The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-20

tricts similar to those that in New York.
Chicago. and London swarm with fst and
thin. clean and dirty. lighting. playing.
eating. towseled young humanity. and l
have missed the children. There Is too
much economy in France for that. and be-
sides. French children Of the lower classes
are eterralfy busy Really. I've not seen
any superfluous children. but hundreds Of
busy. black frocked little folk. who live on
amazingly scant and simple food.
However. on the other hand. sad as
fear have made out the case OF the French
child. he has compensations. The whole
Of Paris, for instance. is his Playground
and such playground. There Is no city
in the world possessing comparable sys-
TEN OF boulevards. parks. .dd gardens.
where children enjoy so many privileges
and few restrictions. The Champs Elysees
would seem a modernized copy Of Eden. I
am sure. to any city bred child from home.
with its trees and fountains. flower beds.
and dry. sandy spaces where there is no
law against digging. where pet dogs are
welcome and cake, lemonade, crackers.
milk tops, balls. hoops, and balloons are
dispensed from gay little booths by Oblig-
ing and soft spoken old ladies. The boufe-
wards now run through nearly every quar-
ter Of Paris. and there Is no possible ex-
cuse for the poorest child not getting its
fair share Of green shade, fresh air. and
shifts at the flowers.
II assure you think of our close built.
sitting cities at home and wonder why we
don't have boulevards for our children.
both rich and poor, to enjoy. Here on the
Champs Elysees and up in the Bots de
Boulogne can't fail to notice that no signs
are hung about forbiddins the children to
touch this, walk on that or pull flowers.
and yet there Is never any .wil,ful injury
done the growing things. l think these
youthful foreigners are better discip ined
or more considerable than our youngsters,
while I must admit that 1t Is the French
mother who sets the fashion for elegant,
elaborate, and charming baby costumes.
What. I confess surprised me most in
the management of the Partisan children
of the lower class was the great number
of admirable free kindeTgartens found
established by the municipal government.
Les ecoles maternel is what they are call
ed. and in all more than 200 are in daily
operation. Trained kindergartners teach
the pupils that are drawn from the poorer
classes. They pay nothing for the in
struction given their young ones. who are
given the full Froebel course. provided
with a tree shaded, graveled playground
for clear days and huge half glass en-
closed play hall for rainy time and the
winter. At midday. from the school kitch
en-. a simple. hot meal is served out to
the small boys and girls for the sum of 2
cents apiece. IL the parents are able to
pay. and gratis II they are not.
''On Thursday, which. in place Of Satur-
day. is the Partisan school chi1d's holiday.
the busy mothers of the free kindergarten
pupils are entitled to send the youngsters
to the ecole. where teacher Is in charge.
and keeps a supervising eye over the
chicks while they play about the yard and
eat their luncheon. must confess don't
think we in America can do more for the
good of young people than that, and the
children I saw at these schools were In
their tidy clothes, a credit to the poor par
ents. who are put to it often to find food
for their mouths"