The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-05
HER LAST TALK TO CHILDREN.
Mrs. GrOnlund Tells Little Folk of
Fables and Fable Writer'S.

The last OF the series Of free public
talks to chldren, given by Mrs. Laurence
Gronlund, under the auspices of the Sc
attic Humane Society, was held yesterday
afternoon In the rooms OF the Y. NJ. c. a.
AT its close the Children's Auxiliary to
the Humane Society vas formed This
band of little defenders Of dumb animals
Will meet on the first Saturday OF each
month, and judging from the enthusiasm
OF those who may be termed the charter
members" the meetings promise 70 be
well attended and the work which they are
TO do TO be prosecuted with energy.
The subject presented by Mrs Gronlund
FABLES and Their Writer'S was particu-
larry appropriate, in that the animals. birds
and insects are said TO have held these
conversations so full Of meaning which
naye been ot HANDED d TS TO- u under the
many interesting anecdotes of the fable
writers and many Of their pithy stories
We're related. Said Mrs. Gronlund:
The same strange stories, The fables and
fairy tales that we love to read and hear
and wonder about, have interested the
children or all times. Away back in the
days OF Aesop, more than 1000 years ago,
they were passed from mouth to mouth.
books being very few. and not only chill
dren but learned men and women collected
in little groups and smiled and pondered
over the playful and fanciful stories that
held each one of them. moral lesson
The birds. fish, insects and animals have
all been credited in these quaint little mar
ratves with holding very wise conversa-
tons and giving much advice to each other,
and the fact that all fable writers have
loved the animals, sympathized with them
and spent much time with them leads MS
to believe that they must have derived
soma excellent teaching themselves from
their observation Of the intelligence indus
try. patience and even temper of the dumb
crea lures.
THE fable is 4 moral tale. intended TO
give power TO moral lessons and 10 those
who ngeriously combined amusement
and instruction IN these brief sketches we
owe much. Aesop's short story of the Dog
and the Wolf shows very forrihlv how
sweet TO IFS is freedom: the wolf would
rather roam where he would. though gaunt
with hunger. than bear the chain the dog
must sometimes wear that he may shine
with good care ard fine living.
There Is the fable of the harmless old
log that Jupiter gave tho frogs for their
sunshine when they would: hut though II
afforded them this comfort they thought
their king too prosy, and would have an
other and another, until Jupiter. weary
Of their complaint sent them a stork
which ate them all hut one and he sang
the lament IN which every one would have
joined why did we not leave wei enough
alone
This fable teaches MS through n very
good illustration that we may find our loss
In not approaching our present good FOR
tune and constantly. seeking to better our
selves Ard 50 To all the books az fables
trust them for good advice If we are wise
enough 10 seek that"
Mrs. Gron]und's talks have made hap
pier ard wiser many hundreds Of chill
iren. and have been much appreciated by
parents.