The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-03-08
By GE0. RANDOLPH CHESTER
AND LILLIAN CHESTER
lEn.x...Hs IHlA


give IL tho "oncc over" and say that
IL looks like John or Mary, as the
case may be. and so away and think
what they think about It's claims To
beauty. and make a record OF It's
date In tho birthday book.
Of course we're not meaning % In
innate that each particular baby
ism wonderful baby. and that II
isn't surrounded with wealth OF
love. or that Il isn't n happily as
stunned responsibility. because II is,
all these things and more, but, after
all Il isn't looked upon as Of very
much Importance 60 the community
at large. because there IN plenty Of
community anyhow. and one unit
more or less doesn't seem 20 matter
much.
IL was that way IN France. a while
ago: that II. allowing for tho slight
difference in local customs. uradi'
tons. and habits OF thought Tho
papa OF a first born was Just aa
foolishiy proud OF his new dignity
here as at home. aud tho aeaulsi'
ton OF the frs, tooth on the part OF
the wonderful Infant was the aarno
housekeeping family sensation
here as anywhere.
It's Day Of Baby
But. the existence OF that very
baby never rocked the foundations
OF tho state as IL does now: for AT
LAST THE DAY OF THE BABY
HAS ARRIVED IN FRANCEi
The baby IN king. the only ahso.
iuto monarch which will probably be
left after We got thru removing kai.
serism. and all which that implies.
from tho face % an otherwise com.
mendahls world
Among our entirely satisfactory
studica OF the marvellous war spirit
OF the civilian population OF France.
perhaps the mos, inspiring have
been our interviews with the babies.
and we may say. right a, the outset.
and In order 20 have done with that
phase OF tho subject. that We found
their war spirit luaty. exuborant and
undauntedl
You sec, France cannot afford
Ia lose \ single baby. boy or
girl She must be q miser with
them. since they arc tho most
precious Of her possessions. and
In plae. oi y ncw born child be-
Ing simply enrolled on . birth
register. and forgotten In the
dusty municipal archives like =
list Of paid and applied taxes. 10
l. now recognized rs = potential
Freedman or frrnchwoman.
who viii grow up 10 love la
Patric. keep the arts and sci
~necs and manufactures Of
France at . continuous fioodtid~.
and never. never under any cir.
eumstancc-. buy any thing made
In Germany.
Rich babies have always had a lot
OF annoyancaa which poor babies es-
capped. such as being weighed every
30 often. made TO sleep at regular
hours. whether they were Sleepy or
not. made TO eat just 20 and 80 much
at certain regular intervals. whether
hungry or not. and. above all things.
being paved over by doctor at
regular intervals. whether well or
not: and this IL tho GROWING insult
Of all
How They Treat Them
WHEN. we ask you. WHEN. In
the history OF civilization. could any
number of healthy adults be per-
suaded TO walk into a doctors office
every Tuesday. and shy; We'll.
here am. DOC. Hammer my lungs.
and prod my back. and pry open my
mouth to look at my tongue. and
feel my pulse. and weigh me. and
toll mo how many ounces Of food
may have for my dinner"
Yet that In exactly whR. happens
TO tho babies OF France. tho poor as
well as the rich. which In one OF tho
penalties OF being king Even those
high aristocras Of babylon. tho
jewellers In tho ponpcnnieres-pla
supported by private enterprise
where babies are raised like prize
strawberries. IL good ones out OF
every dozen. and guaranteed abso-
lutely asepuc--evcn these are sub
Ject 10 constant hygienio and health
ful annoyance. Truly. uneasy lies
the head that wears a CROWN They
seem to thrive under II. tho. they
seem to be really better Off. than II
they were left 10 enjoy the snuff1es
and the collie and other bsty diver.
siona undiHturbsd and unhampered.
Before we opened the door OF ono
OF the baby dispensaries. which are
maintained now thruout France for
not only the saving but the better
e
we knew that we were at the right
place from the voices OF the kings
and queenal
a long. low room. benches down
tho sides benches down the middle.
the benches laden with mothers and
the mothers laden with babies.
Such a conglomeration OF babies,
Mostly poilus' babies. babies I'm ev.
cry tint from very white to very
red. chubby babies and thp babies,
blonde babies and brunettA. sleepy
babies and wide-awakes. Growing
babies and bowling ones: but In all
that gathering only three who were
not in a perfectly healthy condition
thanks 10 the ounce Of prevention
which IL proving so much better
than the pound OF cure.
Great Crowd OF Mothers
The women we're as much diversi.
fled as the babies. for not all the
mothers could be in attendance, 20
grandrnothers came. proud grand.
mothers, too. the proudest the one
with the twins; and little sisters
came. the proudest one being the
little mother" Of five small steps In
the stairway OF future France.
Content on the faces Of the WON
en-. n cheerful cooperation with their
errand. always a smile for the Wis
itor. and quite n lively competition
an to which baby might elicit the
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