Evening journal., 1918-03-01


their work, equally enthusiastic.
Their progress through the room
was slow. for they see these babies
every week, and have an intimate per-
sonal acquaintance with all Of them.
and are very solicltous about the bump
little Jules got on the ear last week,
and the bruises little Niotolre got from
falling downstairs. which is one Of the
regular procedures 10 any victory
What a little room. this next one :;
the consultation room. At a small Ia
BILE another white-clad volunteer, a sec
retary, with a book which was on0r-
mously big for the affairs OF such tiny
clients, and a huge index card for
every baby, containing a record Of its
life week by week. from It's very frst
astonished entry into this world % the
mo { recent weighing. the little cough
it had one Tuesday, three months ago,
which was gone on the next Tues.
day, and everything; behind the secre-
tary, the scales with which every baby
Of FraQce has become so uncomfort-
ably familiar; in the shining white cup
boards around the walls. supplies OF
bandages and simple remedies. and
te ting paraphernalia, and mysterious
looking minor surgical instruments and
such adiuncts.
But hush This is no place for idle
curiosity; no space In this tiny room
Tor mere useless visitors, because there
is a consultation going on; so the two
visitors, and the earnest, self-sacrincing
woman who was their guide. and Ma
dame the Director, and the two nice
looking nurses, pushed themselves
] BACK against two sections OF the wall
/ in two silent, solemn rows and stared
The patient was a young party by
I the name Of Pierre. who objected yio-
tently to having all his clothes removed
and 10 being supported on his stOm-
ach IN mid-air on a firm. broad hand.
while an ear was pressed aealnst his
spine He had little sympathy His
mother, a woman In black, who was
strong and quiet, merely smiled. though
she held up her reddened hands half
hesitantly, ready TO take him back and
dress him
The audience smiled, because he was
such a nice baby. pink and beautifully
chubby and velvety OF skin, with ten
/ der little creases around his ankles and
wrists and little round marbles OF toes
which tried their best TO shut up tighl
like his fists
The secretary smiled. too. and al.
ready beran TO write the verdict or
the card OF Monsieur Pierre; and the
doctor smiled. because that violent
protest was exactly what she wanted
The slightest trace Of a whesze in th'
lungs would show In that cry.
Noilal Sound as a franc
Nothing whatsoever the matter witt
little Pierre. and he smiled angelicall,
the moment he had what he wanted
his clothes back on
The doctor leaned over and talkel
TO the mother, quietly, crisply, con
osely, and the woman listened atten
lively, with something more than mer
gratitude In her eyes.
Our turn next, as soon as the NOR
important Monsieur Pierre was ush
cred out; and we were privileged {
shake hands with an inspiration. W
shall always remember that doctor a
one Of the most helpful persons w
have ever met. one who has made tn
world better for having been born q
It. one whose life has been lived {
splendid purpose.
woman, strong, capable, magnetic
one able 10 handle mothers as well a
babies. and to inspire confidence O
them both.
- She is one Of those women Of Franc
who has made herself part Of the ma
ton, part Of its tremendous endurance
2 part Of its stupendous sacrifice, paI
? Of It's unyleldlng determination.
At the outbreak Of the war, she wa
- In the enjoyment Of a large and IL
2 crative practice. She gave it up imme
- diately, and has ever since devoted he
S entire attention TO the upbuilding {
y future France through the babies {
Y the poor; one day a week In each {
I seven dlspensaries, and. after the oi
d fee hours are over, night visits TO tin
s patients who cannot be brought to n
clinic.
Z There Is a big passion in her for th
- work she Is doing, almost a snarl
g her determination that not one Of th
4 babies who come under her charge bl
v shall develop into ane, sturdy, wei
n balanced men and women Not that 81
talks about Il much Her statement
e her purposes and discussion OF HI
e work was necessarily hasty, for hi
e visitors were perfectly WELL and III
grown and had no need for her, whl
, outside long strings Of babies we
y waiting.
j. In with the next one. a big. roly-pol
h. white-haired fellow who had to
ID awakened to be weighed and prodd
J. and everything; awakened, when
y was 50 healthy. and always had bee
~ that the only result Of any week
= examination could be but 3 compllme
20 10 his motheri
. A ioking remark from the doctor. al
f. all her white teeth flashed In a friend
le smile, to which the mother instant
30 responded
h. out quickly with him. Oh A sick
le baby this time, a poor, scrawny llt'
le zone. who breathed heavily and lay $
r. pinely. Deep worry on the face OF Z
OF mother, a tired-looking woman. An
slant change In the face Of the dpct'
n, A great tenderness In her, a great syI
r. pathy and a great purpo-e.
IT. She asked for the babys card. a
to examined Il mlnutely. entry by emit
d. Then she took the baby In her hand
such strong hands they were, han
Id with the healing touch, hands whi
in would make anybody feel better mel
n " from the contact with them
ed The mother watched her breathles'
lie &c She took the child, and when
" doctor's face was frightened Of
ed heavy concern, the mothers fs
AZ, brishtened
ly Malnutritlon; that was the trouble
A minute inquiry into the food a
sy habits OF the mother; an earnest Ia
d. hottie Of medicine. accompanied by
sy carefully written page OF directlo
,r- and an order for precious milk; /