Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-26
BY PHYLLIS GRIFFITHS.

| Special Dispatch to The Star.
CALLANDER, Ontario. May q
| (N.AN.AD OLIVIA Dionne, his wife
Elzire and this reporter have beer
calling on the Dionnes' celebrated
quintuplets, who next Tuesday will
be just year old The visitors found
the babies, of course, in the nursery
of the government-built Dafoe HoSpi-
tai.
There was something pathetic in
the fact that the parents had to ring
a bell and wait for paddock to be
undone before they could enter the
house where their own children live
There was still more of pathos when
they stood by glass window
separating the nursery from the re-
ception room, just looking at their
babies as at something which was
theirs and yet not theirs.
After a few minutes, however, they
went into another room and donned
white gowns, which they are required
to wear before entering the nursery.
Then the father and mother walked
into the nursery The parents picked
up the babies in turn. taking them
over to the window to be admired
beaming upon them and saying en-
dearing French phrases.
Mother Is Ill at Ease.
But they evidently felt uncomfort-
able, i'll at ease And very soon they
waved "au 'voir" to the unmindful
little ones, and the gate, upon which
a sign states: mo admission to Dionne
Quintuplets," closed behind them.
II don't feel I am welcome there.
said Mrs. Dionne in French.
Certainly no one had done anything
to make the parents feel at home. A
policeman, posted at the entrance, was
courteous, but there was no exchange
of pleasantries and none of the nurses
had put in an appearance. Further
more, the policeman. although as dis
Greet about it as possible, Is obviously
charged with keeping an eye on the
father and mother, just as on any
other visitors, when they are on the
premises.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dionne want more say
in their babies rearing. They do no.
want to remove them from the nos
pital, nor to endanger their health
through promoters schemes, but they
saw: Those are our babies. We art
capable of making decisions about
them and their contracts. Why shoulc
the government carry on a policy o.
interference"
Relations Are Strained
Olivia Dionne has two managers,
Leo Kervin, who runs a summer tour
ist business in Calender, and DIVA
brother. Leon. Each is entitled TO ~
per cent of the parents earnings, nu'
Kervin is liable for one-third OF INT
Dionne family's expenses. The man
ayers are particularly bitter over IA
thew term "affronts" to Mr.. and Mrs
Dionne. and the parents relations
with the physician who brougnt Uni
"n1ints" into the world, little DR.. Ro!
Dafoe. are. to say the least, strained.
/ He has had too much credit. say
the father of the five.
"C'est vrai," confirms the mothe
of the five.
| THE parents haven't had a SQUARE
/ deal" saws Kervin. They are no
/ stupid. as they have been made on
/ to be, but ordinary country peopl
who don't like having their cnliorel
taken away from them. Granted, the.
needed help at first, but it was 1ortn
coming from all quarters. The gov
eminent didn't have to step IN U
break that Chicago contract for TINT
showing of the babies. 1t wasn't vallt
ANYWAY, Mrs. Dionne hadn't signed
it. and anyhow it required DR.. Defoe'
permission. All he had to DO was U
refuse 1t.
And this last bill, appointing new
Guardians. was unnecessary. We don
want to injure the babies health. II
fact. we wouldn't stand for some O
the things that are going on now
such as taking dozens Of fiasnlign
pictures when the babies are sick ane
running high temperatures.
Brother Says Doctor SLOW"
And Leon Dionne says DR.. Dafot
was slow in answering his orotner
summons a year ago, that three O
the babies we're born before DR.. Dafo'
arrived, that more credit is Que tW'
midwives who were present than u
the physician, and that the Red Gross
and the nurses were responsible 1ol
the uuantuplets' surviving the mex
few months.
To all of which DR.. Dafoe reptile
nothing at all.
why should get into dog fight?
queries the short smiling medlco, wn'
will be 50 the day after the quins ar
a year old. mo, no, I have nothlnl
to say about those things"
The man in whose waiting room
hangs a membership certificate from
"Canada's Baby Conservation Associa
ton. Inc.-Give a Thought to tn
Babies" confesses feeling tired afte
year Of it,"
"My other practice is kind o
wrecked" says he, lifting a whimsical
eyebrow.
Health Held Normal.
DR.. Dafoe states that the quintuplet
are in normal health for year-ol'
babies-perhaps a bit ahead OF tn
ordinary child, due to the extrt
medical and nursing care they hav
had.
Each of the five is perfect" h
observed But if they didn't ge
special attention, they would go II
pieces. I want to emphasize that,
with an expressive wink. They ar
dandy babies. like EN- all. Haven
favorite.'
DR.. Dafoe insists that Mr.. and Mrs
Dionne are welcome at the hospita
at any time"
81 have asked the mother to com
over and help with the nursing ant
feeding. but she won't. They car
handle the babies If they want"
And how has fame left DR.. Dafoe
Am famous?" he laughs. Cues
I've been too busy to notice. I know
get plenty of mall" with Q wave o
| his hand toward a stack of letters
"All those need answering. I used t,
get some telling me the children
should 60 back to their mother, bu
there aren't so many Of them now
A few letters abuse me. A good man,
don't. And they're all interesting"