The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-09-05

About 1860 Frocbel's old friend and assist
| ant, Miss Frankenbsrg. who had come to this
country after his death, explained to the wo-
men of Columbus thet the kindergarten was for
''dev-e-up-ment" of the children. Mrs. Gill was
| one of the few at that time to recognize the
| beauty and importance of this new child-gar
| den. and her small sons, Wilson and his brother
| Herbert, helped to form Miss Frankenberg's
| first kindergarten class In America.
The children were taught to sing merry lit
| tie German songs of the birds and flowers, and
| to do many things to develop their ingenuity
| and power of observation and their apprecia-
| tion of the useful and beautiful.
In 1862 Danish artist, Theodore Lund, a
stanch Union man, made his way to Columbus
from New Orleans. He had the ability Of Hans
Christian Anderson to love. attract and instruct
children, and 10 tell beautiful stories with a
| moral" From 1862 to 1867 Mr.. Lund was
Wilson Gills inseparable friend and mentor.
In 1866 Wilson. in partnership with Eme-
Illus o. Randall, published. with success from
every standpoint monthly paper called the
VhippOrtCW the boys doing much OF the me-
chanical as we'll as the editorial work. Their
parents thought this too heavy burden for
school boys, and offered them tour through
Europe the next year as an inducement TO give
up the publication on the completion OF the
first volume. This proposition was debated a
long time before it was accepted, and the fol-
Emelius's father, they sailed in the Great East
ern. They visited the Paris Exposition, and
their letters were published in the Ohio State
Journal.
Mr.. Gill began bis college course at Dart
mouth and graduated at Yale, where he had an
extended course of instruction in social and po-
litical science under President Woolsey, Gen.
Walker and Prof VIM. G. Sumner. He studied
engineering in Sheffield Scientific School, and
took the degree Of LIB at Yale Law School,
with the Semi Centepnia class, of which he
was President
In 1874 he took the general management of
his fathers large car-works at Columbus.
To encourage the construction of streets
which could be easily cleaned and which would
Danish the roar of wagons, so great curse to
the inhabitants of cities, Mr.. Gill procured
from Congress the abolition of tho tariff on as
phatum.
PRINT THE NAMES OF HEROES.
In 1887 Mr.. Gill endeavored to get law
passed requiring for educational and patriotic
purposes the names of our National heroes to
appear on the postage stamps when their por-
traits are printed. This resulted in law re-
curing the use of the name in this way on
paper money and he hopes yet to succeed in
accomplishing the same thing for postage
stamps.
Various circumstances impressed on Mr. Gill's
are ignorant of many things concerning child
life which, if understood. would add greatly
to the comfort, health, happiness and years TO
the life of incalculable numbers of individuals.
When friend suggested that there ought to
be at the prospective Columbian Exposition
special effort to entertain boys and girls it
occurred to him that there would be an excel
lent opportunity to bring much important in
formation on the subject of child life to the
attention of largo Numbers of DeOnle
At considerable expense of time and money,
and much persistent labor, he induced the
authorities to undertake the work of estab-
fishing Chidren's Building. Though il was
undertaken too late 10 carry his full plans into
execution, the Children's Building was grand
success, and enough was done to demonstrate
that such an exhibition was of exceeding great
value. and that practically every person in the
community, without regard to ase or condition,
can be reached BY such means.
This suggested TO Mr.. Gill the idea that a
permanent Children's Palace in each city
could be made one of the most powerful forces
within the bounds Of possibility to raise the
standard of civilization aud show to the people
the best paths for the children to health, USE
fuiness and happiness. I'd
To procure the establishment of such insttu-
tions in the Worlds Fairs. and to interest the
people in building permanent Chidren's Pal
aces, he has made plans for international
association, and is gradually gaining friends for
the cause. He is too much engrossed with the
work of the Patriotic League to push this
project at present. .1s
In 1889 Mr.. Gill went to New York to for
ward his project for giving direct railroad
access to New York and Brook lyn under ground
and under the rivers.
He has spent much time in helping to organ
ize the Societies of the Sons and Of the Daugh-
tiers of the American Revolution. This work
led him to see and understand the neglect and
immense need of our Nation to have her citi-
Zens thoroughly and Systematically instructed
in their citizenship. To bring this TO the atten-
ton of the people and begin the work of such
instruction, lie organ lied the Patriotic League
in 1891.
In this work he was joined by many of the
prominenteducato and patriots Of our country,
and last February the Patriotic League began
the publication of its monthly text book, "Our
Country" Chapters have been formed in diff
ferent parts of the country, and the organiZa-
ton is destined to do work of inestimable
Importance for good citizenship throughout the
United States.
COMMANDMENTS Chief Lawler and Past Com.
mander-in-Chief Kountz are among those who
indorso the Patriotic League, as well as Capt.
Wallace Foster and other advocates of patr-
otto teaching.
NATIONAL SENIOR NONRESIDENT.
Mary A. Ninekirk. Past Department Presi-
dent of Kentucky W.R.C., and for two years
President Of Whitaker Corps Louisville will,
no doubt, be the unanimous choice of 18th Ma
tional Convention for the Office of National
Senior Vice. President.