Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-23
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
Why Night Work Given Out By Public
School Teachers is Undcsirable-Flew.
far nua H.

Why Night Work Given Out By Public
School Teachers is Undcsirable-Flew.
ers for Busy Places.
THE public schools viii be tenanted again
pretty soon, and 1t is opportune to repeat here
the substance Of conversation had recently
with Pittsburg man who takes considerable
interest in educational matters.
THE system of giving out night work to the
children attending the public schools" said he,
"seems to me to be irrational and immoral.
The school principals ought to give the matter
their attention. As an instance of what
I refer to I may tell you of
the experience of the children Of a
neighbor Of mine. They are both girls; one
aged 10, the other or probably. Naturally
the elder is further advanced in her studies
than her sister. happened during May last to
see their tasks for home work several times,
and I found that they were generally identical
in grade. That is to say, the elder girl would
have number of mathematical problems in.
volving fractions to solve. and her sister, who
had not reached fractions at school, had simi-
lar exercises The result was the elder sister
did her own work and her sisters too. The
younger girl would have been punished II she
failed to do the home work assigned to her. Of
course such course is foolish, but 1t is also
immoral, for it induces children to practice de-
ception, as in this case.
'Tne home work does not seem desirable on
other accounts. The children have all the
mental exercises they need during school
hours. The evenings ought to be theirs for
recreation and physic al exercise. In a great
many cases elder sisters and parents do the
home WORK for the children. This may be
good for the former. but am thinking of the
latter"
SAID lady to me yesterday: "When was
in IS drygoods store the other day I no
ticed that nearly every girl to the number of
several score in the store had flower pinned
to her dress. Do the employers give the girls
the bouquetsf'
It happens that the answer to the question,
which knew not, was given to me later by the
donor of the flowers lady residing in one of
Pittsburg's suburbs 1t appears that she takes
to the store in question, very large one a
basket of fresh cut flowers once or oftener
each week, and distributes them among the
saleswomen and girls. She takes flowers from
her own garden, and from the gardens Of her
friends. You can imagine how gracious her
mission seems to the hard-working and often
abused women behind the counter. 1t is a
splendid supplement to the grand work done by
the Fruit and Flower Mission.
By the way, the Mission, understand, is not
too well provided with means just now, and con.
trIbutions Of flowers and fruit should be sent
to the office of the Mission at 50 Fourth ave.
nue..
OTHER big-hearted women are also in the
habit of taking the bloom snd fragrance of
rural gardens into dark and stuffy marts of the
city. There is hardly a store in the city, am
told, where many of the gentle sex are en-
ployed, that has not one of these semi-celestial
visitors. But that is no reason why more
women should not 60 into the same benevolent
business.
ALTHOUGH it is nearly 80 years ago since
Labiche's well-known comedy of lie Voyage
de NJ. Perriehon' was produced, it was first
seen in Paris in lS60 it is still almost popular
in the country of its birth as during Its first
years of existence. 1t is somewhat surprising,
therefore, that until now no well-known
American comedian has added this part to his
repertory, for the character Is one which ap-
peals to all nationalities and to all times.
Slight as the: sketch is, Mr.. w. h Crane
(who has announced production Of an
adaptation of the piece), will find
no difficulty in demonstrating within its limits
all the artistic skill of which he is capable. But
Mr.Crane will not depend on Papa Perrichon"
sole fun producer for an evenings entertain
ment. He will play it in conjunction with a
rattling English comedy by Messrs. Darnley
and Fem, entitled, 1.-The Balloon" This anus
ing three-act trifie was produced early this year
at the Strand Theater, and was SO instant a
success that after its run in the metropolis it
was sent out in the English provinces and
played by no fewer than six separate organiza-
tions.