BEAUTIFUL BABIES

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 37, 12 August 1921, Page 9

BEAUTIFUL BABIES

WHAT BECOMES OF THEM?

THB PURPOSE OF THE PLUNKET SOCIETY.

(By Dr. F, Traby Ring 3 C.M.G.)

Many years ago Professor Patrick Geddes, the great biologist and humanitarian, and joint .author of our most rioted book on sex, paused to ask himself this question: What becomes of all the beautiful babies? He had steeped himseH in a profound study of the origins and destinies of baby-plants and babyauimals, and what struck him as themost extraordinary and disappointing of mysteries was the failure of the little human beings all around him to come up to the splendid possibilities with which they nearly all seemed to start. As he -wandered along the streets or by-way* of cities, or even in the open country, he found himself confronted everywhere with the same thing—boys and girls, men and women, young and 'old, had fallen infinitely short of, what they might have been. This was more than twenty years ago, but can the most optimistic of us say that matters are cow appreciably better than they were then, or that we have paid any seriousattention to the clear-sighted and com- | mon-sense warnings of men such as Herbert Spencer and Geddes? Could anything he more amazingly significant or prophetic than the following passage from Herbert Spencer? . " PHYSICAL FITNESS. I To be a nation of "good animals" is the first condition to national prosperity. Not only is it t'nat the event of a war often turns on the strength and hardiness of soldiers, but it is that the, contests -of commerce are in part determined by the bodily endurance of> j • producers. Thus far we have found no reason to fear trials of strength I with other races in either of these fields. But there are not wanting signs that" our powers will presently bo taxed to th* uttermost. And this was written half a century ago, before George V,, became King! Standing in Lanibton-quay to-day, what is it that strikes us, if we trouble to observe and think whether we are doing justice to our race? As the crowd passes up and down the street before us, how, many youths or adults of either sex could we pick out who would compare favourably, as samples of human perfection, with trie beautiful babies who are so comparatively common? 'I|he vast majority are but of, the running, altogether. . This failure to develop and grow up according to early promise causes no surprise or 'protest—we have got out of the way of expecting, the average man. or, woman to have the shapely feet, good limbs, broad hips, ; deep chest, square shoulders, good muscles, graceful eaey carriage, and the aspect of radiam) health and perfection which would be the prevalent type if man took as much trouble about the rearing and care of his own species as he does about the rearing of cattle and horses. Deformed and crippled feet, spindly calves, indifferent bodie6, shallow chests, round shoulders, and slouching gait characterise the majority. ' ' THE ELECT FEW. Even among the elect few, where can we find the individual who, however well he may look, would be fairly entitled to 75 per cent, of marks as an ideal specimen of manhood or womanhood, if the five following points were given the place they; ought to have in ;our standards of bodily fitness :— 1. Well-developed jaws and sound ' good teeth. 1 2. Fully-developed nose and throat, free from all restrictions or obstructions. .'' . ; 3. Fully-developed chest,/with ample breathing capacity. ■■ • ;■'. 4. Sound digestion and freedom from constipation, etc. , , ... 5. Shapely, well-developed calves and feet, free from distortions and deformities. THE MAJORITY UNFIT. Our shortcomings are obvions even to the casual observer, yet for the most part people regard the present state of matters as-normal. There is no gensral protest against human unfitness.- So long as people can manage to struggle through their daily work with the help of occasional patchings-up by the doctor and the dentist, it does not occur to them .that any higher standard than this is to be expected. Yet it is quite safe to say that, with very few exceptions indeed, those who drag along with indifferent health, and -who hardly ever feel perfectly well, strong, and fit, could have grown up excellent specimens of humanity had' they been properly and sensibly ■ reared. For "the most part men and women do not suffer from inevitable ill-health or unfitness, but mainly from the results of a few easily avoidable daily transgressions of the*laws of life on. the part of their parents or themselves. The principal cause of the progressive tendency of modern bodily, unfitness and ineffiency lies with our women, and is due not to indifference on their part, but to lack of necessary knowledge and training, and consequent failure to put in daily .practice the simple laws of healthy living, as regards themselves and their offspring—before and after child-birth. THE PLUNKET SOCIETY. The purpose of the Plunket Society is not merely to protest against injustice to the new generation, but to do its best in a.simple, practical way to remedy the evil, and of all the measures being carried out in our midst to-day it feels that nothing is of more importance than the splendid effort now being made.by tho Citizens' Committee to raise £10,000 to found and endow a central Karitanc Institution for Wellington. The term "Karitano:Hospital," if used in this connection, would be quite inadequate ; because, though the institution will restore to health many sick children; it Will do an even wider and more far-reaching service to the wholo community as ja convenient centre for the visit* of mother and child to the Plunket nursßS and as a school for mothers— indeed, as a. teaching centre for girls also, where all can be taught and shown the simple essentials for healthy growth and healthy living in the broadest sense. We triist that the appeal now being made will meet, as we feel sure it will, with the most generous response. We trust also that the Citizens' Committee will succeed in doubling the present membership roll of the Wellington branch of the Plnnket Society. The modest fee of five shillings is always welcome, but still more welcome is the assured interest, support, and sympathy of new members; indeed, the whole spirit and intent of the society's mission- is to promote enlightenment, mutual helpfulness, and co-oneration for the sake of mother and child. ~"* The race marches forward On the feet of little children.

■ Only a short period remains wherein ladiea of taste may procure a Spackman and Thompson Tiand-ta.ilqved costume, etc.j, at our. present ,'low prices. Thio whole of our large stock of English and French fabrics aro included in our special offerings, so ladies aro advised to accept this rare opportunity now. 240, Larnb-ton-quay,—Ail'"*