The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-07-26
COPPER CAMP HAS
ACR0BATIC INFANT
ORPHAN, so SICKLY 8 MONTHS
AGO NOBODY WOULD
ADOPT HER
Or. Gertrude Pitkanen Took Chance;
Child, Eight Months Old, Now
Hangs by Her Toes and Swings by
Her Hands.

Three months ago a scrawny, amaze
moi mite of humanity, undernourish-
ed and neglected, too unhealthy for
the average person to think about
adopting.
Today probably the strongest child
of not quite eight months to be found
anywhere within the United States
and already on the way to fame
through moving pictures.
That In brief Is the story of Miss
Montana Lily Pitkanen, the adopted
daughter of DR.. Gertrude Pitkanen
of Butte. The child, who was left at
the Butte Maternity home and who
would not be taken by any one else
for adoption because she was such a
"sickly looking little thing" today
shines as a wonderful example of the
methods of child raising put into eff
feet by DR.. Pitkanen.
Once the child almost had another
home. The day after she was left at
the maternity home to be given to
any one who would take her and well
come, the weak little mite was re-
turned. Those who might have be-
come her foster parents gave up the
idea after "a hours trial. She re-
manned an orphan until DR.. Pitkanen
came along and decided to give the
youngster whom nobody wanted a i
chance to grow up in the world and
become a strong, healthy member of
society.
They Must be Healthy
1t was a demonstration OF the fact
that people looking for a child for
adoption crave first of all to take an
infant to their hearts who is healthy.
Nationality, color of eyes or hair,
religion of parents, size, or ever good
looks, are passed up in the quest, but
good, physical health is a requisite
that is never overlooked. Except
by DR.. Gertrude Pitkanen.
Montana Lily, therefore, had a
narrow escape. Had this vigorous, |
understanding, strong-hearted wom-
an not come into her life, the infant
today probably would be weakly roll
ing its head from side to side in the
crib of some orphan asylum, slowly
moaning its life away instead of
hanging by her little toes from the
rings and gurgling with delight as
each day brings forth something to
further develop the muscles of the
body and instill added vigor .
into her whole physical system. J
DR.. Pitkanen adopted the little
waif, realizing that children, much !
sooner than grown persons, either re- !
Or get worse. :
Doctor Takes a Chance !
"The chances are that by proper l
liet and physical care this baby girl
IAN be as healthy al any other" rea- t
'oned the doctor, and started out to |
her theory. And the result is T
10 remarkable that even DR.. Pitkanen t
herself asks, "Is the child a wonder, a
n is it the training which she has re- v
;eived?" C
Montana Lily, as the doctor named h
he infant, is now almost eight d
acnths old, and is without doubt a S
most unusual child for her age. She n
ri " inches tall, weighs 81 pounds, n
While her chest measurement is just d
inches less than her height, 1917 d
inches. Not SO bad for an invalid 81
ably! A solid little person, her skin b
oes not feel like baby flesh at all.
t's as tough and hard as a board. Fl
Although just learning to walk, O.
he can perform gymnastic stunts 81
vhich the average child or 2 or 3 IL
ears wouldn't even dream of at c.
smpting. cl
Acrobatic Stunts y
Can you imagine a child of eight n
lonths swinging by her feet from a
ross-bar and actually enjoying the W
zperience? And this is only one of 2,
er many accomplishments, as this
Dung lady can also stand on her Of
,es, climb a ladder, and having u,
cached the top of it stand there by :,
and swing by her hands. At q,
resent she is learning to jump from a.
le top of the above mentioned lad nj
or into a hammock, also to swim. q
Watching her go through her va in
Gus daily exercises is a sensation in II
self. She is tossed, thrown, lifted hl
D by her hands, her head, and her nc