New-York tribune., 1900-01-25
SEWING ISLIKECHARITY.' >
IT MUST BEGIN AT HOME, DR.. THORN
DIXIE TELLS THE SCHOOLS.
LECTURE AT THE HOLY COMMUNION PARISH
HoUsE-CHILD STUDY IN ONE OF
ITS ASPECTS
ITS ASPECT

Sewing. Ike charity. begins at home" said Dr.
Edward Lee Thorndike. Of Teachers College, in
his talk yesterday afternoon before the New
York Association Of Sewing Schools. at the parish
house Of the Church Of the Holy Communion. No. 4s
West Twentieth-st-
DR.. Thondikes subject was Child Study and
Sewing and he set forth many new ideas and
suggestions for which his hearers seemed grateful
and grasped at eagerly. He confessed that he
knew little about sewing in wide sense. but he
did know about II in connection with child study.
Es spoke with conviction when he said: Il have
faced the problem. and I know sewing by rule Of
thumb for have for ten years struggled with sus-
penders and buttons"
Sewing affords children wider aims and there
are some things II viii DO for children besides
teaching them 70 sew-it VIII help TO make out OF
them rood and wise men and women It viii teach
them things besides those which made with
thread and needle. First II teaches them TO think
things out. As. for instance, in these days We
know that coke and gas are not the only things
made out Of coal; there are about forty other
things and so an hours sewing may develop
dozen other ideas
The second advantage call, for lack Of a bet
ter word suggestiveness That is. while the les
son IS going on the child be told where the
thread comes from. how the cloth Is made, going
hack 10 the raw materials. I am free 10 state
that OF children six years old two out Of FIVE do
not know the difference in the production Of cot
ton and wool goods Make the sewing incidental
and talk things over Tell them what the boys in
China and India wear and what the little Africans
do not wear. Thus three things may be accom-
plished al once-to sew. think and seek for infor-
nation
Ny third argument IS that in all charitable and
religious organizations. well as in the household
there is sort Of gap IN the lack Of handy people
They are not equal 10 situations in all lines
Of work 4 general fault is that they cannot face
complex things.
Children hate routine and love variety. Teaching
them executive ability Is the best lesson in the
world Always be honest and frank with children
i IS Czly the morbid ones VINO IKE SentmentaliIy-
natural and 20 work buSineSSEke way
without fuss, and make them work hard when they
90 work. Put fUl steam. and make them go
a. i under fUl pressure Tor hEe minutes at a
tine, then Try something else They must learn
that daFTdling does not pay.
There Is such thing as the child What is
the best course for is not best for another.
Children have varied tastes, and there Is great
difference n their likes and interests. As far as
possible make q study of the childs nature. We
al have ilsInctivcy q deeper interest in anything
own whether ching children
DE through their own possessions. Make use Of
their proprietary instinct
IN SO many Of tie schools md children strain
lng their eyes In bad light. The work should
never BE- less than twelve inches from the eyes.
Good light and good air are essential 70 insure
good eyesght, and an upright position with good
breathing IS most important
member ID the audience created much anTuse-
uerT by asking Dr. ThOTnGlke 10 relate Of his
experiences with sewing. He wisely evaded the
request by saying that he had learned TO face all
a young physician who he would sue
ceec IN his profession He owned but pair Of
snoes, and they were tan, but he found that he
couid blacken them. which he did. and them
him 80
Miss Jessie Patterson presided at the meeting