National Republican., 1878-01-10
Reply to FrGbelinia.

Editor Of The Corner:
DEAR MADAME: Thc'spirit which pcrvades.
your column inspires every true woman with
hope and courage for any cork which has the
| ennobling of humanity at heart no matter what
difficulties may have to be overcome. The gen.
cral introduction of the kindergarten method
| of educating young children affects the haPpi-
ness of every family in the country, and by
its power for preventing evil exercises most
powerful influence in the community and in
| tho State
By what you, have already published you
have given proof that the true education Of
| the people is dear to yOur heart, and YOU Will
readily see that the following communication
is appropriate and important as reply TO
some things that have been stated, and may
lead to mistakes on the part of the best friends
of the cause Hence this
REPLY TO FRGBELINA.
Many thanks, dear madame for the valnabIs
expression of your thoughts on the merits OF
| the kindergarten system. Especially do ap-
prcciRts your remark that natures method Of
| education, or the kindergarten philosophy, rs
| II Is called, should be understood and begun by
mothers in the nursery. Only then can the
true kindergarten flourish and bring forth its
ricf harvest of blossoms and fruit, when our
higher educational institutes for ladies make Il q
| matter Of conscience tOintTOducc kindergarten
lectures as an important part Oithc young ladies'
studies who are entrusted TO their charge. Only
then will the trained kindcrRartcner be cn-
couragcd in her heavenly mission, and she will
be but too glad to leave tho alphabet, charts,
and primers to the public schools But in this
city, aud in many other places, the
importance and blessed influence which
tho kindergarten system cXert9 upon
the whole future of the child is
not suiGcCnty understood or the parents
would not consider 1t u useless expense to pay
tuition for so young child, while they are
perfectly willing TO mako every sacrifice for
| their children ut a more advanced age, whca
in many eases the twig is already bent In The
wrong direction. The kindergartcus in this
city-to exist at all--acCOmmodatc themselves
| TO tho wants of the community; they teach
children all they learn iu the public schools,
only in Il less tedious manner aud taking but
! n short time each day for this purpose and
| give the children the benefits of kindergarten
cCcupation-play. story. song. with the spirit
OF love and harmony pcrvading the whole
aud hope thus 10 make the people acquainted
| with the beauty and symmetry OF the system.
| The kindergarten exhibitions, too, are mainly
| given To enlist peoples attention aud interest
| by giving them Gu opportunity TO s"C tho
! children happy and joyous in their play, and
| thus educate them, rs 1t were, to an apprcCia'
tion of the Kindergarten system.
Many parents, who have come TO n Compre-
! hCuS"n of the valUc OF this system after their
| children have grown too old for the kinderGar-
| ten. feel delighted 10 be able to place their
children IN Il school where they can enjoy
SOME OF the kindergarten developing and I'M
! folding process, aud at the same time 90 uu
with the elementary branches Of instruction.
Until the public kindergarten is given to the
people the kimdCrgartcns ia this city must rithcr
retire from business for want of rrcuniary en-
, cUurlgcmcnt, or combine school and kinder
! gartVn in the most conscientious spirit, whilo
PRAYING that tod may put it into the hearts of
some wealthy phanihropc individuals to
| combine and COnsCCratc some funds TO the
tahliNhimg ola pure kindergarten without any
books where the parents with slender means
| may carry their little ones, to be taken care Of
during their business hours, better than If
they were at home, to be prepared Tor tho
| kingdom Of Heaven.
| No one claims that the X. q. tmiuing should
take the place Of all religious training, for
only the religion Of universal love is taught
! there. But the will of the children, instead Of
being broken, il trained to prefer what Is
right aud in this miniature community tho
child is made To feel the natural consequences
Of bad behaviour, which Is the eXclusiam oi the
cOmpaniUn,hip of the good. Let the people
visit tho KindcrgartcnS, is the sincere wish of
| A DISCIPLE.
| January 9, 1875