Middletown transcript., 1901-06-22
SOMETHING NEW
Showing Few Object Lessons in the Hr-
name Kindergarten

The gossips say that the earth is a bal
and that statement will do for mer,
hard fact But ever since electricity
girdled II. it has been to the mental Wis
ion " plain, with an extent of two
hundicd millions square miles, from the
very center of which rises high noun
tain from whose very top the seer may
daily observe the whole.
! With such an area for observation, il
! would be strange if there were not alway:
something notable to report, and this
morning what especially catches our eye
is point in the city of New York. There
lives in that city a lady who is not only
a lover of animals, but willing to work
and make personal sacrifices to show hel
affection. So great has always been he1
sympathy with horses especially, that,
speaking in the metaphorical sense com.
, mon to poets land are not lovers and
| philanthropists poets?) she laughingly
declares that she was ''born in stable. :"
This lady, Mrs Miles Standish, having
a country place in the Berkshire Hills,
! was especially impressed by the thought
less and ill-instructed treatment of horses
among the rich, and casting about for
some means for helping this, she was
inspired to gather some of the boys of
the neighborhood into her own stable
and instruct them in the needs and pro-
per treatment of these good friends of
man.
The experiment was successful, and,
as every idea with life in it may grow,
this small beginning became movement
in New York, which has for its aim the
conversion to humane methods of think
ing and acting, of the entire generation.
This movement has nothing to do with
schools; its founder and her helpers may
be said to have simply gone into the
streets, picked up the children and or
ganized them into an army of workers
under the name of "Our Animal Protec-
tive League" This army is divided into
chapters, of which the latest report de-
scribes seventeen with such names as,
"Tiger Chapter" "Young Defenders"
knights of the Round Table," dewey
Chapter" 'Lioness Chapter" (this chap
ter consisting of girls) and, beautiful to
relate, there is 'Deaf-Mutes Chapter"
Each chapter has grown person to
lead it, so that it is thoroughly organized
and managed, with regular meetings and
much enthusiasm. Indeed, in the re-
port it is stated that "Many thousands
could at once be added to the member
ship of the League, but they could not |
yet be taken care of or properly organ
lied. In the meantime, the League seeks
to make every chapter member respon-
sible, active and expert force in practising
and spreading kindness to animals. Every
besides having a thorough
training in general humane methods, the
care of dogs, cats, etc, is taught by
actual demonstration all the points of har-
ness and Harvesting, and is on the alert
or tight eheck-reins, improperly adjusted
harness, and badly shod or overloaded
horses, at the same time seeking cour-
eously to have the fault remedied, with
'ut formally reporting it, where possible"
Into this League are imported all sorts
II elements of interest, which seem to
make of each chapter real Club; and
within it are Baseball Club with a num-
Der of teams; Glee Club under direction
If Mr.. Henry Burleigh, Soloist at St.
Georges; Scrap Book Committee which
oastes animals pictures into books and
presents them to the children's hospitals.
And there is Swimming Club. A "Field
Club is to make nature studies in the
country in summer outings.
Actually, the Chapters expect to camp
,ut for some weeks this summer! This
costs something. Beside a
,reat deal of work, there was expended
or it last year over five thousand, five
hundred dollars.
Now, what have their promoters got
or their money? Practically a great,
growing, ramifying Society of Children,
Society filled with interesting pursuits
md companionships, and founded upon
he principle of loving kindness to all
living creatures. |
These children are, according to the
,roverb, the fathers (and mothers) of a
rery large number of the coming men
md women of New York. Are they not
ertain to be real factor in raising the
,rade of its civilization?
Is there any city with population too
highly humanized to need this influence?
CREsToN SAND.