Evening journal., 1918-03-01

and 20 away and think what they
think about its claims to beauty. and
make record Of its date in the birth
day book
" course we're not meaning to in
innate that each particular baby isn't
q wonderful baby, and that 10 isn't
surrounded with a wealth of love, or
that it isn't a happily assumed respon-
sibility. because it is; all these things
and more; but, after all, It isn't looked
upon as Of very much Importance to
the community at large, because there
IS plenty Of community anyhow. and
one unit more or less doesn't seem TO
matter much
70 was that way in France a while
ago: that Is. allowing for the slight
difference In local customs. tradition s.
and habits Of thought The papa Of a
nrst-b0rn was iu-t as foolishly proud
Of his new dignity here as at home,
and the ACQUISITION OF the nrst tooth
on the part Of the wonderful infant
was the same heaven-toppins family
sensation here as anywhere.
But, the existence OF that very baby
never rocked the foundations Of the
state as 70 does now; for AT LAST THE
DAY OF THE BABY HAS ARRIVED IN
FRANCES
The baby is king. the only absolute
monarch which will probably be left
after we get through removing kaiser
nj. and all which that implies, from
the face Of an otherwise commendable
world.
Among our entirely satisfactory stud
ies ~ 'he marvellous WA spirit OF tho
civilian population Of France, perhaps
Na in
tarviews with the babies. and we may
say. right at the outset. and 10 order
Afo have done with that phase Of the
isubiect that we found their war
suirit lusiy. exuherant and undannted
You see. France cannot ar I'd 10
Lose a sin~le baby, boy or girl She
must be a miser with them. since they
are the most precious Of her posses
SONS. and i'm place OF a newborn child
beng Simply enrolled on a birth regis
for and FORGOTTEN In the dusty muni-
cirai archives Ike a list OF paid and
applied taxes. it IS now recosnized as
potential French man or French
woman. who will crow up 90 love la
patrie. keep the arts and sciences and
manufactures OF France at a cont'nu-
Gus nood-tlde, and never, never under
any circumstances, buy anything made
in Germany
Rich babies have always had a lot
n annoyances which poor babies es-
raped. such as being weighed every so
often. made 10 sleep at regular hours
whether they were sleepy or not made
io eat m-t so and so much at certain
regular intervals whether hungry OF
not. and. above all thlngs. being paved
over bv a doctor at REGULAR Intervals
whether well or not; and this IS the
crown'ng insult Of all.
WHEN. We ask YOU, WHEN IN the
history az civilization. could any num-
her OF healthy adults be persuaded
f, walk into doctors office every
tuesday. and say: "Well, here / am
l0c Hammer my lungs, and prod my
lack. and nry open my mouth to looh
,f nv tongue. and feel my pulse. ano
weigh me and tell me how many
ounces OF food may have Tor my
nner."
Net that IS exactly what happens "a
he babies OF France, the poor as WEI
7. the rich. which is one Of the penal
Ties Of being kingl Even those hlel
aristocrats OF babylon the dwellers u
f1e nonnennieres-places supported D.
-rivate enterprise where babies ar'
raised like prize Strawberries, Il goot
ones out Of every dozen and guaran
iced absolutely asceptic-even these arr
subject 70 constant hygienic and un
hoalfhful annoyance. Truly, uneasy he
fhe head that wears a crown Inc!
seem 10 thrive under 10. though the'
seem 10 be really better on, than ]
'hev were left to enjoy the snuffles ant
the collie and other baby diversions
undisturbed and unhampered
before we opened the door OF one o
fha babv disnensaries. which are main
FAMED now thronghout France for no
only the ravinC but the betterment O
Frances future population, we kneN
that we were at the right place fror
the voices Of the kings and queens
A LONG. low room, benches down IN
sides. benches down the middle, IN
benches laden with mothers and IN
mothers laden with babies.
such a conglome~ation or baDles
Mostly polus' babies: babies IN ever
tint from very white TO very red. chul
by babies and thin babies. blonae o,
aies and brunettes. sleeny baoles an
wide-awaFes. GROWING babes ana now
ing ones: but in all that catherine on, ON
three who were not In perlecu
healthy condition. thanks TO the oun'
Of prevention which Is proving
much better than the pound OF cure
The women were as much divers
fed as the babies, FOR not all u
mothers could be in attendance /;
erandmothers came. proud grandmotI
ers, too, the proudest the one Win u
.wins and little sisters came u
proude-t one being the "little mothel
of flvs small steps IN the stairway
future France
Content on the faces OF the wome
q cheerful cooperation with their e
rand; always a smile for the Visitc
lnd quite a lively competition as
which baby might elicit the most a
mratlon.
The mothers crowded round and ne
up the babies for inspection. pushed
,hrough the throng with proud con
dence; and 70 was very difflcult inde
not 10 betrsy an overly enthusiast
choice FOR a little, smiling, chubb
faced dark-skinned mite with r
cheeks and deep dmples. and gre
round, dancing brown eyes and cur
brown hairi
stir and bustling now In the bu
reception room. for here came the
rector TO take charge OF US Il was ca
20 see why, in volunteering her s,
vices for France, this sweet-faced el
erly lady had chosen the baby depa
menb for she fairly exuded mother
ness.
Clad in her white uniform and t