BABIES IN PUBLIC HOUSES
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—A very nasty gap will have been made in the Children's Act, which some of us look upon as one of the most enlightened pieces of legislature of modern times, if the recent ruling of a magistrate is allowed to stand. The Act prohibits any child under thirteen entering a public house ; the magistrate ruled that a baby is not a child in the meaning of the Act, as it will not be morally contaminated by its surroundings. It is true the baby-in-arms may escape moral contamination through its youth, but it is this very youthfulness which will make it almost impossible for it to escape physical deterior- ation in such a place. Again, the term " babe-in-arms " is a very elastic one, and who is to decide how soon early surroundings influence a child ?
Perhaps if the magistrate in question were asked to allow a child of his own to spend even an hour in such a place he might consider whether the dazzlingly brilliant lights, the tobacco-laden air, the used-up atmosphere, and the general glitter, noise and bustle of the average bar were not likely to be highly injurious to a tender babe. For during the first year the system is by no means ready to deal with hostile microbes which invade the body, the eyes are weak, and the needs for perfect growth include quiet and fresh air all the time.
But the real crux lies in the question, What will happen if, wakened by glare and noise, the child starts to cry ? Obviously the publican does not want this to happen ; a proportion of his customers come primarily with the object of getting away from similar noises at home. The mother knows this and if the dummy (another present-day curse which John Burns once declared should be scheduled as a " danger- ous instrument ") fails, then she uses the powerful soother to hand—she gives the child a few sips of intoxicating liquor. Even the magistrate in question, we imagine, can hardly believe that such a course has no moral results later in life ; the evils of child drinking are only too well known to all students of social welfare.
Finally, in all probability, the babe-in-arms is being fed in nature's way. Alcohol taken by the mother flows like poison in her veins, so the child imbibes a food which damages the growing cells, stunting especially the brain and nerve centres which develop so rapidly in the early months. It is to be hoped that public opinion will be sufficiently strong to enforce a reversion of the ruling, or, if this is not possible, a reframing of the Act, so that the most reactionary repre- sentative of the law cannot nullify its beneficial intention.— I am, Sir, &c., IIERTIIA. DAVIES. .95 Durham Road, East Finchley, N.
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