The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1886-09-01
KITCHEN GARDEN.
Read by Mss Minnie Dougherty, Of
Baltimore, at Mt. Lake Park W.
c. T. u Interstate
Conference.

"For God and Home and Native
! Land" In thinking Of what
should be said here, l saw more
clearly than ever before, how fully
the Kitchen Garden Department
comes up to our National motto.
1t is in reality for God and Home
and Native Land" and before l am
through 1 hope you will see this
also. Some time ago, within the
life time of few of US at least, per-
haps the majority, Miss Emily
Huntington, of New York, looked
around for some means of allevia-
ting the sufferings of the hundreds
of poor children who fill our cities.
She saw that they had to work
either in their own homes or the
homes of others, and she saw how
extremely unhappy they were in
this work. This knowledge grieved
her and she looked for its remedy.
Visiting a kindergarten she saw
how the children were taught in
play, things which developed their
three-fold nature, and shove all
how very happy they were. H'ar
active brain then went to work. to
devise some means by Which, the
household arts could be me- de lust
as attractive, and the children
made just as happy ir4 acquiring
the knowledge, The tesult was the
Kitchen Garden. Long may it
stand as a monu .ment to it's noble
founder.
In order : % get an exact idea of
the KltctAen Garden, you will have
to follow me in imagination into
one and see just what the children
Ere doing. If you are on time, and
I of course every W. G. T. U. woman
always is, you will see the chill
dren march in, form in line and
sing a welcome song; at chord
from the piano they turn, at anoth-
or begin to march to the tables,
which are about the length Of the
Kindergarten tables; chord and
and they face the tables; another
and chairs are drawn out; another
and they are seated, yet another,
and the chairs are drawn up to the
tables. Before each child, on
tableboard will be seen two boxes,
one containing napkins, knives,
forks, and spoons; the other, the
dishes requisite for setting break
fast table. In obedience to single
chord from the piano, these boxes are
opened, the smaller ones being
placed under the table board, thus
making a miniature table before
each child. A series of questions
follow by which the children are
taught exactly how to set table,
a thing which very few of them
know, because many of them have
never seen the necessary articles.
Here we have an opportunity to
advance civilization.
When the imaginary meal is
over, table cleaning begins. From
the questions they learn how to
clear table; then, to lively music,
they do SO. This done, two girls
march off and return, bringing a
dish pan for each child, and
while they all sing, "Washing
dishes, washing dishes; Suds are
hot, suds are hot; w ork away brisk
! ly, work away briskly, Do not stop,
do not stop" each one works as
briskly as if she had the family
| dishwashing to do. This has been
a long lesson, and I hope by this
time you have seen enough to
want to come again and see the
other occupations which will not
do more than mention.
The next occu patton consists OF
tubs. The children march out and
return with tubs on their heads,
the questions are asked, and they
proceed to their washing. This Is
followed by scrubbing lesson,
where, after learning of what the
brushes are made, each one scrubs
away with a will, thus developing
muscle.
One of the prettiest plays,is with
ropes. The children skip in, swing
| ronoc for olothaalinaa and have