Farmers' Week in Agricultural College. 241 



on, the possibilities are endless. 1 can foresee them leading to longer 

 courses, with scholarships such as the Corn Growers have, and we may 

 yet see the Mothers of Missouri flocking here by the hundreds, bringing 

 their babies with them. There are great possibilities here. So I would 

 give you the answer to this question of prevention of infant mortality 

 in one phrase to take home with you. Have it for your club motto, 

 include it in the city charter, place it on our State shield — it would 

 educate the mothers. 



THE PROBLEM OF DRESSING THE INFANT. 



(Mrs. Jonas Viles, Columbia, Mo.) 



This paper contains nothing new or startling on the subject of the 

 layette, nor do I profess to know it all, but I have had practical ex- 

 perience and have acquired thereby a few decided opinions as to what 

 is and is not suitable to provide for an infant coming to a family in 

 moderate circumstances. It is to such that this paper is addressed. 



Every woman's magazine runs its baby department and answers 

 questions of dress for anxious mothers month after month. At least 

 once a year such magazines publish longer or shorter articles on the 

 layette, usually illustrated, giving prices of boughten articles, materials, 

 number of different things needed, hints as to making, etc. Every large 

 store has its infant department where one will be shown every con- 

 ceivable article a baby might, could, would, or should need at any price 

 she can pay. There are several shops in different parts of the country 

 which style themselves "Baby Shops" and carry nothing whatever but 

 the clothing and other articles that infants and very young children 

 require. These shops all issue illustrated catalogs to be had for the 

 asking, but visit these stores and pore over the catalogs for ideas only — 

 your baby's clothes should be made at home. Often some one will say 

 "The boughten articles are just as good, so why take time and strength, 

 etc." They are not, I assure you that a dainty handmade garment 

 such as you will want your little one to have has a price attached to it 

 which is simply prohibitive, while a homemade layette composed of such 

 garments is within the reach of all. The caps and perhaps the coats are 

 the only exceptions to this rule. These, too, may be gotten up less ex- 

 pensively at home but require more skill in the making, and boughten 

 articles may prove more satisfactory in the end. 



In making the layette, keep two things in mind : First, let all work 

 be done by hand as far as practicable (machine sewn seams are far 



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