Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1956-08-22

When a new baby arrives &c
brighten the family circle, the
first thought is to weigh him
land see if he isn't heavier than
that Jones kid across the street.
And he generally is, even if dad
has to lean on the scales.
Then, after it's determined
that he shall study medicine
and play quarterback. his fe-
male relatives meet in solemn
conclave TO pronounce him a
Wonderful reproduction of his
fathers finest traits and of the
most marked characteristics of
every relative he has in the
world. The result is rattleS,
spoons, cups, and bonnctS while
proud dad, instead of being in
suited admits with baShful
pride that the resemblance in
the nose and chin is rather
striking. Then, he gayly leads
his friends into the kitchen and
offers them some enthusiasm.
After a while when the young
Ster shows signs of having a
backbone and develops the a.
bility to hold up his head with
tout outside help, the family is
ALARMED that he will never
again look as pretty as he does
now, and that he must have his
picture made.
! So we did.
1t was a great day for babies
at the photographers. They
were thick in the waiting room.
One, undiScoruaged by many
failures, was earnestly attempt
ing the difficult feat of putting
both legs in his mouth up to his
knees. Another was bowling at
something his mother was dang
ling before him, while his arms
and legs sawed the air in anti
cipation of lunch. The majority
seemed convinced that fate had
entered them in Six-day yell
ing contest
AS we waited, we looked at
the portraits on the wall. One
young fellow was pictured be-
ing held by his mother. The re-
|ceptioniSt told us that his placid
appearance was the result Of 80
minutes hard work by every
body in the place He had 10 be
persuaded to forego the pleasure
OF wiggling his legs inside his
gown until his face became
purple and his eyes bulged And
not to crow, wave his fists o
show any other accomplishment.
There, too, was SOung man
with the expression of StOlid
/ indifference. He was plainly in
ftelleCtua. and prldcd himself on
his resemblance TO, let us say,
/ Archibald Henderson. He evil
/ IDENTITY preferred a copy of
Bernard Shaw'S biography to a
pdcIficr. His mother had tod
the photographer, we were in
formed, that this was their first
child and evcryood had told
them 1t was the SmartcSt baby
they'd ever seen.
Then. there was the pi-turC
Iot the youngstcr to whom the
world seemed % jose and The
, photographers torture chamber
rs pleasant a place as any other.
. Everything ne saw he must
have attempted to eat, and. il
/ ne failed, must have laughed at
the satisfaction OF how nearly
he came doing It. If his mother
had wanted the lone front tooth
to show in the picture, she was
satisfied because not only the
tooth but also the gums and
much OF the inside OF the neck
showed.
And there hung badly, too.
Three lonesome hairs stood
Straight up, and the photograph
or said he had been told that
the reason the baby had no
more hair was that ne had been
/ growing faster than his hair
could. Nothing, he said, could
make baldy smile. nor could
anything make him laugh.
Touching was the photograph
of the infant with the family
dog. Her expression clearly
showed she believed she was
simply there to control the dog
while he was having his picture
made. The photographer said
that she had refused toys and
every childish thing. and that
such babies. like ours. reminded
him Of heaven and made him
feel better about life in general.
Finally, there was the portrait