BABIES REARED ON GOATS MILK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 81, 29 December 1917, Page 5

BABIES REARED ON GOATS MILK

NOVEL FOUNDLING HOME IN CHINA. Of perennial interest to the traveller is China, with its millions, its quaint customs, its mystery and its charm; a country whose very name is magnetic, suggesting aintold wonders. A recently arrived hoat from the Orient brought bank to Sydney Miss K. Smytlio, a woman who has made many trip's to China. Slie admits, too (says the Sydney "Sun"), that each succeeding journey lias found her setting out as keenly curious as when she- first packed. "This time," said Miss Smytho, "I found China rather in a state of forniGiit. but extraordinarily enough, except wltcre the political dis-twb-<;ces were directly local, the people were placid and as inconsequential as only the Chinese people know how to be. Nothing worries them. They simply live one day at a time, and if their' God isn't in a Heavon, as we know it, at least all is right ;n their world. Yet perhaps they arc stirrinp; a little after all. Western ways and

Western ideas are creeping in, slowly enough but insidiously, for tho signs are beginning to betray a leaven." "Not altogether politically," added Miss "Smythe. "I was referring to economic changes, and was reminded of how in China—in Shanghai, to be accurate—the Great problem of a city's unwanted children is handled. There is an immense convent there conducted by Spanish nuns. Their scheme of reclamation is unique. Cliina'e population might be likened as regards numbers to tho sands of the sea shore. Babies aro being born in uncounted numbers every second; born in tho streets, in the byways, born' promiscuously, the poor little things taking their chance of living or dying. _ The nuns aim at giving each poor waif an opportunity to live. There is a sliding door in the convent wall to which anj mother or good Samaritan may take the baby, and a knock will bring through the opening a pair of hands which grasp tho bundle. Not a word is spoken nor a question asked. "And," laughed the narrator, who has seen this scheme working, "those babios get the strangest rearing. There is only one instance, and that in history, which bears comparison with eth methods pursued. Romulus and l?e----raus, we are told, were suckled by a wolf. The unwanted human waifs.of Shanghai aro suckled .by goats. These animals are a special strain, rather smaller than those of this country, and are specially bred for the purpose. Quito early they are trained to Ho on litters of soft straw, while the little yellow babies suckle directly from their udders, like so many hungry little kids. If this rescue work had not its tragic side it would.bo humorous. Still it must have great meri; as a method, for The nuns do not lose five per centfl of ' their little charges once they are taken in hand."

"And afterwards," demanded the curious listener.

"The children arc weaned and then separated. The boys are drafted into" a home a half-mile from tho convent, whore they remain till they almost reach manhood. Their home is their academy. They are trained and educated, being initiated into the secret of craftsmanship, and the world's connoisseurs and art lovers little know how much they owe to the babies of Shanghai who lived to oarve and paint and ombroider that their cabinets might be filled. The girls also remain in their first homo, becoming in time skilled lace makers and emproiderers, besides teachers and missioners. A great deal of the lace filet and other meshes seen in Sydney is made by these girls who are extraordinarily expert. Beside they aro trained in housewifery, and are a credit to their benefactors."

. Miss Smythe, enthusing over the topic of Chinese hospitality, was reminded of a ceremonial dinner given in honour of a high official during her stay in Hong-Kong. "Providentially, we had with us two Chinese who understood English. As interpreters they cut the Gordian knot of what would certainly have been o> dilemma. Before tho dinner we were driven in rickshaws to a playhousa The performance, tendered to us in th« light of a social hois d'oeuvre, lasted quite three hours. It was' onlj a fragment or tho play. Chinese plays and dramas are, more strictly spoaking, serials, running into months. Ours had for its motive intrigue, essayed in an Oriental guise, but universal chough in all its aspects to impress you with the belief that, like love, it is expressed in all languages. We enjoyed it thoroughly. Afterwards we drove back to the palace of our host, who received us at the garden steps. "Light wines were served—frinto sarashu, the equivalent of our cocktail. Then wo were ushered into the dining-room. The table arrangements were almost European. Splendid silver bowls and plates, cut-glass dishes, and. servers, with a wealth of brilliant blossoms; it was an ensemble that baffled adequate description. There wero twenty courses—soup and fish; fish and soup, and soup and fish, but never a morsel of monotony. They were juggledi and tortured, coaled, 6miled on, spiced, boiled, and conjured up till an epicure could have been' content to have died of a surfeit. Chinese culinary methods are as deliglitful and as mysterioue as the people .themselves. I can recall pigeons' eggs in jelly, birds' nest soup, bamboo shoots in syrup, and other quaint dishes which have to bo partaken of to be really appreciated as they deserve to be." "And I nearly forgot," supplements ed the traveller. "Our host, whilst feasting our palates, remembered also to offer a feast for our eyes. Besides his chair on either side were two vacant places. During the progress of _ the dinner beautiful girls came in quietly and took their places, looking stolidly ahead, not blinking an eyelid. Like statues they sat for five minutes, their places being taken by others, till the ceremony came to an end. Frankly, we women were more interested in their magnificent jewellry than in their supposed beauty, which is a matter of taste. Diamonds blazed from their hands and their hair, and fabulous pearls wero worn in such reckless profusion that had wo not known otherwise we could havo been pardoned for thinking them imitations of famous stones. Four o'clock in the morning saw our banquet at an end—a wonderful ohow which nono of us aro everlikely to forget." ' . ■ Miss Smythe.intends returning to China next year.