New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-27
HELPING THE LITTLE ONES
ITALIANS IN THE CHILDREN'S AID
SOCIETY SCHOOL.
MISS wYGANT TELLS WHAT HEX "oHN
AND WHAT IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED


BY HER PUPILS.
The Children's Aid Society has school al NO.
,se L.onard-st that is said 10 be doing great
deal OF good among the little Italah ooys anu s"''
for whom II was opened
Three hundred little children are enroled ana
many adults eager to be taught the Engnsh IAN
guage congregate nightly ana take up tne c"H
dren's studies with eagerness
The course includes instruction in the elements
Of the common English branches, WIN inuusti'"'
work for both boys and girls.
An interesting feature OF the school Is the boys
club. which opened with few children VINO hao
previously been members OF the school, ano' nav
ing passed through the grades. wished to Keep up
their connection with the institution. There are
about two dozen members, and they meet nightly
to read stories in English. discuss such topics as
may he Of interest to the majority Of the members
and study physical culture in the gymnasium.
Miss louisa Wygant the principal OF the school.
said in talking ABOUT her work a few days ago:
Our boys club which has been so SUCCESSFUL
this season. was the outcome OF little CONVERSE
ton which had day with the mother OF one
OF our graduates. She regretted that her son had
no place spend his evenings except In the saloons
in the neghborhood and asked II We could not
help In way to keep him from such innu-
ences The boy Gezuelo Napolitano. had received
his entire education with starting In the kinder
garten many years ago. and passing through the
day school, and finally attending the night school
when he found employment during the day We
knew him be excellent hoy In every way.
and ! called and questioned him about his even
ings. He acknowledged that he and his frlends
had a room at the back OF a saloon. but said that
It was solely for tho purpose Of having meet
ing place. though sometimes they ordered a rev
drinks I made arrangements at once for them TO
meet In an unoccupied classroom at the schooi
building and Gazuelo became the leader. They all
submit gracefully TO this. and enjoy the change IN
their quarters
our girls have a sewing class. which Is as much
OF a club az the other In a sense The members
are the employees OF candy and tobacco factories,
who used TO attend rough dances, and VINO nave
no relaxation from their work except their even
ings at tho classroom. While they Work we give
them freedom in the way OF conversation ana mo-
ton which relieves the strain under when they
work all day and serves double purpose In that
It gives the teacher an opportunity 10 become IA
miar with their conversation and To Improve their
language II is often necessary 10 quietly correct
some girl who. from force OF habit. uses coarse
language and slang. often apparently without IN
tending II.
The subjects taught them are sewing dress
making machine work and embroidery and COOKING
MANY show all aptitude for the las named work,
and produce good dishes tina, are tasty and whole
some. They also taking Up crochetirg ana
paper flower work and in this way are taught the
blending OF colors and how 10 brighten their own
homes with their work. They appreciate the cook
Ing lessons perhaps more than any other The
other classes are the usual simple one Of reading
and writing and have foun: 1t advisable 10
group the little ones together ana place over them
an Italian spea king teacher. who translates from
one language to the other, thus enabling them TO
learn English faster than they otherwise would.
Many OF our pupils the sole support OF Iatse
families and their homes usually two or three
crowded rooms where no. only they themselves
live but seven eight boarders as well
The rag and paper pckeTs frequently 90 ,h tn
sorting in the living rooms. and these are the
most wrec.aed OF all the homes, freless, damp and
and rags picked from cutters and oarreFs' tnrougn-
ont the city The wonder Is that there Is SO Httle
sickness among these people. -.
There Is a deep-rOoted aversion on the part or
are positfve would produce consumption and other
serious His There Is little or no ventlla tion curing
the day and absolutely none at nigh. when the SIX
teen or more persons crowded INTO the c,ose
sons TO teach the children the necessity or fresh
air. and 1t is gratifying wnen we mo 'ha' oui
work has taken root in at least one nome
The other day one OF the boys came 10 me ana
said that his mother was ILL., ana ne was sur .""f
The want OF fresh air had much TO do with IT,
in any wav He shook mis- head and said:
no Miss WyGant. 1t Is no use 10 Try 10 40
ANYTHING unless you can make motner open tne
windows at night come In from the outer ar
and an, choked BY the bad air In our rooms; and
wonder that we are not all sick. ~ could nave Il
room OF nv own. where could open my windo"
day and night sure should not so Utten
sIffer from headac he. but no amount OF talhnS
vii change mothers mind in regard to This point
and SO the windows kept closed ana she Is SUI
fering in consequence. -. :. -...-..o, 49,
at was only a little thing. nut ~ encourdpeu me
az saw In II the first fruits OF our laoors