THE BLESSED BABIES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 39, 24 September 1892, Page 959

THE BLESSED BABIES.

SPECIMENS OF AMERICAN CHILDREN OF FOREIGN PARENTAGE. More than half the babies born during the year in the United States are of foreign parentage. But in spite of the fact that they are all members of the glorious republic, the land of the free and the brave, there is never one that does not betray its nationality either in feature, disposition or taste.

Every fond grandmother or doting parent can point out innumerable and remarkable differences between their own tiny tyrant and every other in existence, their own being undoubtedly the cleverest, brightest and most beautiful baby ever ushered into a cold, unappreciative world. Notwithstanding these unbiased opinions nearly all children of the same race have many traits in common, and are more or less types of their nationality. German babies are the prettiest in the world—they are so fat. so fair ami rosy. They are good natured. easy going little creatures, with blue eyes like forgetmenots and flaxen hair. In appearance they are healthy, with firm, white flesh. They love music, which is as the air they breathe to them; but their enjoyment is calm and critical, as befits members of a philosophical race. Of German slumber songs there is no end, either to number or variety. Here is one of the most popular: Sleep, baby, sleep: Thy father guards the sheep: Thy mother shakes the (’reamland tree And from it fail sweet dreams for thee. Just look at this little Teuton, who was born in New York. Is he not a typical German and a lovely baby? French babies are lively and vivacious and have not the great rolls of white flesh that are characteristic of babies of German parentage. They are slenderly made and olive skinned, with just the faintest tinge of pink in either cheek. They are not shy—no, not they! But they will hang their heads and try to make you believe so. A French girl baby is a born coquette and is naughty and audacious just to tease. When scolded she tosses her pretty little head with the sauciest air imaginable until laughter brings the intended lecture to an abrupt end, as she intended; for all

the while she was watching you with her sharp black eyes that snap with fun. Under the ordeal of the camera she is as pose as her celebrated countrywoman, Sarah Bernhardt, herself. Raven black is the color of a French baby's hair, withuever a “wave” or a "kink" in it—as straight as straight can be. The greatest delight of the small original of this portrait is when her father, whistling a lively operatic air, catches her up and dances her about on her own slim little feet. She is chic and fascinating, and she knows it. The third picture is that of a baby girl whose ancestry is written in her face. Those dark eyes and that deep rich

color unmistakc-nly betoken Spanish blood. Unlike her French sister, the senorita has all the proud reserve of her forefathers, and does not approve of the publicity of the photographic studio. The mere accident of having been born in the United States has not dispelled 1 he native haughtiness of her race. From under her long black lashes she regards the artist and his assistant with an air of grand and lofty disapproval. Why should she, the descendant of proud Hidalgos, be thus rudely exposed to the public gaze? And when the photographer dares to lay his sacrilegious hand upon her to change the pose, she raises her voice in amazed bewilderment at the indignity. Spanish babies are usually very shy and do not easily make friends. They are extraordinarily reticent for children and never indulge in the wild flow of chatter to which French babies are addicted. At nightfall their dark eyed mothers hush them to sleep with lullabys from old Spain: The moon shines bright And the snake darts swift and light, I see five baby bullocks And a calf both young and white. Italian babies look out upon the world with an air of deep solemnity. Rarely are they pretty, for though their features are regular they are generally a little too large for beauty. In manner they are calm and almost stately in their own comical little way. They seem rather overpowered by the responsibility of being descendants of the ancient Romans. Soft, melting brown eyes with an expression of melancholy are one of their greatest attractions. The very young lady of the fourth portrait is that rara avis, a fair Italian with golden hair, and the pallor and purity of a marble statue. An even, gentle smile crosses her face as she waits for the artist to uncover the camera which he has deceitfully told her is full of “little birds" and various other curious things. Though her father and mother are Italian her solemnity is not as unrelieved as that of most Roman babies; jier-

naps the tact tnat sne is a tree uoru American citizen has modified somewhat the severity of her gravity. Her favorite edible is macaroni boiled iu milk and flavored with onions

Gentle, docile and shy. with a manner half timid, half confiding. Chinese babies are most attractive. A group of these children in their gay colored silk costumes lend a picturesque touch to the curious, dirty, narrow streets of the Chinese quarter in San Francisco. The Chinese are very proud of their children and dress them very handsomely. When the baby is a month old the father gives a dinner to all his friends at one of the many native restaurants and the child receives its first name. If it is a young Chinaman, when it is old enough to go to school it will lie given another—- “ Promising Advancement." "Rising Student,” or some such ambitious reference to the progress it is hoped he will make. A Chinawoman has only one name until she is married, when she rereceives another. Children though petted and indulged are never spoiled by Chinese parents, strict obedience lieing exacted from them. The Chinese baby in this portrait is always very well dressed. He wears a pair of pale green trousers, with a deep yellow band at the foot. His coat is of quilted magenta satin, and around his neck is suspended an amulet bag containing charms against evil spirits. He is fond of playing in a rather grave and serious way, but one of his

greatest pleasures is to trot by his father's side through the streets as he goes from shop to shop ]>eddling small commodities. He babbles in a inixtureof Chinese and English and tries to walk by himself, tottering across the sidewalk almost under the feet of the other Chinese pedestrians, who carefully step out of his way. It is very pleasant to see how gentle and kind the men are to these little ones, playing with them and fondling them most affectionately. Here is a song with which Chinese mothers sing their babies to sleep. Perhaps "sing” is not quite the right term to apply to extraordinary high falsetto admired by the Celestials, though it cannot l>e denied that toears accustomed to it it seems to have a soothing effect: Snail. snail, come out and fed; Put out jour h<»rn> and then your head. And thy mannnv will give thee mutton. For thou art duublj dear to me. These children are all American citizens and will attend the public school, Mid later on cast a vote. They will lie better men than their fathers.