The Washington herald., 1915-12-03

IN health.
n.
There Is nothing in the home that does
not affect the welfare Of the baby. The
| things that the baby needs seem 80 SIM
ple-just fresh air. sunlight, cleanliness
and proper food. yet these simple things
involve So much. How can We insist
that the mothers who bring their babies
to US shall provide them With proper
aid and sunshine. when in front Of their
house IL the street and behind the mud
hole! How can We insist that they keep
them In the parks when there are no
parks? How can we say that they must
sleep In well-ventilated rooms when per-
haps five persons must live In a single
room?"
But thought there were no slums
In Washington" ventured
Ihat is what some people say" said
MISS Wheeler quickly. But they do not
know what we know. They have never
| peen where I have been and where the
other nurses and social workers have
oeen. How can people be what they
| ought to be when they must live in
such places? Could you be decent n
after hot days work you had onIv a
ittie tiny basin to bathe in? am sure
eouidnt Yet We preach cleanliness
and then give these people no public
baths. "o puohe
And these people who have little ara
Just exactly like those Of US who have
nad more. Simply because circum-
stances have not favored them or be-
cause they have grown Q little discour-
aged they have dropped q little below
par for the time being. When irst
started In this work." Miss Wheeler
vent on 10 explain. Il sometimes used
| 70 become exasperated with the mothers
I would wonder why they couldn't take
better care Of their babies. why tbey
couldn't take better care Of their homes.
But We feel differently now. II there
Is one thing that work Of this sort
teaches ono It Is that We should not
Judge severely OF those less fortunate
| than we
But how can Washington women helm
those who are less fortunate?" I asked.
is there no remedy for this situa-
| tionr'
Miss Wheeler thought for a minute
and then said. slowly.
The trouble is that there Is not
enough community interest. When Wash
ington women once realize that these
conditions exist and once make up their
minds that they must be improved, the
situation Will change. The movement
to Improve alleys which is progressing
slowly Is In the right direction. What
we must realize fs that the babies Of
the community have q right to fresh air
and sunlight, to good food and cleanli-
ness.
How Can washinGton woue, Helm
Mothers should realize that they do
not owe care and love merely to their
own babies. They should get away from
this individualistic point Of view. II
they should remember the other babies
as well as their own.
wish that now that Christmas IA
approaching We could get the babies
who have everything they need to give
something to the babies who have
nothing. II every well-to-do baby could
give dollar to the babies who have to
ntue, what a wonderful difference It
would make!"
And by way Of showing how far even
small contributions go in the work of
the Diet Kitchen, Miss Wheeler showed
me the equipment for the Little
Mothers League" which meets on
Thursday afternoons at the Diet Kitchen
station on Dumbarton avenue. There
are sixteen little mother-littIe girls who
have baby sisters and brothers at home
70 take care Of and who will no doubt
some day have babies Of their own.
Under the direction Of q trained nurse
they meet at the Diet Kitchen to receive
instruction in the care Of the baby. In
order to make the instructions real there
IL a nfe-stzed celluloid baby doll that can
be dressed and bathed In a real bath
tub and put to bed in a real crib.
Gift Of Canp Fire Girls.
All this interesting equipment, Miss
Wheeler went on to explain, was the
gift OF group Of Camp Fire Girls who
attended series of welfare talks last
year. At the time they disbanded for
the summer they had enough money
In their treasury for q party. But instead
OF spending the money as they at first
intended they decided to buy the doll
and tub. the baby-basket and other thtngs
that would make the Little Mothers
League" classes possible. And to make
the gift complete these little Camp Fire
Girls even made the tiny garments that
the celluloid doll was to wear. The con-
troution amounted only to q few dollars |
but It has gone . long way toward |
spreading the lessons OF baby welfare /
where they are needed most.
OF course. Miss Wheeler went on |
to explain. 1T IL not always those |
who are In financial need who avail |
themselves Of the instruction and ad- |
vice Of the Diet Kitchen Centers. |
There 10 often need Of instruction |
even In the homes Of plenty and the |
Diet Kitchen does not restrict its field |
OF activity In any way"
Among the prominent Washington |
women who are already interested in
the good work carried on by the |
Diet Kitchen. are:
Miss Gwynn. president of the board |
OF managers; Miss Adds, vice presi-
dent; Nrs. william A. Hammond, sec
retary: Hiss Lulie Williamson. treas
urer; Miss Adds. Mrs. Larx Anderson,
Mrs. George Lothrop Bradley. Mrs.
cushman. Ma NathanisIt