New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-11
LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN
TOPIC DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING OF
THE NETWORK CITY
MOTHERS CLUB.
OBJECTIONS MADE TO MOTHER GOOSE WERE
OVERRULED-'IT FEEDS IMAGINATION
AND SUPPLIES HUMOR."

OBJECTIONS MADE TO MOTHER GOOSE WERE
OVERWEIGHT FEEDS IMAGINATION
AND SUPPLIES HUMoR."
The regular monthly meeting Of the New-York
City Mothers Club was held at the Tuxedo, Madi-
son-ave. and Fifty-ninth-st., yesterday afternoon.
The chairman Of the day was Mrs. j. Il. Seymour.
The president Mrs. S. NJ. Harris, was also on the
platform.
Literature for children the theme of the day.
Miss Ellen Yale Stevens. OF Teachers college
gave a list of books that would be instructive and
entertaining. She said that those who know child
nature are aware that it has "a love for person
ihcation of the concrete rather than the abstract
for TO the chilli everything is endowed with life
and character" With this belief is found magma
ton often supposed TO be lacking in a child
Mrs Francis Sheldon Bolton. Editor Of THE
Mother Journal" OF New-Haven, Conn. spoke on
the same topic and with the list Of books she gave
she told Of how they had been received by some
children and the effect they had had In answer 10
a query made from the floor, rs there a single
rhyme in Mother Goose that is profitable for
child 10 read OF leam?' Mrs. Bolton said that
perhaps such jingle "Fe III. Fo Fun" might
DO left out but that others were helpful.
strong plea made by another speaker from
the floor in behalf of Mother Goose. the argument
being that not only did it feed the imagination
by its Jingle. but that these rhymes and the
celebrated nonsense book furnished valuable
Al
eliminated from childrens amusement.
In place OF Mrs. Sydney Rosenfeld who could not
he present; Mrs. L. s. Johnson. Of Morningside
School gave a paper. She said that only close
observers knew how much the character is formed
by the stories given to children and she believed
that they should be given some knowledge Of cur
history and that stories should be founded on
truth
Mrs Mary Lowe Dickinson spoke feelingy on
the need Of securing higher type Of citizen which
she said could only be done by making the charac-
ter Of the child and youth, and also of the mother
and guide
Wilson Gill. president of the Patriotic League
was called on. and gave a graphic description of
how he tried TO for little girl the di-
rections given in leafet published by a Health
Society but found the rules unintelligibe that
neither he nor the child's mother could comprehend
what treatment ought TO be pursued.
Mrs Alma Calder Johnson president of the Lit
lie Mothers Association told Of some Of the things
that happen when the City Government attempts
10 play the mother. and spoke also on literature.
saying that by giving children the best it destroyed
in them all taste for anything else.
Mrs lie Clair. who announced that she
teacher Of fifty years standing spoke against the
too early forcing of childs mental activity. and
said that the American woman was too little at
home and was too fond of taking up foreign
ways studies etc. thus destroying the development
OF National individuality.
MRS. BlRNEY A GUEST.
To the surprise and delight of all the members.
Mrs. Theodore w. Birney. OF Washington.
present al the meeting. and when asked to spSak.
said she would like to tell about the next annual
meeting OF the National Congress Of Mothers II
has been decided, she said. to accept the many
invitations received from Des Moines, Iowa, and
10 hold the convention in that city. The choice has
fallen upon Des Moines because II is so centrally
situated as TO be easy of access from all parts Of
the United States -Four other cities extended their
hospitality TO the congress, namely, St Louis At
Iantais ,Slncihnau anG Chicago. and the courtesy.
Mrs birney said, was greatly appreciated although
an .ouIu ho5 pe accepted, and the more Western
point seemed the best for this occasion
Inc governor OF Iowa has written Mrs. Brney
extending IN behalf Of the people OF the State a
cordial invitation TO the congress to hold its seq
sOn o. 1907 IN the city Des MONIES and insurina
her that every effort would be put forth to MAKE
the meeting in this healthful and prosperous mari
o. the Louisiana Purchase" '
Equally hatterins letters Of welcome have been
ent Of Public Instruction in Des Monies: from J. j
Mcconnell, secretary and treasurer OF the Iowa
ton from the Mayor, from John VI. Read, presi-
dent Of the Commercial Exchange, and from hote;s
Wr' Isaac Lee Hills who was delegate to the
last Mothers Congress from the Child Study So
. t..rs, has HseG her personal in
fEence assiduously TO gain the fullest Endorsement
.. ..e invitation ana assures Mrs Birney that from
the Governor and Mayor on through ell the city
organizations, the Federation OF Women's Clubs
and private individuals. the eagerness TO welcome
The Mothers Congress is profound.
There are, Mrs. Hills writes. eight hundred club.
women in the city and they can entertain onc
more can be secured al 81 and g day
Cumming. president of the company. is capable OF
seating large audiences and has accommodation
Mrs Hills claims said Mrs Birney. that Iowa
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