The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1901-05-21
NMTOMAN
Wv and SOCIETY
kindergarten Visited.

The free kindergarten established by
the southside Baptist church at Avenue
f and Eleventh street, In what Is known
as the rolling mill district, was opened
to visitors yesterday afternoon. the child
rem of the kindergarten taking part In
the interesting exercises. There were a
number of visitors, among whom was
Miss Anna B. Hartwell, a returned mis-
sionary from China, and a daughter Of
Dr. Hartwer. who has been a missionary
for over forty years.
The work of the little kndergarteners
was exhibited and there were many ex-
pressions of qualification from the wo-
men who have watched the growth OF the
kindergarten and who knew the disad-
vantages under which Miss Bruner. the
instructor, has labored. Unlike many of
the other klndergartens in the city,
where the children come from wealthy
and cultured homes, the little ones who
are in the school at Station A have not
enjoyed the advantages of a happy en-
vironment and to them the bright in
fiuences of the kindergarten have opened
a new world of thought and placed oppor-
tunities within their reach
There are forty names enrolled at the
kindergarten, and while the Indictment
weather prevented many of the children
from attending yesterday afternoon. there
were many bright little groups at the
tables fashioning all the practical little
articles included in the course.
Miss Bruner uses the progressive school
methods, a method employed In all the
advanced schools.
Miss Bruner is graduate of the Louis
Vile Training school Her work in the
kindergarten here has been marked with
great success and the results attained
should be entirely satisfactory. She is a
most attractive young woman, and the
children are devoted to her.
Miss Bruner is assisted by Miss Abbie
Worcester, whose splendid work in the
kindergarten has been invaluable The
school will close the middle of June, and
reopen in October.
The South Side Baptist church estab-
lished a mission at Station A last fall
and at the same time opened the free
kindergarten for the children in that dis
trict, the building answering for both
purposes. 1t is a large, comfortable
structure and the kindergarten has been
successful from the very beginning. Serv-
Ices are held in the mission every Thurs
day evening and Sunday afternoons, and
are conducted by the Rev. DR.. A. C.
Davidson, the pastor of the South Side
Baptist church. The establishing of this
mission and the opening of the free kim
dergarten were the fruition of a plan of
which DR.. Davidson was the inspiration.
and this phiantropic movement has laid
the foundation for brSider and greater
work that is to be realized as the South
Side Baptist church becomes more and
more an institutional church.
The plssfS to open gymnasums, reading
rooms and to maintain night school
are already inaugurated, and like the
great London churches that took the in-
iative In solving mighty problems by
their institutional work, the South Side
Baptist church Is concentrating it's ener-
giles in this district.
In the work of maintaining the free
kindergarten in the rolling mill district
the young women of the church are of
great assistance to the finance committee
appointed by the church and which in
cludes Mr.. Edward H. Cabaniss. Mr.. s.
Perry Fowlkes. DR.. Griffin, Mr.. George
Estis and Mr.. Smith Cullom-
A number of the young women have
FORMED a kindergarten association, with
AIIss A. l.. Williams as president Among
the members are Miss Lucy Sparks, Miss
Lena Jackson, Miss Eloise Jackson Miss
Lucy Dwyer. Miss Marianne Hamilton
Miss Viva Jackson, Miss Ailieu Sparks,
Miss Bruner, Miss Worcester, Miss Met
tie Davidson. Miss Julia Ward, Miss May
Ward. Miss Marie Hudgins and others.