Vintage box
This is an interesting piece of ephemera from my family history. This box was given to my great-grandmother, Edda Smith, upon the birth of her fourth child, Arvid Daniel, in December of 1929. My Grandma Leora, his sister, thinks it originally held a rattle, though it now houses large vintage buttons. I like the old typeface and the cute cartoons of mother and baby!
The unfortunate part of the story is that Arvid died at two months from measles and pneumonia. The oldest child, Juanita, who was six at the time, caught the measles at school, and the entire family came down with it, except for my great-grandfather. Edda was sick herself and unable to attend the funeral. She said it was the saddest day of her life.
(I know many moms are questioning vaccines these days, but can you imagine living in a time when childhood diseases were so deadly? Very sad!)
EDITED TO CLARIFY: I didn't mean to take a stance against vaccines one way or another. ;) I haven't done any up-to-date research on the topic as I don't have any children, but when the time comes I will be very cautious about the issue. My comment stemmed from the thought that most Western mothers don't have to fear losing a baby due to a contagious illness nowadays... due to eradication of certain diseases in the population, and improved nutrition and medical treatment! How blessed we are!
posted by Laura at
11:51 AM
9 Comments:
That is LOVELY! So vintage! It reminds me (the font, etc) of my mom's baby book, which was purchased sometime in the mid-1940s. Later that this box, but still very similar in style.
What a tragic story about the measles. My grandmother had polio. We selectively vaccinate, I do think some vaccines do have their place [just not the place the CDC gives them ;)].
Every object tells a story. It's why I love antique malls--imagining those stories!
How sad.
Just a thought on vaccines - most illnesses like smallpox and polio were drastically dropping in numbers before vaccinnes were even developed.
That, among many other reasons, I've chosen not to vaccinate at all.
Polly, I agree with you on vintage objects and their stories -- that's why I love old things, too. :)
Michelle, I have some young mother friends who are struggling with the same issue. I know it's not an easy decision! I edited my post a little to clarify my "position" (or lack thereof). ;) What books did you find helpful in your research?
Laura, I agree with you. Though there is a debate about vaccinations which I don't want to get into, it is such a blessing that in this day and age we don't even consider that a young baby would die from such a disease.
Also it is such a blessing to know that with the medical help we have in the West that if our children get something as simple as an upset tummy it does not imediately spell death as it could in some places.(though dyhydration etc)
A nice little reminder to be thankful to God. :)
I know of several books - although much of what I know comes from my own research on the internet. Here are a few books - Immunization theory vs. reality by Niel Z Miller, A shot in the Dark by Harris Coulter and Barbara Lowe Fisher, Vaccination the Hidden facts by Ian Sinclair, Evidence of harm by David Kirby, What your doctor may not tell you about childhood immunizations by Stephany Cave. Those are just a few! Some good websites to look at are - www.thinktwice.com, http://youtube.com/results?search_query=dr.+tenpenny
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/8148/vac.html
http://www.whale.to/vaccines/mendelsohn.html
Hope that helps! My mission (other than the gospel, is helping parents make informed choices about their child's help. In this day and age, I and my husband are our children's only advocate.
Here's a story to consider. It's true, and unfortunately, I've witnessed more than one such cenario.
There was a church near where we lived where some members didn't get vaccinations. The groups from both sides lived in harmony.
A family who did vaccinate their children had a new baby and after a couple weeks brought the child to church where everyone admired the sweet baby.
One of the families who didn't vaccinate had no idea that the runny nose their little girl had was actually the start of whooping cough.
The little girl made a full recovery , but the baby died.
There were many hard feelings on both sides and eventually, the church split.
We do not choose to vaccinate or not simply based on our own benefit. We do so in consideration of others.
While I don't actively support all vaccines for all people, if the illness could be life threatening to your child or someone else it would be kind to either vaccinate or stay out of public places at least during cold and flu season.
Joanne
Michelle, thanks for the list -- I'll tuck those titles away for future reference.
Joanne, what a sad story. There are definitely points to be considered on both sides of the issue.
Thanks, everyone, for sharing your polite opinions! And now, let's return to the regularly-scheduled topics of domesticity, vintage things, sewing, books, music, art, etc. :)
lovely box, and how wonderful to have something with such family history attached to it! :)
I think almost every mom these days wonders about the vaccines even if the thought is just fleeting. To vaccinate, or not to vaccinate.... just another area to pray for God's guidance and trust in Him completely. :)
About vaccines: diseases go in waves. Much improvement was seen with modern sanitation. I'm old enough to have seen many people disabled by polio. My great great grandmother buried 4 children in one week from diphtheria. 2 of them died in one afternoon. It ruined the rest of her life, needless to say. I think that how it's done is not always best (too many at once) but if the numbers drop for a while, it doesn't mean there won't be a resurgence. Except for small pox for which the only carrier is other people. I think we have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
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