The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-04-09
FROM THE GOLDEN GATE.
Former School Teacher Writes of
kindergarten Work i'm
San Francisco.
SAY FRANCISCO, Mar. Is. 81.

greeting from the City OF the
Golden Gate:
believe that the many little
children who have heard me read
"Patsey" will be interested in hear
ing how | found and visited Patsey S
first school, the Silver Street Kinder
.rarten-the first free kindergarten
in San Francisco. I'm not sure but
il was the first in the u. S.
Having been in San Francisco Il
number of days, visiting various
points of interest, ] happened to
think | had not visited the kinder
garten Kate Douglas Wiggin has
made so famous. Being at the time
in very large jcwclry store asked
the gentleman If he knew where
could find the first kindergarten
that was opened in San Francisco.
He said No" bat his wife had been
q Kindergarten, and if | w0nld
call again he would have the desired
information for me- This morning
/ called for directions, but it was
with regret he informed me that his
wife could not tell. He suggested,
however. that | 90 to the nearest
kindergarten, and | could find out
there. lie consulted the directory,
wrote number OF words on q paper
and disappeared He was gone so
long / began to think would better
90 without the information, but 1T
last he came, telling me that he had
telephoncd to q number OF people
the state superintendent Of public
instruction being one, but he could
not get any OF them. However, he
had found out that there was
kindergarten very near, and if /
went there couldno doubt find out
He said There is one on Silver
street, short street between Sec
ond and Fourth. " said, why
that is the very one am seeking. "
So the gentleman showed me See
ond street. which was near by,
walked down Second ways, then
inquired OF Il truckman.as no police
man was in sight He told me
about four blocks further on. The
blocks here are rather long, so
presently addressed a business
man with Beg your pardon, are
yo" resident Of san Francisco? "
Eyes.
EVAN you please inform me where
Silver street is?
40 You See that bridge yondcr?
''Ncs.
"Well, II is the first street be-
You'd that.
80 you know where the kinder
gartcn is?
"Oh, you keep right on down the
street; you cannot fail to see it:it
has the name on the house.
While passing down the street
! saw another school built on the
hillside, called the Longfcllow
school. ] went up the stairs and
stayed a little while rs it was recess
ana the children were ont at play.
The school ground was all boarded
over. having httle shed like en-
closures all around the sides Il
waited until the children marched
in and then Resumed my walk.
soon came TO o. Silver street; ring
ing the bell and having no response
opened the door and entered. /
was soon mot by the matron. a very
pleasant English woman who had !
charge Of the first floor In one Of |
the large rooms is The Boys Ere" T,
Reading Room After few wears |
spent in the kindergarten the boys /,
drift away. y very kind gentleman I
named W. f. Brown furnished and I
supplied this room with books.
magazines and games for the boys.
who come twice Il week. The girls
have the privilege Of coming every
Saturday. The matron very kindly
showed mc through the lower part
Of the building, then as we were as
cending the struirS she told me she
thought was New England wo-
man, ! told her | was English, but
had often been taken for a New
Eagland woman. She said she was
so sure that was. Perhaps some
Of you little ones, who are older
than YOU were seven years ago, can
the compliment implied
in the expression, II was SO sure
you were from New England. The
first time ! was taken for Il New
| bowed profoundly and
acknowledged the compliment, for
that il was meant as \
such. Today | was too busy hear
Ing Of the Kindergarten, TO mind any
such delicate ilattery. | was in
PRODUCED TO the teacher in charge.
who at the time was busily engaged
teaching the children new song.
There were about forty Of them sit
ting on the floor in large circle.
There were three teachers in the
room. one at the piano and one at
each side of the ring with the child
rem. When she was at liberty She
came TO me, and upon learning that
was seeking Patsey : room she
said She would take me there pres
,ntly. had with me a beautiful !,
bunch Of California violets which
nal purchased on my way there !
gave them to the teacher, who put
them in water and placed them on
Jhe piano Then addressing the
children she told them in Il very
charming way that | was "a teacher
who had come so many miles to see
hon, anl fho+ bnl I,rn,,,,bt tbn,,,