davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03

May 1 to 6 is Baby Week. This ma
tionwide celebration was inaugurated
last year, when more than two thou
sand communities devoted a week to
reviewing the needs of their babies.
The first suggestion Of a nationwide
celebration zane from the federal
Children's bureau and the General
Federation of Women's Clubs; they
believed that a Baby Week was an ex-
cellent expedient for calling attention
to the great loss of infant life and for
stimulating local baby-saving work.
Many people are still unaware Of the
fact that Of all the babies born in the
United States, probably one in ten dies
before it has completed twelve months
of life. Babies die in rural communi-
ties, in cities, in suburbs, and in small
towns. This great preventable waste
of life is scattered over the entire
country, and Baby Week asks:
"How many babies die in your COM
munity? Is your infant mortality rate
the lowest that any American COM
munity has yet achieved? Do you re-
alize that when all babies are we'll
born and well cared for, infant deaths
will so rarely occur that the infant
mortality rate will be negligible?
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03
Proper Furniture
for the Children
Prepared by Childrenis Bureau. u. s.
Department Of Labor

Too many homes, v those where
there is no lack Of means for the nee
essary margin Of choice, are furnished
without apparent regard for the needs
or rights of children, and in these it is
hardly possible for q child to find q
place to play or use his own things
without having to be continually
warned against breaking or harming
something. 1t is plainly not just to any
child to surround him with furnishings
designed entirely to accommodate
grown-up people and ask him to re-
spect them, unless there is somewhere
u place in which he has equal rights,
and where the grown-ups must pay
equal respect to his possessions. For
this reason there should always be
some room, or at least a corner Of the
family living room, where the children
may keep their own things and use
them in comfort.
The ideal rooms for children contain
only such furniture as they need for
comfort or convenience, and this will
be simple and easily kept clean. Wash
able painted walls, bare hardwood or
painted floors, simple curtains and
painted furniture are suitable. If wall
paper is used it should be inexpensive,
so that it can be frequently renewed.
All the holdings, door panels, window
and door screens should be made with
plain painted surfaces so that they can
be readily cleaned.
Only the lightest curtains should be
used, and they should not the
windows, save when necessary to shut
out the hot sun. The chairs, tables,
beds, shelves, bookcases and all other
necessary articles Of furniture should
be small and low, so that the children
may find them comfortable and con-
venient. The continual effort to use
tables and chairs which are too high,
to get things that are out Of reach,
and to be under the necessity Of trying
to adapt the strength, size and skill Of
children to the furniture of grown per-
sons results in no little irritation,
some Of which might be easily re-
lieved. The washbowl in the bathroom
is usually too high for q child to use
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03

ternal Mortality was published re-
Gently, believes that the first essen
tial everywhere is a better understand
Ing Of what mothers need.
Few women seem to realize, for ex-
ample, that q mother needs special
care before the baby comes. And yet
the principles Of personal hygiene
which have been worked out by mod
ern science are of the utmost import
ance in preventing complications for
the mother and illness or weakness for
her baby. Further, the %expectant
mother should be under the SUPER
vision of a physician, and she should
have certain periodic examinations by
which any symptoms Of complications
may be discovered and treated while
they are still comfortable.
And the mother needs skilled at
tendance when her baby is born. Doc
tor Meigs emphasizes the fact that a
difficult maternity case is one Of the
gravest surgical emergencies and re-
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03
l Am the Baby
Prepared by Childrenis Bureau, y. S.
Department Of Labor

I am the Baby.
I am the youngest Institution in the
World-and the Oldest.
The Earth is my Heritage when I
come into being, and when I go !
leave it to the next Generation of
Babies.
My mission is to leave the Earth q
better place than I found it.
With my million little Brothers and
Sisters I can do this, if the World
does not impose too many handicaps.
Now I need Pure Milk and Fresh
Air and Play.
When I am q little older I shall
need good Schools in which to learn
the Lessons of Life.
I want to live, laugh, love, work,
play.
1 want ito hear good music, read
good books, see beautiful pictures.
I want to build Houses and Roads
and Railroads and Cities.
I want to walk in the woods, battle
in the waters, and play in the snow.
I am Yesterday, To-day, and To-
morrow.
If you will make my way easy now,
I will help you when I grow up.
I am your hope-I AM THE BABY.
Anonymously appeared in several
newspapers during 1915 Baby Week.
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03
Birth Registration
Is Most Important
Prepared by Children's Bureau. U. s.
Department Of Labor

Birth registration has assumed a
new, and in some cases tragic, impor-
lance in the light of the European war.
Hundreds of families in our country
have suddenly realized that the alb
sence of a birth record is a grave omis-
sion which may have the most serious
result.
One little true story is typical of
many incidents which have happened
since the first of August, 1914. The
young son of a Washington family, just
graduated from M of the big Ameri-
can colleges in the spring Of that year,
had gone to France to study. he was
comfortably settled in a small French
village, learning the language, when
suddenly news came that war had been
declared. The authorities Of the vii
lage demanded Of all strangers EVIL
dence Of their nationality. This Amer
lean had no evidence W. personal let
tiers, and he was suspected Of being a
German spy. In haste he cabled for a
passport, but when it came this was
not sufficient.
"Where Is your birth certifcate?"
inquired the officer, and the young man
could only admit that he had none
But he cabled again to his father for
help, and the father hurriedly institut-
led a search for the boys birth record.
1t happened at the time Of the boys
birth the family had been living in a
state and q city where births were
registered, sc the precious record was
found a copy sent abroad.
A birth certificate may be important
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03

Quires special skill and training.
Many people do not seem to under
stand that in any case complications
may arise which can be met safely by
prompt and skillful scientific care, but
which ut the hands of IN unskilled at
tendant will cost the life of mother or
child or both.
Doctor Meigs admits the difficulties
Of making accessible to every mother
in the United States these essentials
of maternity care, but she says.
"When women and their husbands are
convinced Of the need Of such care,
and when women demand it, physi-
clans will furnish it; medical colleges
will provide better training for physi-
clans; and communities, rural and ur-
ban, will see to it that mothers are
properly protected"
The difficulties are perhaps greatest
in rural districts. The Children's bu-
reau has had letters from mothers who
are Is, 25, 30 and even 65 miles from
a physician, and for whom any trained
nursing has been utterly impossible.
Other countries have been ut work on
this same problem, notably New Zea-
land md Canada. From their expert
ence and from the experience Of those
American cities in which special ma
tcrnity work is being developed, Doc
tor Meigs has drawn up the following
suggestions for u unit of service to
meet the needs of mothers in rural
districts:
The unit would provide a center for
n rural nursing service with visiting
nurses especially trained to recognize
dangerous symptoms in expectant
mothers. At such n center mothers
would be able to obtain information as
to the proper care Of themselves and
of their babies. If n suitable generals
hospital is too remote for use, the
county center should include a cot
tage hospital for difficult maternity
cases when it is convenient for the
mother to leave her home for conine-
ment. In general, skilled attendance
should be obtainable by every woman
in the county.
Little has been done as yet to show
women that much Of the waste of
mothers lives and health is unneces-
sary. Even less has been undertaken
by communities to provide protection
for motherhood. Many communities
which have studied their typhoid and
tuberculosis death rates and have IN
dertakcn costly measures to reduce
them have been needless of the death
rates among mothers. It is not
strange, therefore, that since 1900 the
typhoid rate for the country as q
whole has been cut in half, and the
rate from tuberculosis has been mark
eddy reduced, while the death rate
from maternal causes has shown no
demonstrable decrease. But maternal
deaths are largely ~prevcntaele, and
Baby Week should mark the beginning
Of definite work for their prevention.
Doctor Meigs' report on Maternal
Mortality may be had free upon re.
quest, from the Children's bureau,
Washington, D. G.
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03
Give Baby a Drink of Cool Water Sew.
eraI Times a Day In Summer.

when the more dangerous con-
tagious diseases are about. On the
other hand, she remembers that she
has a duty to all other children of the
neighborhood, and if her own child is
ailing she isolates him until the nature
Of his illness is determined, and strives
by every means in her power to mini
mize the danger for other children.
When more mothers thus make them
selves morally responsible for the lives
and health Of all the children we shall
have the beginning of the end of the
spread Of the contagious diseases.
A periodic examination Of all chill
dren by physicians would do much to
prevent the development of many
weaknesses and defects, or to secure
their early and more hopeful treat
ment. This is practically secured for
babies In the infant welfare stations
now in operation in many cities Of this
country. It is secured to a limited
extent in the medical examination of
school children, also, but too little at
tention is commonly paid to the chill
dren Of the p%re-school age who are no
longer babies and yet are hardly more
able to do without care than babies.
It is to these children of the neglect
ed age" that mothers are now turning
their attention and interest particu-
larly.
A Baby Week campaign will have
many good results, but none more i'm
portant than bringing to light many
children who need care of some spe-
cial sort, and showing mothers how
better to meet this demand upon their
resources of knowledge and wisdom.
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03

and reports on the Children's bureau
studiec Of infant mortality in certain
selected typical communities.
The causes and prevention Of deaths
of mothers in childbirth are discussed
In the bulletin on maternal Mortal
ity."
The bulletin on birth Registration"
tells why the birth Of every child
should be registered with local au-
thorities.
The series Of bulletins for mothers
includes n on parental Care" and
one on Infant Care" A third on
"Child Care" is in preparation.
A postcard addressed to the Chill
dren's bureau, Washington, D. c., will
bring to you a list Of publications any
Of which will be sent you free Of
charge.
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03
Much Good Known to I lave Been
Result Of Baby Week Celebration


many cases accomplished by a cam
paign undertaken by some small group
who co-operated for the first time in
arranging their Baby Week. One cam
paign in a Southern mountain village
was launched and caryied through by
one woman alone, a tuberculosis pa
tient. She arranged for meetings and
secured literature on baby care, which
was distributed in the two stores Of the
town.
OF ourse Baby Week can effect no
Immediate revolutions In community
care, but 1t has proved an excellent
starting point for new and permanent
work.
Perhaps a Westinghouse service is
organized, because the women of the
community come to realize during
Baby Week that there is no other way
IN which they can be instructed so cas-
lily n so we'll in the modern science
of baby care. They see, perhaps more
clearly than before, that the mother
who depends on instinct and tradition
In regulating her baby's food and cloth
ing and sleeping and all the details Of
the baby's day is behind the times.
They see, further, that intelligent care
not only will prevent illness but will
simplify their own daily work.
Or perhaps Baby Week leads to a
determination to have complete birth
registration in the community, with a
committee to carry on a test and assist
the local officials in enforcing the birth
registration law.
Or classes are started in the public
school for the instruction Of girls in
domestic science and in baby care.
Baby Week, especially in small COM
munities, is frequently concerned with
little children as we'll as babies, and
several reports tell of provision for
physical examination Of children or Of
new interest in wholesome play. AS
n mn wrote to the Children's bu-
reau after Baby Week:
1--WE feel that the danger from con-
tagious diseases, the need of a strict
quarantine, the danger from flies, bad
milk, unclean stables, and bad farm
sanitation need publicity in rural COM
munities. Our whole county does not
boast of n kindergarten, and the idea
of the value of play for children, both
young and older, is very poorly under
stood. A popular proverb in these
parts is Only babies and monkeys need
amusing It was very interesting to
see the play-hungry children hover
over the toy exhibit and to watch them
as they listened to the primary teacher
tell them stories. The young mothers
who brought their children seemed sc
interested, and so frankly acknowl
edged the helpfulness of the work, thai
it seemed altogether worth WHILE"
And last but not lease, Baby Week
has usually led to a better understand
ing of the child-hygiene work of the
state health authorities. Four states
have special child-hygiene divisions
and several others are doing extensive
work for children. Nearly all Of the
states have special bulletins or leaf
lets on baby care. To show parents
how and where authoritative material
On the car of their children can be
secured free Of charge, and to make
a community eager to cooperate with
state health officials in their work fo1
child welfare would be by itself q sub.
stantial result from Baby Week.
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03

without getting his sleeves and the
front Of his clothing wet. A stool or
hassock, or even q low box on which
he may stand, will save much trouble.
After the baby's high chair has been
discarded the child should be provided
with q dining chair which is high
enough to bring his elbows about on a
level with the top of the table, and he
should have q stool or q footrest. An
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03

gestions for planning and carrying out
a Baby Week. The new edition of 1917
is full of interesting bits reported from
the local Baby Weeks Of last year.
Two bulletins, Child Welfare Exhib.
its" and "How to Conduct a Children's
Health Conference" give more de-
tailed instructions on these special
features Of q Baby Week.
Other bulletins on infant welfare
include q tabular statement Of infant
welfare work in the United States,
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03
How the Children's
Bureau Can Help
Prepared BY Children's Bureau. US.
Department Of Labor

The Children's bureau has bulletins
which are of special interest to moth
ers, and bulletins addressed to every
citizen who is concerned with chill
dren's welfare.
"Baby Week Campaigns" gives sug-
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03

ordinary kitchen table or common sew
ing table with the legs sawed off about
half way will afford untold comfort to
the children at their work Or play. It
should be painted white and should
rest firmly on the floor. Low chairs
should also be provided. These may
be pine kitchen chairs with the legs
be some shelves with drawers where
work and p%laythings a be kept with
in easy reach. Such an equipment as
this, in a sunny, cheerful room, with
plenty of fresh air, and warmed in
winter to 6S degrees, will provide an
amount of happiness to the child quite
out Of all proportion to the cost.
The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-03

Happy hearts and happy faces,
Happy play in grassy places,
That is how in ancient ages
Children grew to kings and sages.
Robert Louis Stevenson.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-23
"La Bella Napoli" Of
Gay Deys Before. the
War Has Ceased to Be

Naples, March 2S. - La Bella
Napoli" of the days before the war has
ceased to be. The tourist hotels along
the waterfront and on the heights
overlooking the crescent of the bay
are virtually empty. Many have
boarded up their windows and gene
out of business entirely. The army
of guides, interpreters, hotel runners
and money changers has become an
army of soldiers, scaling the noun
tainS of the Carso hundreds of miles
to the north, where eternal snow re-
places the eternal sun of southern
Italy.
The quays are deserted When u
year ago 260 ships were plying be-
tween Naples and the United States
with tonnage of 100000, there now
are eleven, with a total of less than
10000 tons. OF ten companies, not
counting the German and Austrian
ones, running 81 transatlantic pas
senger ships, one Italian line now runs
the boats, one British line two, and u
French line one. That is all. Before
the war, the traveller to America had
a choice of some so ships from Naples;
to-day he has choice of five. Passenger
rates have gone up, but as there are
virtually no first and second class
passengers tho increase makes little
difference to the steamship companies,
because the steerage rates are about
the same.
Seldom does one now see curtains
OF drying spaghetti screening the mar
row ways between the houses in
Naples. There is a scarcity of food.
Thursday and Friday of every week
are ''meatless days." when no meat
may be purchased or sold in restaur-
ants, and the Neapolitan is forced TO
live on fish, macaroni, rice or more
vegetables. Friday, Saturday and
NJ nrn tcufn q
days" when neither sugar nor cakes
of any kind can be served, at least
in public. Every day is a BUTTERFLIES
day, and even cream is q rarity en-
tirely out of reach of anyone but the
most luxurious.
habitants lived directly or indirectly
by the sea, or by the tourists the sea
brings them. There are no more
tourists, and the activities directly
connected with shipping have so fallen
off as to leave so per cent. of the
Neapolitans in bad way. In the bay
of Naples. no more boys dive foI
pennies. The raucous-voiced postcard
sellers now listen to the sterner voice
of drill sergeant up any one of the
side streets in the newer quarters OF
the town, where rudimentary military
training goes on constantly. There are
plenty of men in Naples, as in all Ct
Italy, but almost all in uniform -
| berSaglieri with their cock-feathered
hats and hob-nailed boots, tripolini
with red. rimless caps from which blue
tassels hang by a long string, officers
with capes thrown over their should.
ers like Spanish grandees and swag.
gering carabinieri, the terror of evi
doers. The system seems to be to cal
one class after another, brush up theil
military training. then give then
leave of absence, thus keeping then
under martial law and subject tC
military orders.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-23
FORMER CAR IS
CAPTIVE In PALACE
LContinued From First Pagel

CONTINUED From First Pagel
branch line outside Alexandrovsky
Park. On leaving the train Nicholas
entered an automobile, accompanied by
his adjutant. Prince Dolgoroukoff, the
only courtier of the first rank who ac-
companied him, and by the four Duma
commissioners. They were driven to
the palace.
Holds Himself Erect
Nicholas was met at the door in the
left wing of the palace by Count
Benckendorff, who was his marshal of
the court and is now under arrest. The
former ruler held himself erect, look
ing calm and Indifferent, although he
stepped from the automobile with nerv-
Gus haste. A battalion of the First
Rifle Guard regiment was at the rail-
road depot. The commander at Tsar-
skoeSelo is Colonel Kobuilinsky, for
merly commander of the Petrogradsky
regiment, stationed in peace time at
Warsaw. To him the Duma commits
sioners announced:
Our mission of handing over the
Emperor is finished. We now go to
Petrograd to announce this fact to the
Duma."
The correspondent drove to the old
TsarskoeSelo palace, which is entirely
deserted and without guards, and then
to the new palace where the former inn
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-23

perial family is interned. The palace
lies in large park which is surround
ed by a plain spiked fence five feet
high, coated with silver paint. From
the corner nearest the old palace the
new palace is partly visible through
the thick wood, the chief facade, fac
ing the north, being. entirely in view.
The first noticeable sign of the revo-
luton was that no imperial standard
floated from the roof.
Deserted by People
Within the park over the broad ex-
panse of snow, not a single person was
visible. Apparently there were no
guards within the park, but outside the
fence, every fifty yards along the road
way were double sentries from the
Petrogradsky regiment. in long blue
coats, with fixed bayonets.
Astonishing circumstances in view
of the attitude of Nicholas toward the
population of Tsarskoe-S Selo which lived
entirely upon imperial favor, was the
lack of public interest. During drive
of three miles along the palace fence
the correspondent saw no civilians an(
! with the exception of the guards none
! but two of the gigantic black bearded
Caucasians of the famous Convoy o1
| His Majesty" who though now faller
from favor, and destined to be sent as
! soldiers to the front, were allowed t
peer through the fence.
In regard to the conditions under
which Nicholas was being held in the
| palace, officers declared they knew
| nothing. Concerning Alexandra and
other members of the family the fol
! lowing information was given:
| "All the five children are in bed will
| the measles, for which reason Alexan
dra has not been outside the palace
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-23

Donahey, Pittsburgh; S. II. Jackson.
Murraysville, Westmoreland county;
county; W. H. Manbeck, Mifflin, Juni-
alta county; James Macklin, McVey-
town, Mifflin county; j. G. II. Ripp-
man, Millerstown, Perry county;
George f. Eisenbrown, Reading,
Berks county, and w. l.. Plack, Phila-
delphia.
Organized Year Ago
A year ago next Tuesday the Will
liam Penn Highway Association was
organized at a meeting in Fahnestocll
Hall attended by delegateSs from va
rious central-titer counties of Penn
sylvania. Headquarters were opened
in Harrisburg last June by M. II.
James, the secretary. Since that time
the membership has grown so that
to-day the William Penn Highway
Association has more bonafide mem
bers than any other road promoting
organization in any State in the Union.
The first of this year saw publication
started of monthly magazine called
the Bulletin of the William Penn
Highway" which goes to all members
of the association and to a large out
side mailing list. The Association has
inaugurated q touring bureau from
which it's members can secure any in
formation desired. A great many agri-
culturists are included among mem
bers of the association. and in this
connection it is interesting, to know
that third of all the automobiles
owned by Pennsylvania farmers are
in counties along the William Penn
Highway, as well as half the total
number of automobiles in Pennsyl-
Vania.