The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-24

A Noble Charity Which Is Doing n Noble
Work.
To the Editor Of The Times

To the Editor Of The Times
was glad to read in your columns few
days ago a most interesting account of the
Easter egg hunt and pound party held at the
Free Day Nursery and kindergarten on
Easter Monday. / can well remember that
when the kindergarten system was first intro
duced into Richmond. few years ago. u was
looked upon by our conservative people az a
Yankee" innovation unworthy OF serious
consideration.
Fortunately our conservatism has yielded
to the innOvation-which, by the way, Is not
Yankee" but German in its origin-and now
the kindergarten" is an established institu-
ton in our midst. Instead Of growing up in
ideness and mischief 10 Il certain age and
then. all untutoIed. plunged into a SOUL
destroying labyrinth of pot-hooks and multi
plicatiOn tables. our little ones are now train
ed 20 think and learn from babyhood, without
stress or labor but naturally, easily and hap
PLY.
If this be gain to our own dear little ones.
50 tenderly shielded from pain and suffering
and want, how immeasuraby happier IS made
tho lot OF the children of the poor by this no.
BILE charity Children of the hopeessv pau
per and depraved element are redeemed ''as q
brand from the burning and by loving. gen.
tie hands are led into purer atmosphere and
brought to a higher life while children Of
honest.
are teuderly cared for and trained 10 ultimate
helpfulness and self-support and s-lf-respect.
1t is "a striking fact that the children of
these charitable kinder artens and day
nurseries seldom if ever 20 TO fill the ranks OF
juvenile offenders or older criminals. and a
recent report shows that out OF 1000 children
who have been trained and cared for III such
institute rs in san Francisco IN tho last
twelve years not one has entered tie criminal
class. not one has remained burden upon
the community.
1T is through the children that this poor
world ia TO be lifted up. and San Francisco
has good right 10 be proud OF her efforts for
the little ones and for humanity, for she has
in active operation thlrty-two free kindergar-
tens with a total enrolment of nearly twenty
seven hundred children. As compared with
this mighty work our one little school and
nursery under the auspices or the Woman 5
Christian Association seems pitifully INSULT
Gent: but II must be remem-
bered that this band Of noble
but recently undertaken this great work. and
that their hands are iu'l and their shoulders
bending under the burden OF other and many
charities. In spite OF this. however. In spite
OF the many and urgent calls upon them,
they will carry ON tins good work to greater
scope and greater truitlon. The City Coun-
Gil has responded TO the call and 10 a
sense of duty and has voted modest
appropriation. which in the lessening
OF crime and paupersm will prove bread cast
upon the waters. Now. let our charitable
aud humane public-our loving and thinking
fathers and mothers come forward and help
these noble women in their uusel6sh work.
help them earnestly and practically 10 "fll
child lives with sweetness RHd cad them 10
maturity OF usefulness and virtue.
FATHER.
THE TINES heartily approves the charity OF
which our correspondent: writes, and suggests
that contributions in money, clothing or food
may be sent through Mrs. Joseph Bryan OF