The morning call., 1893-05-28
KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN.

THE KISDKRGARTNER, NOVELIST, READER
AND VALUED CONTRIBUTOR or THE AT
LANTIC MONTHLY.
Mrs. Kaie Douglas WipgIn, although thor
oughly identified with California, was born In
Philadelphia and received her ed ucaiion at the
Abbott Academy, Massachusetts.
The future aurh0ress name was Kate Smith.
and she was still cutie young girl when her
fathers delicate health caused the family TO
leave the East and settle permanently in Santa
Barbara.
AT that time kindergartens were unknown In
California, but shortly afterward Miss Marwe-
del established class III Los Angeles for the
purpose OF training girls TO become kindergar-
len teachers. Kate ID. Smith was one of those
who was graduated f OH this class.
In 1873 the first free kindergarten west of
the Rockies was established In san Francisco
and the charge OF the "garten' was offered to
Miss Kate Smith. She accepted and on the
opening day began with eight pupils; before
The week was out there were fifty more appll.
cants.
The work was not all smooth sailing for the
young teacher. however. The school was in
one Of the poorest parts Of town and the chill
dren, who had been accustomed TO spend the
greater part of their waking lives on the side
walks, had learned there a fund OF most unde-
sirable information.
Little mites Of and would swear ike
meaning Of obedience and as for personal
cleanliness that was a matter as much neg
Iected as the childTen's moral instruction mad
been.
Gradually the new teacher brought her class
into more submissive habits, she won their
affection and ruled them with love. One very
happy plan Of hers was TO make friends with
the mothers, listen sympathiziugly to their woes
and put in word Of timely advice that bore
fruit IN wonderfully improved homes
One tncorriglbie pupil was almost the bane of
Miss Kate Smiths existence for a time. He
was strong. stalwart little fellow, whose worst
characteristics had been developed by bad
home influence. This small piece OF humanity
set himself openly TO defy aud torment his
teacher, and. not con tent with being insubor-
dinate himself, he prove an able ringeader in
fnciting The others 10 deeds OF disobedience.
A Kindergarten is not place for punishment,
and Miss Smith was resolved TO tame her pupil
only by appealing TO the better side of his
nature. II was a long and tedious task, but
she tTiumphed at last. From being the worst
the child became the best and the most affec-
tlonate of her pupils Nothing was too good
for his teacher. Every flower, every piece of
candy he received was saved for her, aud her
wishes were law 10 him.
1t was this child whom Mrs. Wiggin immor-
tailed few years later as the hero In her
"Story Of Patsy"
lulS Story was Written anu printed IN San
Francisco 10 raise money for the Silver-street
Kindergarten. 1t was not Mrs. WiggIn's first
literary effort. however.
In the early days Of her teaching she had
written "Half Dozen Housekeepers" and sent
IL TO st. Nicholas. The story was accepted
and the sum OF $50 paid for it. Mrs. Wlggin
had then been too much absorbed in her school
work TO realize her own literary abilities. 1t
was not until some years after the publication
of Hal RyaQ prGD fi,lf ca
wrote 1.-The Story Of Patsy" and then only to
raise money for her beloved school
During The time OF her teaching Mrs. Wig
Gin WAS also training teachers and preparing
and delivering lectures on various points OF kin
deTgarten. There at least fifty different
branches OF the subj ect on which she lectures.
Ii was not until the year 1888 that she movpd
10 New YORK and devoted herself almost en-
tirely 10 literature. A publishing firm in that
city was so pleased with her "Story OF Patsy"
and "The BIRDS Christmas Carol" that it
offered TO reprint them.
Undoubtedly Mrs. Wiggin's kindergarten
Work has aided her greatly In acquiring her
wonderful knowledge of childish character, her
insight into the true thoughts and feelings of
children. Only one OF her books, however, Is
ostensibly written for the little ones reading
"The Story Hour" series OF tales for the use
of klndergartens and nurseries, written in col
liberation with her sister, Miss Norah Smith,
the present principal Of the Silyer-street Kinder
gaten.
''Chiidren's Rights was also the joint pro-
duciiOn OF the Two sisters.
Every one knows how successfully Mrs
Wggin has pursued her literary career Ac-
cordiag 10 William D. Howells The best work
she mas yet produced Is s'Penrlope's English
Experiences" but admirers OF "a Summer In a
Canyon" are apt TO dispute this verdict. "Tm-
otby's Quest" and "a Cathedral Courtsnip" are
among her later works.
Mrs. Wlggin's articles in the Atlantic
Monthly have added not little to her fame.