The Washington herald., 1916-05-11

Winner of High School Gold Watch.
The Herald this morning is printing
the winnln gcomposltion in the better
baby essay competition. 1t was written
by Miss Lillian Shewmaker. Is years old,
of 500 Rhode Island avenue northwest,
who is in her second year at Central
High School. Miss SHOEMAKER wins the
Elgin movement gold watch offered to
the high school girl writing the best es-
say.
Tomorrow morning The Herald will
print the essay taking the grand prize
offered to girls in the public graded
schools This essay was written by Miss
Bessie Pearce, IA years old. of 1712 Fifth
street southeast. who is in Section B,
Eighth grade, Congress Heights school.
Miss PearCe will be awarded the import
ed movement Lady Suffolk gold watch,
| 1t is possible the two other winning es-
says also will be printed in The Herald
on succeeding days, although this has
not definitely been determined by the
''better baby contest editor. Miss LII
lian Santucee, 1888 Newton street north
west, a first-year student at Business
| High school, wins a hand-carved gold
bracelet for second honors among high
school girls; and Miss Idamay Lang, IA
years old, of . Adams street northwest,
wins a similar prize for the second best
/ The phizes are still on exhibit in the
window of Charles Schwartz and Son. TOs
Seventh street northwest They will be
awarded to the contest winner at for
NAL exercises to be held Saturday night
/ At o'clock at the central exhibit of
the baby week campaign committee, Fiji
teenth and F streets northwest
/ Essay that Won Gold Watch.
| Here is the essay of Miss Shoemaker.
who won first prize for high school girls:
| AS the destiny of the world lies in the
hands OF the children of today, I can
think of nothing more interesting and
important than the proper caring for
babies, that they may be ready for this
great work
What a thrill a mother feels when a
new life is placed in her hands! The
first question now deep within her heart
is How can best care for my baby?''
By watching her careful attention to
her child, her successful experience has
given men the following knowledge con-
cernIng the care of babies:
| Its nourishment was first considered
Following nature as the best guide she
found no method of infant feeding so
beneficial to her baby as her own milk
given during the first few weeks at reg
ular intervals of two hours. CThe inter
walls should be heightened as the child
months old she was giving it a little
orange or prune Juice early in the morn
ing, also zwieback and well-cooked
gruels.
In the morning, when she prepared to
battle him, she ad the room 70 degrees
Fahrenheit, and free of draughts. The
clean clothes, soap, powder, vaseline and
towels were placed within reach. No
sooner than an hour after his meal she
bathed him with tepid water, using a soft
cloth, and a little pure soap. After dry
ing the skin. she gently massaged him.
and busted a little powder in the folds
of his skin. She never forgot to wash
! his eyes and mouth with pieces of alb
sorbent cotton dipped in a weak, boric
acid solution. The nostriIs were cleaned
with twists Of cotton, smeared with vase
line.
When she had put on his soft flannel
underwear, and his unstarched, white
dress. she nursed him. and put him in his
clean bed in a well ventilated. darkened
room to sleep. Nothing was allowed to
disturb his sleep, except his meals, as
babies do most of their growing while
asleep.
He was given plenty Of boiled water to
drink, never allowed to wear soIled
clothes, and was handled only when
necessary.
In the evening, before putting on his
night clothes, she rubbed his body with
olive oil, and after his last meal for the
day. he slept soundly until morning.
Thus. day by day, he thrived-began
to notice and to love all nature in the
midst Of a happy, healthy childhood.