The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-17

An interesting meeting % the Seattle
kinisrEarten Association was held at the
Chamber q Commerce last Monday Re
ports were given by each OF the officers
concerning the free kindergarten work in
the city.
The president. Mrs, H E. Holmes. spoke
OF the condition OF the building on Main
street. OF the satisfaction given by the in
side stairway. which was finished several
weeks ago and waich was made necessary
by the continuous rains. Mrs Homes also
urged those present 20 greater effort in
securing more members and subscribers
for the association. since the income was
rot sufficient 20 cover the expenses Of the
free kindergarten and training class.
The treasurer reported funds sufficient 70
pay all expenses 20 January is. also that
a sum OF SIS had been realized from the
Mother Goose entertainment, the proceeds
OF which had been equally divided between
the kindergarten and the association.
The corresponding secretary gave brief
account OF the Thanksgiving and Christ
mas festivals held al the kindergarten and
of the manner in which the children were
led 10 understand and appreciate them.
She also read New Years letter from
Miss Cree.man 10 the association. Miss
Creelman could not be present. owing 20
her engagement with the different members
Of the training class This letter gave
the greatest pleasure 70 al. convincing
them OF the devoted earnessneSS with
which Miss Creelman pursued her work In
both tho kindergarten and training class.
II was also reported that a bill in the
interest OF free kindergartens had been
prepared and would be presented TO the
legislature this winter.
Mrs. Homes then called upon Mrs.
Bailey Gatzert 10 speak concerning her
own free kindergarten Mrs. GatZert
spake briefly, saying that Miss Harvey
would follow with a fun account OF the
years work. Miss Harvey, the young lady
in charge OF the Bailey Gatzert Memorial
Free Kindergarten. was then introduced
and read the weary report prepared by her
for Mrs Gatzert. The report was extremely
interesting. telling OF her work with the
children and their parents. and the reading
of IL added greatly 10 the pleasure OF all
present. The next meeting of the Kinder
garten Association vii. be held March l.
Miss Creelman's letter follows:
Knowing that on account Of my work
with the training class l shall not be able
10 be with yeu al your meeting on Mon
day afternoon. l send you greetings for
the New Year. The children have re-
turned after their Christmas vacation
and are happy and joyous. One cannot
ways that it is good. very good. for them
TO be there We do know that il is true,
as one visitor said not long ago, that il
seemed as though Ii would change the
whole current Of their lives. II is true
that the kindergarten Is peculiarly fitted
TO meet the needs of little children, and
does bring an influence 10 bear upon their
lives as nothing else can. The atmos-
phere of justice. love and good VIII which
surrounds them for three hours day is
soothing and uplifting. Irritation and I'M
easinesS Is banished. and instead comes
peace and seif-control The nature OF the
little child is a complex thing. We speak
OF th-eefold development OF the child.
but we must not think that means three
needs OF the child three hundred would
come nearer 70 the truth. And in the
kindergarten all the finer needs, the
things we sometimes see and feel but
can scarcely express in words, are met.
II IS a work that in IT'S finer phases can
not be described but that matters not;
those who take IL UP, II In earnest, pene-
trate deeper and deeper and every month
new truths are unfolded TO them.
Two years OF close careful study pre-
pares one TO commence 10 see. And after
that, If thoroughly living according TO
the new knowledge, light upon the subject
VIII come more rapidly. The students OF
the training class. according 10 their vari-
Gus capabilities, in various ways are do
ing good work. And the lives OF those
who truly grasp and live in their lives
FToebers principles OF education viii be
richer by far than before.
When the pupils OF the training class
tell me Of their appreciation OF the work
I long 20 draw in many young women and
help them 10 become happier IN their later
lives than without this knowledge they
could be. One said TO me last week: I
as great q change in their lives as I have
done since Joined your training class.
Another said: i have learned more in the
last four months than In al my previous
life One said 10 me during the last
month: I long 20 he able 20 appreciate
al Of this more, but / know I some time
shall do So Another has said 20 me fire.
Queu1y: I can never tell you what this
has been 20 me- These are only a few OF
the many things they say to me, showing
their Increasing insight into truth. but per-
haps Il viii interes. you 70 know how they
fee towards the school
Perhaps it VIII help 10 assure you that
our efforts have not been in vain: that
even now much has been done and that
VIII remain. AS J watch these young
women move about among the children.
not auttering Vneasily. but calm and Joy
Gus: nos tuned 81 the highest pitch. but
gently relaxed. the tones Of the voice gen.
tie, and firm when necessary. calling forth
the respect OF The children. I say TO my
self Il is all right: It is good for you also
% be here. When I see them so sweeiiy
assisting one another in taking care Of a
class OF children. and hear ore say to Tire
other, Would Miss Netrie Ike 20 pass the
c.oaks FOR Miss Susie~ and hear the an
swer, Yes Miss Susie know there is no
pregense, but love and goodwill and the
highest interest OF the children Always
uppermost No fr0wns. no irritable words
20 the children: no sarcasm, but always
Justice and love and joyousness. Such an
atmosphere Is wholesome, and Ia good for
all persons az all times To learn 10 ae-
cent each days experiences. 10 try earn
esfly TO learn the lessons Il has 70 teach:
20 rot iy from any opportunity. but 20 seek
70 know iss purpose; 70 endeavor above al
20 be true In thought. In word and in deed.
and 20 10 he nearest duty not slight.ugy
or In haste: 20 keep the pa xes OF the new
year as they are turned each Gay as spot
less as possible: 20 De neither afraid. nor
false, nor in haste tfor that - the only
wav 70 live so that We may see more
clearly every day.. These are some % ne
thoughts ws keep before u. the lessons Ne
ara earning with the children. while We
-ab. Up the various studies IN our course.
When We think Of the school. We natu-
rally see before Us tie little children. then.
before We withdraw our eyes from tire pic
sure ie. as see fhe wong women IN the
"a ~kx~ound, and le; us know that tae sslf-
culture which faey receive stands side by
side WITH child nurture
.Et Is an Old saying. and a true one. that
one hero creates thousand II - equally
true -hsat the Development % the highest
worzunood n one individual VIII send out
ar fnsueure that directly CT indirectly vii