The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-23
Amateur Biologists Of Kenwood Be-
Eeved to Have Made Discovery
81 Near Cedar Lake.
Wild Cranberries Picked Near the
Lake, Too-Enthusiastic Stu
dents of Nature.-4Ss a

School work proper, which the sunso-
phisticated are likely to think Of as a
gray, neutral sort Of affair, has taken on
rainbow tints, or what those who love to
bark back to the good old times, desig-
nate as 'fads." One Of the most popular
Of these is nature work, and many Of the
schools, taking advantage of superior sur
roundings. have branched out brilliantly
in this department. In Kenwood school,
geology Is the subject in this falls course
Of nature study.
And how could it be otherwise with that
gold mine of geological treasures, Cedar
Lake, only two blocks distant from the
school? Those who are the biggest kind
. Of somebodies in SCIENCE go there to add
to their geological collections, but 1T has
fallen to group of enthusiastic amateurs
in the school to discover the old bed Of
the lake. It lies near the Great Northern
tracks, and from the description Of the
smoothly worn pebbles and other char
acteristic sediment, Mrs. Ames, though
she has not yet made a personal inspec-
ton, Is strongly inclined to believe her
young biologists are right. Trilobites,
ferns and shells, all singularly we'll pre-
served, are among the fossils that help
make up the geological collection of the
school,. There Is also a bone, though from
what antediluvian monster it came, no
one says.
CranDSFrIeS at the Lake,
Wild cranberries are among the growing
things at Cedar Lake and Kenwood chill
dren had the happy distinction Of being
the only school in Minneapolis that had a
lesson in cranberries gathered by them
selves. The children do q great deal Of
field work and this forenoon, going out to
sketch with their drawing pads and boxes
Of water colors, they looked quite like a
regularly organized art class.
The half-hour literary chats" in the
morning are another delightful feature Of
the school work. First Kipltng was
studied and by reading and discussing his
wee Willie Winkie," and "Ba, Ba "a,
Black Sheep little biography of his
early life was composed. Now, Longfel-
low is being taken up, and excellent pa
pers on that little known subject, the
early youth Of the poet, have been turned
in just from reading the short poem,
MY Lost Youth" Genuine literary feel
ing is displayed in these papers; for not
one has failed to quote that most effective
line, 1.-The Spanish sailors with bearded
lips" or that bit from the old Lapland
folk song, "A boys will is: the winds will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long
thoughts"
Work at Basketry.
Another thing they are doing at the
school is the introducing, in a modest
way, Of basketry into the fifth, sixth and
seventh grades. Each pupil in these
grades gets a supply Of raffia, and by
Christmas-but that is secret.
Industrial work above the fourth grade
is taboo just at present but Mr.. Painter
has only been lying in wait and expects
shortly to see the school board about it.
But study, however charming, grows a
little tiresome If that is all one does, and
50 Kenwood children think, and to pre-
vent this they are going to give a real
bona fide function IF Mr.. Jordan will
only give us permission says Mrs. Ames.
But that permission the children wisely
consider granted. It is to be a reception
to celebrate the purchase of a beautiful
piano.. Everything is to be done
in a most formal way, for. the ladies',
as we'll as the children are keenly inter-
ested in it. There will be speech Of
presentation and one of acceptance and
school board members will be theret
Frappe will be served and everybody will
have a good time.