The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-05-18
VILLAGE Of vernon
OBSERVE THE event
Baby Week Affair Was Nicely
Carried Out There
LADIES GAVE PROGRAM
An Interesting and Instructive
Meeting Was Held BY the
Mothers
LADIES GAVE PROGRAM
From Mondays Daily.

TiOtU "oHudyS DdiiJ.
Vernon Center, May 12-It was
evident, by the presence of over $50
women, besides a score or more of
young girls, that on Wednesday
afternoon at least all roads led to the
Methodist Episcopal church where the
ladies of the village and the sur
rounding farms gathered to observe
Baby Week" The Study Club, under
whose auspices the affair was
planned, found it impossible to have
it at the time when Baby Week was
nationwide, were determined to do
something along this line, and while
the results of such meeting, might
not be as effective or far reaching as
in larger cities and in congested dis
tricts, they also realized that even in
rural communities where the en-
vironments are ideal for growing this
most important of all, the most valu-
able crop in Uncle Sans domain,
there is much need for knowledge
pertaining to the baby's welfare,
and to improve conditions which in
juriously effect the health of the
mothers and infants.
On entering the vestibule of the
church, whose walls were adorned
with charts, and baby pictures, the
guests were greeted by Mesdames
Robert Flemming and Clint Furnald
and taken to the registration table,
where they enrolled their names.
after which a dainty baby blue and
pink ribbon bow was pinned to their
coats or bodicies. They were then
ushered to seats in the main body OF
the church which was most beauti-
fully and artistically decorated suit
able to the occasion. Several large
American flags were draped at the
front which made a pretty back
ground for large bowls of American
beauty roses placed on stands about
the pulpit around which were racks
displaying babies paraphernalia.
which had been loaned from the
homes in the community. So large
was the display of pretty and suit
able clothing that it resembled. on
small scale, a baby outfitter's section
in a department store. Three large
dolls were dressed to show the prop
er clothing for an infant about SIX
months and a year Old The doll that
represented the one year old BABY,
lay in beautiful dainty wicker
basket, the six months old doll baby
lay in pretty inexpensive BED, OF
home production which was as suit
able and sanitary, with It's home-
made mattress and other necessities
as a costly boughten one. The little
bed was the object of many a young
mothers eyes and the posslDlllties
a few wooden boxes and a woman IN
genuity and presto a bed wherein
baby may enjoy his sleep per-
fectly. The year old baby doll sat in
a chair and looked very Ffe-like ana
happy in it's dainty but plainly maze
clothing. -,
The meeting was opened by
violin prelude played by Mrs. John
Fredricks followed by the singing OF
America" by the whole Assembly,
who remained standing while Mrs.
c., A. Eastman offered prayer, AFTER
which Mrs. Fred Mertersdorf, presl-
dent of the club, made few fitting
remarks in her most pleasing man
ner. stating the objects of the meet
ing and the pleasure of the club IN
welcoming so many of the women OF
the community and she hoped that
they all might enjoy the best time
ever. and if the results of the CLUBS
efforts only produced and added TO
the welfare and comfort of only a
few babies-they would feel Wen re-
Maid for the work involved by the
undertaking.
Mrs. Mertersdorf presided during
the program and, introduced the
wbmen of each society of the COM
munity who had been asked 10 pre-.
pare papers on subjects pertaining W
baby welfare, that had been assigheo
them. Mrs. Elmer TyreH, not pelhs
present at the beginning OF the pro-
gram, and whose paper on re-
liminary Thoughts" was to be the
onening one. arrived later and gave
her talk which was much enjoyed ny
evervone. Mrs. H. G. Kraus gave d
naner parental Care" which shoWd
much careful thought and study ana
river in Mrs. Kraus pleasah.
way. was heartily applauded and the
discussion following was rapid, AMI
mated, questions and SATISFACTORY
answers were many and varied. MLs.
r. %. Fate sang beautlIul soio
aIs,i,aby" which was very approplate
nrelnde to the following paper. IN
FAINT feeding" by Mrs. B. F, kocn, ln ,s
old adage Experience is a spienu ,
teacher, was never more fuily
demonstrated than by. the practlcal
sensible manner in which she manu-
led her subjects. Mrs. Homer MilieI,
q :. nopular and very progressive
uo,,np mother, read, splendid paper
On Infant Care bringing oat many
of her own original ideas, wnlcn s SUI
had found beneficial in her own e1-
n ,s i'm bringing UP her STURDY
how 'of nearly six. The Mesdames
Clande Mixell Alex Gray, Axe
Halyorson and Edward Johnson, a
n,,artete from Vernon Center, maoe
> decided hit with the audience Ds
singing .sHush -a-bye Town, WnicI
was gracefully acknowledged by al
encore "Dafkey Lullaby"
Mrs. F. c. Wilbers paper on IL,
fant's Clothing was very interestlns
she demonstrated her paper ..
showing a complete outfit for baby
Mrs. George Gray, who is still In ths
prime of life, is grandmother to nve
charming little children, read
paper ON Infant Diseases" Mrs
Joseph Robinson, who is an adden