Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-14

To IRE Editor OF The Evening star
The FIRST report Of the kindergarten Associa-
ton Of San Francisco. published thirteen years
ago, contains the following story, which in its
sharp contrast Of humor and seriousness, its
interesting sequel after a dozen years, and It's
significant moral. deserves attention as bear
ing other than a local interest. Right here in
our Washington streets and alleys are similar
specimens of the hoodlnIn type, destined, like
Jimmy of the Barbary Coast" to be a power
here for future good or evil Let Us insure the
good result by applying the remedy of our wise
friends Of the Pacific coast. The story Is en-
titled: Jimmy, the king Hoodlum' Of the Bar
barry Coast"
Jimmy. known as the king Hoodlum''
among the smaller street Arabs in the vicinity
In which he lives. is organized TO be a leader
and a commander among men. He is bound 10
be power for good or for evil lie sways his
comrades as the wind sways the trees He Is a
natural leader Scarcely five years of age. he
has the brain Of a child eight or ten He has
his spells" He can be very good He can he
very bad He can disorganize the scboolin five
minutes when he sets himself resolutely about
it. He Is apt to set himself about it all too
often He Is loysble. He is terrible. He is
all sunshine or storm. He is all that is COM
pretended in the word smart" He likes ex-
citernent. He makes excitement He pervades
the room as soon as he enters it. He talks shout
jumping off the Vallejo street dock to swim
with all the nonchalance of a veteran swimmer.
What Is more, he actually does this.
Think of it. We mothers vino brood your dar-
hngs of that age with tenderest care. Think Of
Jimmy jumping of the Vallejo street dock to
swim, And then think Of the whole vocabulary
Of slang gathered up in that opulent brain,
Jimmy would get 95 per cent on an examination
in this liIe. He IL profcien. TO the last degree.
''Whera have you been. Jimmy? We have
missed you for a week and could not find out
where you were gone" 1--we been over to
Oakland. the curt and prompt reply
"And what have you been doing there?" queried
the teacher. There q mischievous twinkle
in the roguish.ye as he said pertly: ''Oh I've
been cribbiu' cherries and foolin the cross-eyed
initiated teacher. why, don't YOU know?
Theas the perlice'-this with an air of lily
suppressed scorn of so much ignorance.
What sort OF an outlook is this for a child
scarcely five years Of age? Is 1t not sadly sug-
gestiye of future all too dreadful. unless the
gentle, restraining. formative influences of a
wise and faithful training shall make this gifted
boy a benedictiOn aud not a curse to the world?
il should be recorded in this connection that at
the close Of the year Jimmy graduated into
an advanced class, and now almost every day,
after the close OF his school, be makes his
prompt appearance at the Jackson street kinder
garten and insists upon washing all the states
and stacking them away nicely in the closet.
For" he said recently, This Is my kinder
garten and / like to come round and see the
folks Jimmy Il likely to come out all right
il will be a matter of interest 10 see where
Jimmy will be twenty-five years hence.
HE last report of the Golden Gate Kinder
garteu Association, 1892, reprints the above
story and adds: 1T is now twelve years since
the above written. Our Jimmy graduated
with high hono-s from the public school. and is
now in a lawyers Office in this city. He says
the Golden Gate kindergarten Association
shall never have just reason to be ashamed of
him, He bids fair to make good, Intelligent
and honorable man" s.