Virginia. Is being
conducted. ".
ut is proving much more successful
, than we had dared to hope" said Mrs.
s Burress. mot only women whose
financial situation is poor. but many
mothers OF families In extremely pros
porous circumstances are bringing their
children to us for advice. And may
add that they are the most beautiful
babies, from physical standpoint,
that have ever seen. They were really
wonderful specimens"
Judging in the contest began yester-
day morning. with orty-cight, entries
In the first class. DIR. Roy K. FLANAGAN,
OF the State Department OF Health. and
four local physicians conducted the ex-
aminations. which included taking the
measurements upon which the scores
will be based.
The judging was done in tents which
have been erected near one OF the
entrances to the Industrial Building
Infants from six to twelve months were
Inspected yesterday. Each was stripped
by It's mother. while the physicians
carefully inspected its body. took meas
urements of all parts. and carefully
noted It's weight and good and bad
points.
CLOSE; ATTENTION GIVEN
TO PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Charts used IN other States with
success have been secured, and the
children VIII be graded In accordance
With these figures. attention being paid
70 physical development. Necessarily.
II takes time to grade each child, and
the winners wilt not be known until
Friday afternoon, when. IL possible, the
awards will be made
children from two to three years OF
age will be judged to-day. They com
prise the third class. but were brought
In out OF turn on account OF the large
crowd which Is expected to-day, irAor-
harmful effects to the smaller children.
Infants from one to two years Of age
VIII be inspected tomorrow.
Not visitor passes through the In
dustriai Building without stopping to
see the exhibit which has been 1T
tractirely arranged by the federation.
Much interest Is displayed by mothers
In the model layette for baby's bath.
tho model crib. model clothing and
other model accessories. Three. nurses
mothers. and to show them how to
raise their\ children in the ways OF
health.
SHOW HOW CITY DEALS WITH
INFANT MORTALITY PROBLEM
DR. Flanagan is deeply interested In
the work OF the federation In It's at
tempt TO raise the standard OF babies
Speaking on the subject he said:
such an undertaking has 1 double
benefit. 1t directly helps the civic
standards OF Richmond, It also gives
tho State another example OF how n
inf nj
municipal problem"
To-day to assist In the Judging. DR..
w. IL. Street Will be on land to insEect
the teeth OF the children He will h.
assisted by three other physicians.
The success OF its first contest has
emboldencd the officers OF the fedora
ton seriously to consider the advisabi
lily of having similar ones In the va
r!cus school districts OF the city The
purpose Of the scheme Is to have the
mothers learn the imperfectiuns Of
their babies. SO that steps may be taken
10 eradicate them. 1t is purely educa-
tional In Its aims. but prizes are given
as stimulus. The prizes. as well as
the articles used In the exhibits, were
al! loaned by local merchants
More than 200 babies have been en-
tered. many from out OF town. The ex-
aminat!ons take place in cents erected
just outside the entrance OF the build.
ing. nearest TO the demonstration booth
Among the doctors and nurses CO.
operating are: Miss Coralie Johnston.
Miss Snyder and Miss Minor, DR.. Cullen
Pitt, DR.. McGAire Newton. DR.. b. NJ
.anrcbro. DR.. r. $. Preston, Dr. N. r.
linnett and DR.. ST. George Grinnan.