The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-08

The little girls are naturally bright,
and the cruel stories which were cir
culated as to lack of intelligence in
Baby Ruth" as she used to be called,
are emphatically denied by her teach
ers, as well as by those who ought to
know among the friends of the family.
Perhaps the best description of the
children can be gathered from II
glimpse at their kindergarten. This
school is presided over by Fraulein
Bathman, of Boston, who, by the way,
is not over 81, and extremely pretty and
charming. She met Mrs. Cleveland at
Gray Gables nine years ago, when the
latter went there as bride Later
Fraulein Bathman left the City Of
Beans to take charge OF the white house
kindergarten.
The school work begins at nine in the
morning The cabinet children and \
few others, such as those of Mrs. Mollie
Garfield Brown and Chief Justice Fuller.
are admitted-ten or twelve in all.
Fraulein Bathman, it should be stated
here, is a native German who came to
this country when about ten years OF
age, and has grown up in kindergarten
work under her mothers teaching, 50
that she is thoroughly qualified for her
task. She is assisted in the German
songs and games by the children's Ger
man nurse.
Miss Ruth, though only little more
than four years old, has the mind of a
child of IA. Most people think that
she Is eight years of age. She is very
lively, and never still minute Inas.
much as the tots have had German
nurse for four years, Miss Ruth can talk
the language of the Fatherland in a
way that would make a Hoch Deuts
cher jump for joy. Besides this, sha
can recite German poems from memory.
and knows by heart the Twenty-third
Psalm in English.
All the children have sweet DISPOSE,
tons, but not without saving amount
of temper. Ruth takes after her
mother. She is the most easily man
aged, but quick. lively and mischievous.
Baby Marion is going to be Mrs.
Cleveland right over. She is said to be
one of the best babies ever born. and is
developing into very beautiful; LITTLE
girl. Here is the description furn shed
me by Il friend of the family: miss
Marion is really a beauty. and is the
flower of the family. She has lovely
pink and white complexion, and great
dep blue eyes; she is growing every
day like her mamma"
The two older children have their
meals with their nurse, and both bow
their little heads and repeat together
brief German grace. Then their
heads bob up again in the cutest way
imaginable. presenting most charm
re picturr
The wife oil senator called at the
white house the other day, and this is
the story she tells me: THE Cleveland
children made their courtesies. but they
are retiring with strangers. A funny
thing happened while we were in the
| sitting-room. Miss Ruth picked up a
copy of the last number of Puck. Then
| seeing the pictures of the presidential
| chairs taking wings, exclaimed, as she
| put her four-year-old finger on it: oh!
what a funny chair Then discovering
the letters C. c. but not recognizing
them as standing Tor papa: "Oh! what
Il funny man.. The company laughed
heartily. but nothing more was said"
About the first Of June the president,
family will go TO Gray Gables again. 81
far as can be learned, there are no plan.
beyond this, which leads many of theil
immediate friends to think that there il
nothing in the third-term talk
| Miss Esther is said to be the very
image of her father in looks as well a