Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1891-01-31
NEW YORK NOTES.


NEW YORK. Jan. 26, 1891
Editor of Woman's Chronicle:
New York does not take kindly to reforms
Conservatism is in the air and to be reformer is
to be stamped with very powerful insignia of UNI
popularity. Hence reforms move slowly. Now
and then New York rouses up, rubs her eyes,
squints at the ways of the progressive West and
then Father Knickerbocker says: There there!
compose yourself my daughter, you are New York
you know. Their vulgar ways can never be your
ways"
This is one reason why police matrons are so
unpopular. In 1870 the Woman's Suffrage League
took it in hand and presented petition to the po-
lice department. Twenty years ago the bubbles
were set seething, and have not yet reached the
surface. In 1881 it was given fresh impetus by
the society, and bill was put before the Legisla-
ture also in '82 and '83. In each of these years
the bill passed the Assembly, but owing to the op-
position of the police department, failed in the
Senate In 1888 the Woman's Prison Association
took 1t in hand, and the women members of the
State Board OF Charities, and also the suffrage
women, and permissve bill was passed. Now q
new element has arisen. Mr. F. r. Condert, a
well-known lawyer and Democrat, has sent Pc
tltion mile long to the Democratic governor, and
1t is safe to infer that the kettle will boil in about
year. Let us hope that the patient fire builders
OF twenty years ago wiknot be overlooked when
the victory is at last won. watched pot does
boil-sometimes.
In kindergarten work New York is sadly behind
Fifty cities of the United States are experimenting
with free Kndergartens. OF these St. Louis takes
the lead with 80; Philadelphia has 38, and Boston
and Milwaukee each 22. These free Kndergar
tens are worked with gratifying success and it is
enough to put New York to the blush. New York
has two-both under the direction of private char
tiles. Mr.. Richard Watson Glider, of the Century
is the president, and Mrs. Grover Cleveland is the
first vice-president. At meeting short time
ago movement was set on foot to establish twen
ty-lve free schools during the next year. at cost
OF $500 each, with the hope that the Board of
Education will finally adopt the measures thew are
taking.
1t is interesting to visit these Kndergartens and
observe the enjoyment exhibited by the little ones
IN their play tasks. Miss Wells presides over the
destlnles OF the babies at Sixty-thrd street. She
says they lrst came to her ragged and unkempt
sometimes hungry She washed them, tidled them
up generally, and even fed many of them. Grad.
ually the children began to appear at school in the
morning Wlth clean faces and their clothing mended
MISS wells later made it her business to know tbo
mothers OF her various charges, and now she is the
friend and confdante Of every one of them.
lhe system of Froebe is used in the Kinderoar.
Tens. School assemblies at nine O'Clock, and %
rule the children are all on hand promptly. Thew
are tiny things in dresses and first knee Transfers
The first thing they do is to assemble IN the omen
Sp'oo pelofe Ihe platform and say good morning.
, hne" 'ne 'eacner speaks about the sky and how
ouo IL IS, Vne sun and how bright is and various
os"et matters winch serve to stimulate the powers
VI observation OF the children. After this there
Is snort prayer and little hymn, and then the
p r'"o pay games in which everything holds