Evening Star Newspaper, December 1, 1894, Page 9

THE EVENING STAR -. —_+--—_ PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. T THE STAR BUILDINGS, 101 i Ay Cor, 1ith The Eve: ic tan Semin on 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Prest, Row York Office, 49 Potter Building, ——— Evening Star ts served to subscribers in the ity by carriers, on thelr own account, at 10 cents em 44¢. per month. Copies at the counter oF each. By mail—anywhere in the United tes oF tage prevaid--00 cents per tee quintupls Sheet Star, $1.00 per year; by tee Radome at W shington, D. C., Egat gl wabeeriptnes oat bo pad tm advance tes of advertising wade wh ou application, WASHINGTO D. ©. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1894-TWENTY PAGES. OCES OSS59 CS90OS0SE0 cecesce S <q DD) rS @ ‘oS DM 4 = Dyspepsia is so common @O® in this country that it is known as the disease.” The first symp= tom is usually distress “American after eating; this is fol- lowed by nausea, loss of appetite, _ headache, pain . in the side, constipation, ‘ dizziness, palpitation of the heart, often errone- ously supposed to ‘be & ®@ © © 8 6 a) © © @ 2) 2] heart disease. The result is mental depression and bad health. RIPANS TABULES will cure dyspepsia. Not one tabule—but a systematiccourse of them, say one after each meal, or if these are too.active, SOOO SH SDDTI SISOS PS STDSIDOSSOD use but two a day. 50c. Box At All Druggists. Wholesale Agents, P. A. Tschiffely, Washington, D. C., E. S. Leadbeater & Sons, Alexandria, Va. esoooree SOS09SS5S008 O60 eose5 UINVERSITY EXTENSION The Plan is Already an Established Fact in The Corcoran Scientific School in Har- mony With the Philadelphia American Society. Last June Mr. W. C. Langdon, jr., A. M., fepresenting the American Society for the Extension of University Teaching, was in this city, estimating the feasibility of es- tablishing the university extension system in the District of Columbia. Returning to Philadelphia early in July to deliver a course of lectures at the University Exten- sion summer meeting, he made a favorable report to the executive committee of the American Society, and urged them to un- dertake the task of Its establishment. Ow- ing to the absence of many of the board of @irectors from Philadelphia during the summer, it was impossible to get formal action on the matter until the fall, when the American Society authorized Mr. Lang- don to go ahead, vigorously to push the project and to inaugurate the actual work- ing of the system at as many points as possible during the current educational season. Not long after vnis, through the energetic interest of the dean of the Corcoran Sci- entific School, Prof. Chas. E. Munroe, Ph. D., the Columbian University, in pursu- ance of its customary liberal policy, un- dertook to further the efforts of the Amer- fean Soclety.The result !s that the Washing- ton University Extension has taken form here as a department of the Columbian University, being conducted in affiliation with the American Society of Philadelphia. Its general policy will be in accordance with the principles which have been proven most practicable and successful by the American Society. Mr. Langdon has been appointed director to organize and develop the work, under the general super- vision of the dean of the Corcoran Scien- tific School. What University Extension Is, Untversity extension ts a system of high- er education devoted to the dissemination of sound and systematic intellectual life among all classes of people, especially those who are not in direct contact with university life. In methods of work great emphasis is laid on the importance of the personal teaching of university trained men. Two methods are at present in use. The first, the lecture course, usually consists of a series of six weekly meetin with the lecturer, each meeting occtfpying about two hours. The first hour is given up to a lecture. Under the guidance of the lecturer students write papers on special phases of the subject, which form the basis for part of the gen- eral discussion to which the second hour is iven. A syllabus or text book is used. ‘he second, the class course, usually con- sists of a series of ten weekly meetings with the lecturer, each meeting occupying about one hour. The lecture is omitted. Personal teaching, study and discussion following a required text book take up the entire time. Both courses are subject to variation when deemed advisable. An ex- amination is offered to those who desire it and a certificate testifying to the work done is given to those passing the examt- nation satisfactorily. Time and place of meeting are arranged to sult the conven- fence of the class. The expense to the in- dividual member attending a course 1s sel- dom more than $2. In organizing “centers” and classes personal effort is always the most successful. The first step should be to get together five or more persons who would be willing to devote time to the work of arousing interest in university ex- tension. The director will always be glad to assist in any such undertaking. Courses Announced. Mr. Langdon says that he ts already prepared to announce courses in philoso- phy, psychology, English and American lit- eraturg, history, civics, economics and science. Among the lecturers will be Profs. Charles E. Munroe, Edward Far- quhar, Hermann Schoenfeld, Peter Fire- man, J. H. Gore, A. F, Craven, A. P. Mon- tague, L.-D. Lodge, J. Macbride Sterrett and W. C. Langdon, jr. One class has al- ready been started and it 1s expected that others will soon be found in different parts of the city and vicinity. In Washington, for the first time in America, will university extension be de- veloped in the full completeness of the system, for in the Corcoran Scientific School ‘of the Columbian University, with its evening courses adapted to the needs of those who are busy during the day, there is already in operation a university extension college, giving degrees on com- pletion of the requisite amount of work. Embracing all the various forms of col- legiate work, university extension proper, university extension college, regular un- dergraduate and post-graduate, the Co- lumbian University will embody ‘the latest, most advanced methods of applying the democratic principles to higher education. es Crusade on Living Picture: ‘The living picture crusade in New York has developed a new phase. The announce- ment that the ladies of the Women’s Chris- tian Temperance Union, headed by Miss Frances Willard, were about to wago a war of extermination against them has stirred up the police department to take a hand in the matter. Superintendent Byrnes recently detalled detectives to attend the vaudeville thea- ters, with instructions to report on what they saw as to the crudities of dress and the nudities of person. Nor fs this all. ‘The ladies of thts soct- ety believe the ballet girls and premier danseuses are a little too gay for the pro- prieties of the day, and they will ask the police department’ to inquire into this branch of the living picture war of exter- mination. ‘The indications are that the lying pic- ture crusade, when begun by the W. C. T. U. ladies, 1s to be as extensive and far- reaching in its course as the Parkhurst movement has been. sos International Exhibition at Amster- dam. The Department of State has received programs of the international exhibition of | hotel and traveling accommodations, to be Meld in Amsterdam next summer. The | scope of the exhibits will be of the widest | character, the groups covering architec- | ture, ehipbutlding, railway . construction and equipment, aerostatics, furniture, |china and pottery, table ware, paper, blankets, foods and liquors, confectionary, | fisheries, plumbing, medicine, machinery, | electric lighting and signaling, gas and | oil lighting, heating, art industries, geog- | raphy, safety appliances, gardening, in- surance and many other branches, ONLY FOR CASRi: We can’t afford to book any of the goods enumerated in this ad., as we have put-a price on them whic! lars, cause if we carry it through the win shopworn and will entail a loss in the end, so we prefer to let you have it now, while it is fresh and new, at keep it until the spring and then sell it at shopworn prices. fore, beginning Monday morning, we w ding sale until the close of business, Sat: qonrpet Dept. All our $1 a yard Carpets ® Te. All our TSe. best makes of Ingrain, Lowell, Hertfords and others, 55c. All our Ge. Ingrains, 45e. All our Gde. Ingzains, 400. All our $1 Tapestry Brussels, bury, Stenson and others, Our 9c. grade of Tapestry, and our Tc Je at 50. All our $1.35 Big and other Brussels, at $1. All our $1.10 makes of Brussels at Bie. All our $1.25 Moquette Carpets at Me. All our $1.50 Axminster Carpets at $1.10. Japanese Hall Rugs. 5 yards long, $4.95. Lace Curtains. 10 pair Irish Points, $2.30 pair, 6 pair Irish Points, $16, for § 6 pair Irish Points, $14, for $9.50. 6 Irish Points, $12, for $5.25. 0, for $11.50, Soetonteeeaes Rox- 65e., Hartford. Sedondonsoeseetestontons ots sSedonconseesoetontontees 6 pair Irish Points, § 6 pafr Irish Points, $18, for $1 6 pair Irish Points, $18, for $1 4 pair Irish Points, 0, ” F ” 2 $6.50, 12 pair Ecru Tambour, $8. 8 pair Eeru Tambour, $9, for $6. 6 pair Ecru Tambour, $11.50, $7.5) 6 pair Ecru Tambour, $11.50, $8. 12 pair White Tambour, $7.50, $3.95. 5 pair White Tambour, $4.75. 4 pair White Tambour, $6.75. 4 pair White Tambour, $6.75. 1 palr White Tambour, $9, for $5.75. Soatengengeete $7.50, $8.75, $10, for W. H. HOEKE, We are willing to sell this surplus stock without profit, be- Seedonieeteeteetedtonte h simply means swapping dol- ter it will get more or lees) than ‘There- a sacrifice, rather I continue this surplus rid- urday, the 15th instant. Chamber Suites. Solid Oak Suites, well made and nicely ed, $30, This sale, $24, $37.50 Suites for $25. $33 Suites for §23. $45 Suites for $27.50. $30 Bireh Suite for $24. $37.50 Birch Suite, oval plate, 830 $30 Birch Suite, pattern plate, $24. Birch Suite, swell front, $51.50, 4) Empire Style, brass trimming, tondoatoatontentoatoate fontoateetostestonreetoetoetentoeceetontonte eeteatoeteeseeseagonseesosoaioesneseaoatoetoeseeonset sees cedeedsnesnetedseete $40 Empire Style, mahogany finish, $37.50 Oval Plate, imitation mahog- any, $20. Seskostoetoctentontontontont Parlor Suites. $30 Divan Suites, im silk, $24. $37.50 Divan Sultes, inlaid, $30, $40 Divan Sulies, in silk, $32, £53 Divan 4-piece Suites, $42.50. $65 S-piece Suites, $52. $75 Overstuffed, $60. $100 Mahogany $125 5p) $150 Large Suite, 5 pie $200 Full Turkish Suite: ‘rame Suites, $30, ce Silk Suites, $160. S20, . $160, Sideboards. $12.50 Oak Sideboard, $10, $15 Oak Stloboard, $12. $18 Oak Sideboard, $14 $20 Oak Sideboart, $16, f° Sideboard, §20. $40 Oak Sideboard, & $50 Oak Sideboard, $40, $75 Mahogany Sideboard, 960 $100 Mahogany Sideboard, $80, $150 Mahogany Sideboards PEPPOL IDI PIP OPIS POPS SP EO OPO OOG PD DOOD Hi Carpets, Furniture and Drapery, Cor. Penn. Ave. and 8th St. HELPED MRS. MADISON The White House Picture Episode as Re- lated by a Participant. How the Picture of Washington Was Removed Before the Arrival of the British in 18 From the Philadelphia Times. Probably no one read with greater inter- est Miss Whittle’s article on the portrait of Dolly Madison, in last Sunday's ‘Times, than Mr. Abraham Barker, the well-known banker of this city, for to him belongs the honor of being the son of Jacob Barker, who, with Mr. Robert G. L. Depeyster, car- ried from the White House the Gilbert Stuart picture of Washington, which is pointed out to all visitors at the White House today. In the book entitled “Inci- dents in the Life of Jacob Barker’ the whole story is very pleasantly related, and the foliowing letters and passages go to prove how intimately Mr. Barker was con- nected with an event that is one of histor- ical interest. In a letter to the son of Mr. Charles Carroll of Bellevue Mr. Larker says, in explanation of the picture episod “Ag soon as our troops broke and ret! ed the President sent his servant express to warn his good lady of her danger, with directions to leave immediately. This mes- senger must have reached the White House by 2 o'clock, and Mrs. Madison, Mr, and Mrs, Cutts and servants left immediately thereafter, and there was not any appear- ance of dinner or preparation for dinne> about the rooms where the family usually dined. It was too early in the day for such an expose. These facts, together with the absence of the President, the occaslon of his absence and the other attendant cir- cumstances, forbid the idea that your fa- ther had, by invitation that day given by the President, been dining with his lady; that dinner was over, and that they were sitting at the table, after the cloth was removed, when the messenger arrived. I presume he was there when the messenger arrived, and that he had exchanged horses with Mr. Monroe on the road, @s you inti- mate, and not with the President. No Thought of Dinner. “Mrs. Madison was not the lady to have had dinner over, in the absence of her hus- band, before 2 o’clock, when his return was momentarily expected, and especially not when her whole thoughts, and those of her household, must have been engrossed with the exciting occurrences of the day; nor was it the fashion at the White House to have dinner over at that time on ordinary occasions. The messenger preceded me five or ten minutes, having passed me on tho Pennsylvania avenue and given the inror- mation, with a request that I would repair to the house and assist in their departure. I do not perceive the importance of wheth- er this was before or after dinner, or whether your father had, by special invita- tion of Mr. Madison or otherwise, dined with ‘his lady on that or any other day; nor do I perceive why you have introduced it into your strictures upon my narrative. “Whether I found your father there or whether he came in subsequently I do not know, but I do know that he assisied in taking down the portrait of Washington and left the house with the President, leav- ing the portrait on the floor of the room in which it had been suspended to take care of itself, where it remained until the rem- nant of our army, reduced to about 4,000, passed by, taking the direction of George town, when the portrait was taken by Mr. Depeyster and myself, assisted by two col- ored boys, from the said room, and with it we fell into the trail of the army and con- tinued with it some miles, “Overtaken by night and greatly, fatigued, we sought shelter in a farm house. No other persons assisted in removing or pre- serving the picture. I acted at the personal request of Mrs. Madison, and Mr. Depeyster co-operated with me in carrying her wishes into effect. 1 always supposed the praise- worthy solicitude originated with her; it would require very positive and clear proot to induce me to change that opinion. It certainly did not originate with me or M Depeyster; nor have I ever intimated that any Other than Mrs. Madison was entitled to the least credit therefo: A Letter From Mrs, Madison, The following gives a more specific de- scription of the way the portrait was saved: “After the battle of Bladensburg, when the British army was advancing on Wash- ington, at the request of President Madi- son's lady, Jacob Barker and Robert G. L. Depeyster took from the President's house the original portrait of Washington, by Stuart. With it in charge, they fell’ into the train of the American army, then re- treating past the house, continuing with it until nightiall, when they turned off to a farm house near the margin of the Tiber, where they passed the night and left the portrait for safe-keoping. The American army encamped two miles further on and early the following day it proceeded to Montgomery Court House. s “After a lapse of a month or two Mr. Barker returned to the farm house where the painting had been left and caused it to be taken back to Washington and delivered to Mrs. Madison. That good lady had It rein- stated in the White House as soon as It was rebuilt, encircled by an appropriate frame. A letter from Mrs. Madison to Mr. Di peyster written in 1848 corroborates the foregoing, and to Mr. Barker rather than to Mr. Carroll undoubtedly belongs the dis- tinction of having aided the lovely wife of the President to preserve a relic that was precious not only in her sight, but in the hearts of the whole nation, The letter is as follows: “I did not recelve your favor concerning the newspapers, and therefore is my im- patience to assure you of my gratitude for the interest you take in my defense in the little narrative of the picture rescue. “You will see by the inclosed what was said at the time. The impression that Mr. Carroll saved Stuart's portrait of Wash- ington is erroneous. The paper which was to accompany your letter has not reached me, but I have heard that his family be- lieved he rescued {t. On the contrary, Mr. Carroll left me to Join Mr. Madison, when I directed my servants in what manner to re- move it from the wall, remaining with them until it was done. I saw Mr. Barker and yourself (the two gentlemen alluded to) passing, and accepted your offer to ald me, in any way, by inviting you to help me preserve this portrait, which you kindly carried, between you, to the humble but safe roof which sheltered it as ile. I acted | thus because of my respect . Wash- ington, not that I felt a desire to gain laurels; but should there be a merit in re- maining an hour in danger of life and liber- ty, to save the likeness of anything, the merit in this case belongs to me. " Consuls Recognized. ‘The President has recognized Nicanor Bolet Peraza as consul general of Salvador at New York and Johan Baron von Leon- hardi as vice consul of Austro-Hungary in the same city. TRAFFIC IN BABIES *. Place in This City Where Infants Are Bought and Sold. ALL IN ACCORDANCE WHH LAW Pauline Pry Arranges to Buy One of the Unfortunates. BABY FARMING METHODS Written Exclusively for The Evening Star. URING THE PAST week the following ersonal” has ap- peared in the morn- ing papers: “FOR ADOPTION. —A nice healthy baby boy to respect- able party. Address BABY BOY, this of- fice.” In one paper the advertisement read, “A nice baby. boy and a girl.” I answered this advertisement, and, 50 doing, discovered that within a stone's throw of the Capitol, in an ultra-respecta- ble neighborhood, at 34 B street northeast, there is a baby farm, where, for $100, un- godly parents may get id of their off- spring, which is afterwai disposed of, I know not how, except that I bargained to | obtain a child without disclosing its des- tination or the identity of the persons who were to receive it, on the payment of $50. Furthermore, I have discovered that under the laws of the District of Columbia baby farming is a legitimate industry. Suspecting the source from which the foregoing advertisement emanated I re- piled to it thus: “Kindly inform me where the baby ad- vertised may be seen. Also inform me if the parents relinquish all claim and wheth- er it can be arranged tor the child to be taxen by persons desirous of concealing their identity.” By return mail I received this reply: “Will you please and call at No. 34 B strect northeast; it is a nice boy from a good parants; will give all particulars, not claims, etc. lam, very respectfully, - Mrs. MARIE RENNER, 34 B street northeast.” This was precisely what I had expected. For the past six weeks I have been pa- tiently waiting for Mrs. Renner to furnish me just such an opportunity to call on her. I knew that she, assisted by Dr. 8. . Czara, conducts a lying-in hospital, ‘the mysteries of which regular doctors’ and the District authorities have striven in vain to penetrate. Health Authorities Interested. Mrs. Renner became personally acquaint- ed with the authorities early last summer, when an infant she had taken to the Chil- dren's Hospital died in the hospital before it had been formally received. Dr. Wood- ward, then coroner, went to investigate the case, and when he asked to see the body of the baby, Mrs, Renner promptly lifted a corner of the cloth covering the table beside which Dr. Woodward was sit- ting, and from a lower shelf produced the small corpse. But barring this somewhat extraordinary confusion of human re- mains and parlor ornements, the cor- oner found no irregularity attending the child's death. Yet so lively and curlous is the interest the health de- partment hes since taken in Mrs. Renner, after she removed from 131 3d street nort! east, to her present quarters, the authori- ties spaded up the back yard of her for- mer residence, anticipating further in- stances of original methods of putting up dead bodies. ; Mrs. Itenner registered at the health of- fice as a midwife, April 5, 1894. She was then located at 227 1st street northwest. Since then she has made two shifts, each time bettering her location. Her first move was to 131 3d street northeast, and from there, in Octeber, to the conspiculously prosperous, almost elegant quarters she now occuples. Se In the extensive advertising which Mrs. Renner does, she appears sole proprietor of the hospital, which, however, bears the sign of 8. A, Czara, physician and sur- geon. Dr. Czara joined Mrs. Renner last spring. He registered at the health department in April. His diploma represented him as having graduated from the Kentucky School of Medicine less than a year prev- fous. When he sought to open an account with one of the national banks here the bank refused his account, because he could bring forward to introduce him nobody but a so-called specialist of no standing among regular physicians. To the bank cashier's inquiry “Why do you not join the medical association?” Czara replied that he did not wish to, because he intended advertising his business. There is No Disguise. Still he does not advertise his business, not even in the circular announcing the hospital which Mrs, Renner inclosed to me with her reply to my inquiry concerning the baby for adoption. This circular, giving the location and specifying the advantages of Mrs. Renner’s hospital in the inducements {t holds out, places a premium on that erime which makes women unnatural, irresponsible mothers of unfathered children: “Another class of patients in need of a private hospital are those unfortunate ‘females who have made a misstep, but are unable to marry on account of their pre ent circumstances. Every person of ex- perience can realize the desperation which seizes these unfortunate beings upon dis- covering their real condition, and can un- derstand why so many resort to methods that often result in the ruin of their health for life, and in the murder of their off- spring. Hundreds of them have been for- tunate in finding advice and help, which brought them to this institution in ample time, before their condition was publicly known. They have gone forth untarnished in the eyes of their friends, assoclates and of the community in which’ they lived, and today they are wives in happy homes, saved from the disgrace of their misfor- tune. ‘or this class of patients we have made special provisions to enable them to keep their secrets, conceal their {dentity, and to live in strictest privacy, if they wish to do so, and it 1s our intention to offer, in this institution, constantly the same oppor- tunities for the protection of these un- fortunate that we would wish to see offer- ed to our own children were they in like condition. “We are willing and have always been able to take care of the baby, and to find a suitable home for it, for a small considera- tion. We have also a good home for the infant, if the mother desires to part with it for any iength of time, so that the young lady may leave our house without any bur- den, and oftentimes better looking, fuller in form, and more ladylike in appearance, than’she had ever been before.” Visit to the Baby Farm. The concluding lines, you notice, cleverly bring vanity to foster that vice which puts money in Mrs. Renner’s pocket, suggesting that an offense against the sixth com- mandment may, by the kind offices of Mrs. Renner’s institution, be made a means of enhancing the offender's beauty. A very pleasant-faced German girl ad- mitted me within Mrs. Renner’s house, and ushered me into a parlor characteris tic of prosperous Germans. It was fur- nished with silk-covered cherry furniture, a grand piano and odd bits of adornment, in- cluding a table covered with a chenille cloth, which I regarded with an uneasy eye. The large bay winddw was filled with flowers. Through partially opened double doors, leading into the rear room, I got a glimpse of a cozy library. “You wish to see me?” Most decidedly I did. This was Mr: Renner—a surprisingly —_ young-looking, small, plump person, who would have peen pleasant in appearance but for the air of insolence she assumed. Before inquiring my errand she closed all the doors leading from the room. Then, when I told her I had coms in response to her letter to see about the baby for adoption, her manner —— so that she seemed a good little rau. “I can promise you that the parents can never claim the child,” she said. “They are glad enough to be rid of it. Besides, we make the mother of every baby we take sign a paper giving up the child en- tirely. But J cannot let the baby go with- out knowing who the person is that takes it. Do you wish it yourself? Not? Has your friend other children? I will not even let a baby go where there are other chil- dren, for fear it may not get good care. Why, if you do not tell me anything about who wants it how do I know but you will take it and throw it in the street? No, no; it is hard enough for the poor baby to be deserted by its parents. I assume the responsibilities of its parents, and I must know that it gets a good home. I give you no trouble about it when I see it is in good hands. You need not be afraid of that. I have too many confidences in my business not to have learned how to treat them. Anything: you tell me will be perfectly confidential between us, but I must know where the baby goes. Otherwise it is not right, and the law says so.” Mrs. Renner made this judgment appear so final, that respecting her principles I arose to leave. I said the lady wishing the child would not consent to reveal her iden- tity, I was sure. “But don’t you want to see the baby?” asked Mrs. Renrer. “You know, she con- tinued, “anybody getting a baby here gets a much better kind than from the found- ling asylums. I have only first-class peo- ple, and the babies are all nice blood, not common ones picked up anywhere, such ae most always you would find for adop- tion.” Only n Selfish Interest. But not even the superiority of the stock she offered interested me if she would not consider the terms on which I had sug- gested taking one. “Just wait a minute the! she said, and left me, after carefully not only closing me in, but locking me in. She returned in a moment with a man whose sanctimoni- ous air, gold-rimmed spectacles, good clothes, and well-fed appearance, all went to make Dr. Czara lvok like a German preacher. The pair talked back and forth in German, ignoring my existence, until they got ready to recollect It. Then Dr. Czara seated himselit opposite me and took up my case where Mrs. Renner lett off. He repeated what she had said, but in- stead of letting facts speak for themselves, went into the logic of their regard for humanity and the law. “You see,” said the doctor, “I have to protect my reputation. Suppose I am satis- tied with your appearance that you would take good care of the child and let you have it without knowing your name and residence; how can I teli but you may be from—what you call it?—the children’s board, a detective perhaps, or maybe the lady reporter, who will go away and write up so much"—measuring about a yard— “in the paper that I throw babies out in the gtreet? No, I cannot do that. I must protect myself. You must give me a name, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Jones, what street and number you say. Then if the authorities come here, I can say to them what you told me. Now, you may say you live in that house’—pointing across the square— “I see you take the baby there. Very well. You move away next week, or to- morrow. I know nothing about that—you understand? I must be able to say some- thing to the authorities if they ask ques- tions. You do not have to give me any writing, and I give you none, and you need not be afraid I ever use the secret I have over you. “Why, my dear lady, if you knew how much more important secrets I hold, you would understand that such a little one is nothing to me. Now, it is like this. A wo- man came to me not so long ago, who was miserable because she had no children, She made arrangements with me, so that I brought her a newly-born infant from my house, and nobody of her family ever knows that child was not born of her. I know it; but $5,000 could not make me tell anybody that woman's name. I tell you so much that you may understand that you are perfectly safe to trust me. “As for the parents of the child, you need have no fear of them. I have been in this business too long not to know how to protect myself on every point. I was in it- twenty years—many years in Chicago, in an institution where we adopted out thirty or forty babies a year. One time a mother came back and made trouble, and ever since then I get a contract from the — Wait; I will show you what it is re. The Supply of Babies. He then left me alone in the parlor, Mrs. Renner having gone out when the doctor got fairly under way with me. The doctor did not close the hall doors on me, as had Mrs, Renner, but he stopped in the hall to click something before going upstairs, whether to turn on a burglar alarm or merely turn down the latch of the front door, I give you my word, I didn’t budge to find out. The curiosity of Eve would be- come eminently respectful of the conve- niences of this house and the resources of Dr. Czara. The doctor brought back with him three contracts in which as many women con- veyed all their rights and property In cer- tain specified children to Mrs. Marie Ren- ner. Two of the women _particularized themseives as unmarried. The other one was niarried. The papers were signed both by the mother and the father of the child in question, and each witnessed by S. A. Czara and Marie Renner. “Now, doctor,” I said after examining the papers, “let me understand you. If 1 give you a name and address, are you obliged to verify what I say?” “Probably not,” said the doctor, with a smile and shrug of the shoulders. Tien he asked, “Which would you like, a light one or a dark one?” This rather staggered me. I have been thinking of one baby in stock. Evidently there was a “bear” market. ‘Have you more than one?” I asked. “Oh, yes,” he answered with the utmost unconcern. “There are three just at pres- ent. Two boys—one light and one dark— and a girl. One boy is about a week old. The others are two or three weeks older. They are all fine, healthy children. We have none but the best, and I have supplied some of the first families here and out of the city with children. There is an officer in the penston bureau, there—oh, I couid mention a great many. We average about eight or nine a year that are adopted. Now, what do you think you would like?” “First tell me,” I replied, “if I come here tomorrow and give you a name and address can I carry the child off with me when I go?” “Well, no,” sald the doctor. “You know I would have to have some time to investl- gate. You might give me the number of an empty house.” ‘This sudden retreat from his former state- ment that he would not seek to verify what I told him confused me. The favorable impression Mrs. Renner had made upon me | had caused me quite to forget that she handles babies “for a consideration.” Stu- pidly enough, therefore, I left without seo- ing a sample infant, promising, however, to return the next day for further advice on the subject. ‘That same evening my eyes were opened. I sent a well-dressed French girl to Mrs, Renner’s to discover with what facility a child may be placed in this Institution, Louise represented that she had a child two months old which she wished to put out to board with Mrs. Renner. She was recelved with the same insolent air with which Mrs. Renner had greeted me, which, however, changed to every ap- pearance of a sympathetic spirit, once her’ mission was made known. What is Paid for Babies. } “That will be very expensive now,” sald; Mrs. Renner, “I do notgake many babied from outsiders—I have so much on hand with those that are born in the house, take care of the babies’ myself, and as give them the best of care I have a deal to do. My house is so full now, &) would have to charge you pretty high.” “The money does not matter so much,’* < Lexis: aay what it will be.’ “Not less an a ” said Mra Renner. ees: “And, if I-should conclude to part with the child—I may. have to,” said Louise “could you take it off my hands?” “Yes, I could,” answered Mrs. “but, as I said, I have so much on hands with thosé born in the house, it ard for me to manage with any more, atill I would doit “What would be your terms?” asked Louise. “That I can't say, because you know It all depends on how much the people charge for adopting it. Some want more and some not so much. I will show you a letter.” Then Mrs. Renner got and proceeded to read to Louise a letter ostensibly from some person out of town, who wrote that she would take a baby from Mrs. Renner if she could have her expenses to town and return and the expense of keeping the child guaranteed for three years. . “You see,” said Mrs. Renner, “people do not adopt children for nothing. “Well,” said Louise; “but cannot you fiz some average price at which you could af- ford to take my baby? Mrs. Renner thought a moment, and while she was thinking Dr. Czara appeared at the door. He spoke hurriedly in Ger- man, with which Louise is familiar, say- ing: “Is it one who has been here before?" to which Mrs, Renner answered, in German, ‘0, she has just come in.” Then the doctor pasved on and Mrs. Ren- ner said to Louise: “Well, I tell you; you gtve me a contract for the child, and all its wardrobe and $100, and I give you my, word it will not trouble you any more.” Having established then the figure of the “small consideration” for which Mrs. Ren ner overcomes the conscientious scruples and legal difficulties commonly attending the abandonment of a child by its mother, it occurred to me that possibly another “small consideration” might enable Mra. Renner to overcome other scruples and other difficulties attending the conveyance of a child thus abandoned into unknown hands, Q Accordingly I paid my second visit to Mrs. Renner, prepared*to argue with dol- lars and cents. She anticipated me on this point, however, and herself suggested the terms on which we might come to an agreement. I told her that my friend adhered to her original statement, that she would not con- sent to take the baby unless she might pre- serve her identity a secret. “You see,” I said, “by the contract you hold from the parents, Mrs. Renner, you remain the legal guardian of the child, and could at any time make any use you pleased of your rights and property in it.” She paid little attention to what I sald, and, Dr. Czara, who had been uneasily wandering about in the hall, entering, the two conversed in German, not to the utter exclusion of myself, however, for, by the tones and gestures of the doctor, all elo- quently expressive of magnanimity and confidence in me, I was made aware that my influence was at work upon them, The Poor Unfortanate. Finally Mrs. Renner turned to me with her familiar, “Well, I tell you,” and said: “My husband and I have talked the mat- ter over, and though it is not right, and we never have done so before, we have made up our minds to let you take the baby without telling us more than you want to. I think you look as if you would be good to the baby. But I must tell you there are some expenses about the baby— you understand? Let me see, twenty-six— no, thirty-six dollars, and besides—well, we thought that if you would pay us $3 for our trouble and all, you know, you could take the baby and we would not ask any questions.” : This arrangement was immediately agreed upon, and Mrs. Renner went to fetch the bay. She again locked me in, as she left the room, and besides having the key turned on me, I was under guard of Dr. Czara, who sat in the rear room surveying me through the foot-wide open- ing of communicating doors. After what seemed an age and was prob- ably five or six minutes, Mrs. Renner re- turned with the poor little parcel of pur- chasable humanity in her arms. It was a veek old at 4:30 last Thursday, she said, ‘See, it has a nice head. Yes, it is thin, but it has good blood, is from nice people.” She showed me its body, pitiful as @ starved bird's. Its legs were raw in places. The while it was being exhibited, it Was wailing with all its frail might, and its restless bits of hands stretched Into t! emptiness of life about it. Poor, poor little baby. Born into the world through no fault, no wish of its own, so tiny, so help- less, so human, and in all this great world of hearts and homes, no heart, no home for it. It twined its cold, claw-like fingers around one of mine, and I'm afraid I forgot to ask as many questions as I should. Mrs. Renner smiled to see me crying, and I dare say it was ludicrous to shed tears over one among so many unfortunates. “TI give you these clothes it has on,” she said, “and one other suit.” The clothes comprised a cotton slip and flannel skirt. So, though she had care- fully bargained with Louise for a ward- robe with her child, this one was poor in clothes as in everything else. It was definitely agreed that I should send $50 to Mrs. Renner during the afters noon, and at night call for the baby. I wish I might have done so. Within Legal Requirements, At the health office I found that in the past six weeks Mrs. Renner has registered eight births. ‘These are all children born alive. She registers no deaths. Dr. Czara told me they dispose of eight or nine a year by adoption. How are the rest disposed of? I can figure out so much of an answer. If $50 1s the selling price of a baby from a baby farm, and if a baby a week old had Tun up an expense account of $36, which left to the profit of the dealer only $l4 of the selling price, it will readily be scea that a baby living beyond a certain limit and remaining unsold would have to be “closed out” at any price to save the dealer from bankruptcy. SUI, the problem remains, how can this be done? and the law leaves everything on this point to the discretion of Mrs. Ren- ner. Who doubts that she is discreet? The birth certificate blanks furnished at the health department make no provision for registering the residence of the parents. 1t is, therefore, impossible to learn anything from them. To Louise Mrs. Renner said: “You give me a contract and $100 and I give you m: word the child will trouble you no more. Right there all trace of anybody's re- sponsibility for the child is lost, and the law is powerless to reclaim it. There is no record by which the parents may be reach- ed. When Coroner Woodward asked who were the parents of the infant who: death he investigated at Mrs. Renner's she gave some names, and added: “But, you knew, they lie so, these people, we can be sure of nothing they tell us.” ‘The papers transferring the parents’ | rights and responsibilities In a child to | Mrs, Renner are witnessed. by Mrs. Renner j and Dr. Czara, and are recorded nowhere. As Dr. Czara said to me, he has t m this business too long not to know how to protect himself. If there were three abandoned babies in Mrs. Renner’s keeping last Saturd: and perchance should be none today, there is a record that they were born at Mrs. Ren- ner’s—nothing more, and for nothing more does the law make provision. So that uns der the beneficent rule of the District of Columbia we have the angmaly of a baby farm that satisfies the law. But does the law satisfy humanity PAULINE Pi