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By Thyra Samter Winslow

HICAGO is giving babies away. Do you want to adopt one of them? Other cities, in connection with their courts, institutions, and foundling homes, are giving babies away, too. But the babies Chicago gives away are different. They are certified.

These babies, gifts of the city of Chicago to people fortunate enough to secure them, are all healthy. They have bright eyes and strong, sturdy bodies that hold a promise of handsome maturity. They have well-shaped heads, good teeth, hair, and nails. Their brains and nerves have been tested and pronounced normal. While it is impossible to predict how even certified babies will grow up under the right conditions, unless an accident occurs, it is almost certain they will grow into moral, upright citizens. Certified babies are babies absolutely normal in regard to mental and physical development. They are the only kind that Chicago, officially, is giving away. They are the newest things in babies.

Dr. William J. Hickson of the Psychopathic Laboratory of the Municipal

Court of Chicago is the inventor of the certified baby. When Dr. Hickson took charge of the Psychopathic Laboratory he intended to limit his work to an examination of the mental defectives. for which the laboratory was established. One day trained nurse brought a tiny pink baby to him.

"This baby has no place to go," she said, "so the court is going to give it for adoption."

Dr. Hickson looked at the baby, a quick, careless glance. Then he looked again. For years Dr. Hickson had been doing research work among mental defectives at Vineland, New Jersey. He is a children's specialist, too, and has made an extensive study of baby mentalities, both in this country and in Europe.

"You can't give that baby for adoption," said Dr. Hickson.

"Why not?" asked the trained nurse, looking down at her tiny, helpless burden.

"That baby isn't normal. We can't give him for adoption when it is certain that he will grow up to be half-witted. It is not fair to the people who will spend years in caring for him."

"CERTIFYING BABIES REDUCES THE DANGERS OF ADOPTING CHILDREN"

A little fellow like this had to weigh from six to eight pounds the day he was born and he had to be a certain height, and there were many, many other essentials besides his bright eyes.