The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-09-08

these uniformed lives into strong and
noble men and women.
Our work Is not to use the Gifts as
simple playthings, to play the games for
amusement, to sing the songs for the
sake of keeping the children quiet.
They are the tools by which we develop
the little opening mind to feel to love
and obey that which Is under and behind
everything, and we play because "play
is the natural, the appropriate business
and occupation of every child left to his
own resources. The child that does not
play is not perfect child" Play has a
deep significance 1t is not appointed
by the Supreme Being to simply fill up
time, 1t Is a means of education, and
you, parents, whose children do not
play have reason to mourn. 1T is
through play that he learns the use of
his limbs, of all his bodily organs, and
with this use gains health and strength.
Through play he comes to know the ex-
ternal world, the physical qualities of
the objects that surround him, their
motion, action, and reaction upon each
other, and the relation of these phe
nomena to himself; knowledge which
forms the basis of that which will be his
permanent stock for life. Through play
involving associateship and combined
action he begins to recognize moral
relations, to feel that he cannot live for
himself alone, that he is member of
community, whose rights he must &C
knowledge il his own are to be acknowl-
edged" Play is not trivial it is highly
serious and of deep significance. 1t is
the source of all that is good.
The effect of the Kindergarten train
ing is the increase of health and a de-
velopment of grace, the formation of
courtesy, order, neatness and industry,
the development of ideas of form, num-
Der, color, ETC., but there are other
flowers blossoming in the Kindergarten
which are wonderfully beautiful-and
make life grand and noble-flowers that
are often unseen, or If seen are not fully
appreciated.
Come with me into the child garden
and will tell you what mean. At the
appointed time a decided signal is given
from the piano which the little people
learn to know means quiet and order in
their chairs. This universal law, they
must all sit down at the signal-here
comes a simple lesson in obedience.
Then quiet music played till a hush
comes into the room, and with bowed
heads the Heavenly Father is thanked
for the care of the night;-everything,
the soft music, the bowed heads and the
tone of the voice suggests reverence, and
at such times / believe the grace of God
comes to the little hearts. There is
reason for beginning the day this way;
reverence lies at the foundation of every
virtue, and only he who has learned it
can have the right attitude toward the
Creator of all things Perhaps song
of the birds or leaves is sung; most OF
these point to higher than the physi-
cal and tell of the works of Power
higher than themselves.
In many Kindergartens some OF the
time is spent in the EXAMINATION of little
things brought in by the children.
Why? To bring out beautiful charac-
neutrality-suspicious. the feeling that
what love and enjoy or find of value to
me want Others to know about Not
one of us but that might be better and
richer If we had been taught this more
thoroughly in childhood. Where there
is common sympathy, loving interest,
friendliness, in other words, unseltish
participation, there cannot be envy
jealousy and hatred, characteristics
which cause 30 much of the distress and
sorrow of life.
The games are very important because
many of them are based on the instinct
of imitation, which with the child is the
unconscious effort to become like his
environment-to be in sympathy with
those around him. In the games of
family life it is the loving, gentle care
of the father and mother for the weak
and helpless that is emphasized, sugges-
tive of the solcitous care of the Heaven
ly Father. In the representative or
trade games the child is taught to imi-
tate the useful, and come into Sympathy
with it, to respect and admire it and as
he goes out into the world he will not be
likely to look down upon his brothers in
trade--He feels the Importance of the
carpenters work, even all mems work,
and how they all help all men. ITO
bring this thought of unity and oneness
into labor is to show the child the har-
mony that runs through all and makes
all beautiful. 1t is to awaken a feeling
of brotherhood"
Perhaps it is time for the hand work
into which the child puts his effort, and
which often represents much patience
and perseverance, proofs of the teacher 8
skill that the child cannot take home in
tangible form, and which are often al
lowed to slip by on the part of the
parent unnoticed. Clumsy little fingers,
If they do their own work, cannot pro-
duce beautifully finished pieces. We
like to have Kindergarten work beauti
full of course, but it is not an end, it is
means, and unless the child does 1t him
self in love and patience, in perseverance
and understanding it Is worthless. I'VE
learn by doing is the creed of Kinder
gardeners, but "being is as much better
than doing as it is more difficult and
unless sewing or any occupation helps
the child to be better, not simply do
beautiful work, it is falling far short of
its true office.
AS poets live near to tie heart of God,
and living there speak to man, so Fried
rich Froebel would have us live and
speak to the child. "Iet us open every
window of our soul that divine grace
may pour in and food with its light the
most obscure life among us, 50 that the
most commonplace drudgery of home
or kindergarten may become grand
and helpful work, because it is factor
in the upbuilding of mans highest
nature"
NELLIE r. Brown.
Principal of Bangor Kindergarten Nor
NAL school.
The Safety of Railway Travel.
Last year on American railways one
messenger WAS killed in accidents out of