Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-06-21

scenes pictured. one hdlu )ld1 II thS
greatest part of the child's develop
ment. Play is the first awakening
of the creative power in the child.
Play presents the unity and diver
sions of life, establishes equality,
destroys selfshness, and strengthens
the power of the child in proportion
as he does for others Moral educa-
ton is the Alpha and Omega Of
kindergarten work, and the true
kindergarten teacher seeks TO develop
equally the physical, mental and
moral natures of the child.
BY far the best of the exercises
was the "Children's Hour" during
which Miss Lovejoy told the story
of Mother Natures Summer Party"
The little ones of the kindergarten
were seated in a circle upon the ros-
trum, with Mrs Plum and the grad
yates. Mrs. Berger presided at the
piano. The first exercise of "chil-
dren's hour" was the reciting in
unison of a song of thanks; this was
followed by an exercise in imitation
of rain drops on the leaves, and III
turn the game of the squirrel and the
flight and return of the birds. Then
Miss Lovejoy told of "Mother Ma
lures Summer Party" The story
was really the story of day, with It's
wind, rain, sunshine, moonlight and
star light, and was interspersed with
songs by the little ones.
Miss Rooms essay on "Music and
It's relation to the Kindergarten" was
a pleasing recapitulatian of the part
music has played in the worlds his
tory. She told of its mission in ed
vocational work as the means 10y which
the child is led to further progress.
Miss Paddock's essay "The length,
breadth, and height being equal"
was a plea for the equal development
of the three natures in the child.
Miss Woods part in the exercises
was song, in which her sweet voice
was shown to the best advantage.
Alma college may justly feel
proud of It's kindergarten class of '95,
for four more earnest and competent
young women have never been grad
uated from any college.
The concert Tuesday evening, was
a success, financially and artistlcally.
A noticeable feature Of the enter
tainment was that ii was all the work
of home talent, with the exception of
Mr.. Marsh, the violinist; but Alma
College really claims hiln as one of
Its students,
The graduating exercises of the
preparatory class were held in the
chapel w ednesday morning, and be-
gan with a selection by aquartet con
sisting of Messr5. Beckner and Scott
and Misses Mills and Marsh. Rev
J.W. McAllister offered prayer, after
which a piano selection was finely
by Misses Nelma Sharp,
Esther Bruske and Harriet Lanca
shire.
Miss Sylvia Breckenridge read an
ably written essay on Silent Intiu
ence. She spoke Of the silent forces |
of nature and the mighty work they |
perform. Silently our bodies con-
stantly repair themselves; habits are
formed silently; temptations come
silently, as does the power by which
they are resisted. Our influence on
others is silent, but powerful. The
lessons of home and its influence 90
with us through life as silent moni.
Tors.
Sherman l.. Divine spoke Of the
Fickleness of Public Opinion, and
said that the force of public opinion
IS more noticeable in a democratic
form of government. The fckleness
IF public opinion is a marked char
lcteristic. Because of its potency
lations have risen and fallen, and he
'ited the history of Athens and
Rome. In referring to the different
rises in our national history the
ickleness of public opinion played
10 unimportant part. He refer
ed to the financial panic through
which we have passed, and said that
is cause does not lie in the agitation
If the silver and tariff questions so
much as in the fckleness of public
opinion.
In the Grafton Horatius, Keep the
}ridge, James |. Crane made a plea
or patriotism, and spoke of the dan
ger to this sentiment from national
prosperity. He said man is not a
'atriot simply because he sits en-
hroned in the public lap, wrapped in
he folds of the old flag, and chant
ng "My Country" He took the
Id Roman Regulus as type of early
and James G.. Blaine as a
ype of the modern patriot, and paid
glowing tribute to the memory of
lr. Blaine.
Marshall Hopkins said in his ora
ion Is Life Battle? that from the !
inc Adam was admonished that he :
aust struggle for an existence, the l
istory of nations has been one long !