Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-10

DirectiOn.-N visits TO tine htnuersartenB |
of This City.
The kindergarten training is the
natural and proper preliminary step to
public school work, and kindergartens
are maintained in many places as parts
of public school systems. The law Of
Delaware, however, does not provide
for the support of this branch OF edu.
cation There are a number Of kinder
gartens in Wilmington which are under
the auspices of the liberal minded and
benevolent women or charitable asso.
Citations. Many of these kindergartens
are situated in the poorer parts OF the
city. Beginning as they do at the very
foundation, training little children OF
from to 5 years, who often otherwise
would nearly live on the streets, and
intoxicating in them at this plastic age
good habits and principles, as we'll as
cultiyating their powers of observation,
the influence for good on their future
lives cannot be overestimated.
During the past few months visits
were made to the different kindergar-
tens in the city and were very enjoy
able. The first visited was the Froebel
House, Church and Taylor streets,
which building is owned by the asso-
citation. There are two kindergartens
here, each in charge of Miss Sarah
Rumford, That of the morning is called
the white Ribbon" supported by the
Y. w. Q. Il. u, and the other is known
as the "Lend Hand" in charge of the
Prevalent Benevolent Society. Tho
sunny rooms here are bright and gay
with Towering plants, birds, pictures
and books. A large piano and cabinet,
the latter stored with materials for the
work, were noticed among the furnl-
ture. The little ones, about rs in num-
Der, went through a variety of pretty
exercises most perfectly, showing q
thorough understanding of what they
had learned. 1t being near Thanks
giving, "grandfather's house and barn"
were built and the story of the day
told.
In the parish house of Old Swedes'
Church, q heated room is kindly de-
mated and is occupied by the Bethany
Kindergarten, a branch from the Froebel
House, Miss Gawthrop in charge. The
children here had just taken an imagin-
ary trip across the ocean as the Pilgrims
in the Mayfower, and the rock-bound
coast of New England was illustrated,
made of sand and rocks. The harvest
blessings, grains, fruits, vegetables and
nuts, had been gathered and the lessons
learned during the autumnal months.
The Thomas Garrett kindergarten
scholars, colored, in charge of Miss
Fogg, were just having lunch, always
an interesting feature to the tots. For
this the plates had been laid and the
luncheon, brought by the pupils, eaten
This kindergarten is supported II
memory of the late Thomas Garrett and
fine crayon of him adorns the walls
The little children here come from very
destitute homes indeed, and no one cal
measure how the influence of the kline
teacher, Miss Fogg, and the interest o.
philanthIupic minded friends will heal
fruit in the lives of these little souls il
after years.
The Friends Philanthropic Society
started kindergarten in a plcasan
room at Second and Madison streets las
October, with Miss Mary Il. Lee il
charge. The mites here were engaged
in making romembrances for thei
parents at Christmas of perforated card
board and gay crewels. The girls arr
naturally more skilful than boys in TIL
use of their fingers was found fallacy
the boys doing equally as well as tn
girls.
The East Brandywine Kindergarten
was started over a year ago by Mrs
Samuel Bancroft, Jr., and Mrs. A. u
Warner, and is doing beneticent Wor
IN a section of the city where it is yer
much needed. The school occupies TIL
lower floor of three pleasant rooms of
dwelling-house, and has nice var
where in the spring each child will b
given a portion OF ground for garden
The little ones under the direction {
their teacher, Miss Kate Anderson, VIII
is an ideal Kindergarten, were bus
drawing apples in the development {
the circle, and with little songs an
marches were happily learning the LEI
sons of obedience, neatness and orde
Last wear there were applications mad
for about 100 children who could not |
accommodated, and there is room fl
several more kindergartens in the v
cinity.
AT Bancroft's Banks there are tw
kindergartens, which were opened b
Mrs. William p. Bancroft, and are bot
in charge of Miss Clara Nutter. I'll
children here were found doing qui
advanced work, drawing the face of
clock, and for their years were r
markably intelligent and skilful.
was tod how at Christmas the childrt
played '.Santa Claus" to their paren
NJ and made beautiful specimens of wovt
work of pretty papers into cornucopla
calendars, keyboards, and also pref
picture frames and colored boxes, wa
which they decorated II tree in q
school room. After entertaining the
guests with appropriate exercises, q
dainty rememhrances were given to u
parents. Miss Nutter also has mothel
meeting once a month for the purpo
of interesting the mothers OF the Oh
dren in the work.
Another pleasant sight was the VIC
End kindergarten, in charge of M
Hubbard. There are number Of lad
interested in this one, among whom .
Mrs. Ii. T. Cause, Mrs. Gllpin, NJ
Willard Salisbury and others. i
pretty little children here were int
ON making stable with colored spin
singing the lessons as they worked.
A kindergarten was started over
Brandywine by Mrs. T. Gardiner Lift
in 1899, and is in charge of Miss VI;
Clark There are u number OF LAD
interested in the work, among VIII
NAV be mentioned Mrs. Charles Ru
ford, Mrs. william Lea and Mrs. La
mott du Pont. The little folks 50
and marched very prettily and SO
were sung by a small boy OF ye
and a girl of with great gusto.
The kindergarten Association,
which Miss r. l.. Negendank is PR
dent, has started a colored kindergar