The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-05-02
MRS. Monl,s WASHINGTON LETTER
National Academy of Sciences-The
KeIIOgg-spoford Case-Astronom-
ical-The PrOsaic Texas Del
cgatfOn- FashiOns-Etc., Etc.
Correspondence of the Herald.

VINE HDl ~ n'll pllbois"h''' 'NN ~ -
structed AS at either of the two preceding
meetings have attended. The reason is that
this year only few Of tho great scientists
talked, and Of my favorites only one, name
", Agassiz, read paper. Four Of the pa
pes were read by quite young mon-lieuten-
ants in the navy mostly-who have not
passed through the technical phase,
ire now In the dictatorial and positive stage
Of their career What contrast their en-
phatic ard do,matic assertions, couched in
Latin phrases and professional technique,
presented to the cautious, dubious, almost
timd deductions, uttered so simply and in
such homely language, by such men like
Rogers, the venerable President, or Stephen
Alexander, or Agassiz or Marsh. OF this
aforementioned gentleman l wish TO
say word My readers will per-
haps remember how, during Secretary
Delano's term Of service a certain Professor,
travelling over the western part OF our couh-
try in search Of fossils, rocks, or whatever
else could throw light upon his hvorte
science, Paeonto ogy, discovered system OF
thievery swinding and oppression in full
operation toward the Indians, and that no
wrote plain earnest, manly letter to PreSi-
dent Grant stating the truth simply
and without comment Grant referred
Inc letter to Secretary Deano,
who replied that ~ Mr.. Marsh
l. meddling with matters which do not con-
Germ him and of which he Knows little or
nothing" "A Mr.. Marsh" did not trouble
hinfelf to reply to this but il reused tho
scientific world, and the press began TO rldi-
Guile man who knew no more of the history
Of his own country than to designate the
greates, Paleontologst Of this or any other
age, MS "a Mr. Marsh" The ultimate result!
was that Secretary Delano was relegated to
private life and will probably remain y Mr..
Delauo forever, while Marsh's fame will grow
brighter to the end of time. Prof Marsh is
n remarkably fine looking man--about six
feet tall, well proportional, with bright,
open, frank lace and genial, piercing blue
eyes which even glasses cannot entirely OBJ |
scure. His noble head Is crowned with full
suit Of closely cut light brown hair, and u
full, flowing wavy blonde beard covers the
lower part of Liz face. lie is every way u
marked contrast to beother great Paleontol- |
eist Mr.. Cope, who is short, has black !
hair, ~ rather small dark eyes, |
u short, stubby beard and quick, jerky |
manner, while Marsh is full of grand reposo.
was delighted with Agassiz who is the !
son Of the great Agasgiz-and will equal his
father some day Ho Is aplain little French !
man in appearance, and speaks with de-
oided French accent, although believe he is |
American born and raised. But he is u
charming taker, uses tho simplest language
md is easily understood by the most an
scientific mind. His paper was on
sea urchins. Professor Cones is one
OF my special favorites. You may, there
fore, imagine my disgust at hearing him
read another mans paper, and very dull
paper nj that, Newcombe did not talk NJ
all. Peters was not here. Helgarde only
made a few remarks, and Rogers one little
talk on Leconic rock, Still, | am glad
heard what did.
Sunday evening went to hear DR.. Har-
rlson, of the NJ. Il. church South, lecture on
the Expected Appearance of the Star OF
Bethlehem in 1881" AS | have in
q former letter referred to the his
tory Of this remarkable star, so accurately
described by Tycho l'rahe and Keppler, snd
now expected BY astronomers to appear "A
short time after the conjunction OF Jupiter
and Saturn, | will only say of DIR, Harli
sons lecture that it was an able resume OF the
discoveries and opinions Of astronomers and
i Die scholars IN relation To tho st.r which |
horalded our Saviour's birth. mention this |
lecture ss an additional proof of the preva
lence Of the expectation of some great |
event. most likely the second advent of the |
Lord, among all Christians everywhere.
Last evening / had the very great pleasure
Of hearing the venerable Miss Peabody, now
in her seventy-ninth year. lecture,or talk ,rsth-
or, on the subject Of Kindergarten" The |
Misses Graves, who conduct the Metropoli- |
tan kindergarten school of this city, invited |
us and number of other friends to their |
house Ia hear this remarkable woman talk
on the subject TO which she has devoted her
life. Miss Peabodyis the iounder of this |
system in America, She is pupil of Froe
bel, the great organizer of the present kinder
garten method in Germany Her talk |
lasted two hours and half, yet no one
was weared, so bright, lucid and full I
conformation WAS her discourse. Among
other charming things she told us of Mrs.
Shaw, of Boston, who gives $4,000 per an
nun to the support of charity kindergarten
IN Boston aud vicinity. The beautiful and
refining iuiluetce of this system of in.,ruc-
ton upon the children, and through them
upon their parents, was simply and thrilling
~ dwelt upon by the remarkable speaker,
who told only what she had seen and heard.
While she dwclt in evident delight upon this
part Of her subject, thought Of that won
dertul verse of scripture, "Out Of the
mouths of babes and sucklings Thou hast
ordained praise" and the words
are henccforth full of new
beauty and significance to me. Another in
stance Of q noble woman's work was that of
Mrs. Schwab, who established kindergarten
some years ago in the Lazzarori quarters OF
Naples. Unaided save by her husbands wise
counsel and constant help, she began with
dozen little italian beggars. The sense of
beauty latent in these descendants of the
great Roman people was aroused by the
pretty gifts" used in this method. Their
artistic natures are quickly vivifed, and the
school increased rapidly Now spacious
building. q fine garden and complete
outfit including some very fine old paintings,
stand monument to a woman's perseyer-
ance and devotion. Princes send their chill.
dren their 10 DO educated, and the "noble
women" Of Italy are training themselves for
teachers. Que popularity Of tn. method Is
the fascination 1t has for teachers. have
never yet met a kindergarten who was not
perfectly enthusiastic about the s'system''
aud delighted with her occupation,
AZ last the Kellogg-SpofiSrd case is up in
M. u