New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-13


-. sluu kindergartens OF New-York so often
% ,.,,,,o-ous Is cross shot with pathos that II
u - 20 say whether amusement or pity is
most IN the Observers mind.
N.,5..,,ses this more solemn side Of the Stun
.DDs---,-rer there exists a scientiac-or at any
,-eculative-side not found 10 such ex-
-. !, che private kindergartens. Almost al
", IN the slum Kindergarten class IS at least
ohus of exceptional mental equipment
OF .,-,es e,cc-tional FOR a child born OF highly
60 and wen stationed parents. Such a
- ,.-.,,tored az home, brings 10 the kinder
- -. -., entirety fresh and original outlook IN
,-,s and his dongs and sayings become
" -, - the highest Importance to the student
-. ~rud mind. A little boy OF this sort,
-. e 81 present attending kindergarten
~ - -qrt Of Manhattan, and his draw
u - ,aoo~5s OF his remarks are carefully
iIs - nv his teacher. Some Of them form
=, sstiect Of this article.
" -s-,e IS Louis. and his age IS something
- eve wears IIe has a gift Of language that
- 10 she envy OF "a Democratic s2eubinder'
WV 60 .be two and a hair hours Of his
- 50 A., he As almost constantly talking. The
,busren bow beneath the sway OF his ora
"a LOT him talk. or submit meefdy 10 MS
1,..,ls leadership in all their games. To his
- ~ oratory he adds knowledge Of AMI
-,,-ts and geographical data wonderful
-.,.,ss On SIS rerversion OF The truth, because
- las p,ci.ed Il Up quite for himself, heaven
- With this knowledge as a working
or5 a natural sir as an actor lot a
he describes with vivid postures and
=, ofect 20 the other children the
- babf.s Of his favorite animal The
-, nv directs them in such games as they
- aroarr o. washington Crossing the
-, tai-g one Of his pets.
-. ,.l,-f6ress q his descrprons-his
80 -. ,,s,. 7,.ivering with excitement as
- how the octopus pulls men down INTO 'he
.r,+, as arms. or how Washington pusheo
-. "a cakes away from the boat-one would
-, .,,,. ra was extremely imaginative
80 -o.t-,,ar-a1 Tommy. But such, his
- .o,,s IS hardly the case. He IS also re-
.---,..,.,,. ,-s+ter Of fact He is paradox
- - eorcfb,v illustrated the other day
...-,e 10 school and announced that on
--,-.,f,rs afternoon he had been TO Babes
., rowland" az the Majestic Theatre. HIS
..,o,o- m once called in other teachers IN the
,.,n5i,r 10 see the fun, and Louis chalk IN
ANA v.flHDglv and quite unaoashed by the
.5t.-,o ~ adults. mounted the platform In
90. ~ the blackboard and gave an illustrated
,au, on the fairy extravaganza Later he crew
~ ,,.ve- several OF the pictures, which are here
reproduced
0,,a of tho first rlctures he drew was Ike
mess of two of the widows, who appear IN
spaneled. diaphanous skirts in the last act. lie
drew the widows first. then he drew their skirts
nv incIozine the lower parts Of their persons IN
folr STRAIGHT cor nearly straight lines. me
snarcIae were represented 10y whirls OF the
chalk. one o. the teachers, a sweet and unld
r-.,a maiden. mildly asked Louis why he didn't
shade I'm The skirts 20 hide their legs Louis
turned on her in scorn.
.g5o,~ said lie. their legs stuck out all
right"
Tho masculine principal II the school smiled
ru5Ib'v. and the tirnid teacher grew rosy.
Louis next drew the volcano. which required
sbe ,eo of much red chalk. His teacher asked
fi-, 81 DE was not afraid when the volcano blew
M and destroyed the castle OF the Toymal1er.
Afraid" shifted Louis. Afraid nothin'l The
thunder WIZ frecrackers, fred of somewhere
where the actresses were. and the house was
made Of pasteboard and they pushed It over"
There was evI5enty not the slightest Illusion
Tor him al any point Fl the performance. He
saw through :he paint and pasteboard with I'M
e-ring eye. which is not what would be called
imaginative IN the ordinary child. The bear. he
said was only a man dressed up. and for the
property spider he expressed only disgust,
though Pc consented 90 draw its picture.
Tie character and makeup Of jill seemed 20
fn;eres. him hugely. His picture of her he evil
Gently considered a work OF art, and objected
Etrenuously against rubbing IL of the board. Il
was Only 10y dint OF much persuasion that he
would consent to lend his pencil drawing for
reproduction. That Jill could prop out her hair
on wires he could not admire enough Louis's
precOciousness IS perhaps indicated by the fact
that he could not be Induced 20 express the
slightest enthusiasm Tor any of the men IN the
cast they were as nothing TO him. lie did draw
G picture Of the Confound!ng q the Wizard who
was deposited in "a box but for the most part he
Grew the girls. talked about the girls. and stout
" affirmed that one OF the best things IN the
SHOW was the way the Actresses C'for.' said
he 'thcy wUz an girls. though some of 'em wuz
fposed 90 be boys'D were dressed when sitting
On the wall ans singing Put down six and carry
two" Wei. Louis is not the only masculine
Spectator who has admired that same feature
OF The production. There was a well known
music critic present on the opening night-but
thai Is a different story.
Louis. who AZ least knows his letters and
sometimes gives uncanuy hints that he can
read, then drew @ picture OF the Toyland arch.
which he affirmed was made ali Of A, j or c
BLOCKS This was questioned by the teachers,
and IN q naughty spirit OF concession he put
an 2, az O. and some things that look like
hgure Us, into his drawing. but he stiu IN
speech maintained the accuracy OF HIS OBJ
e'Fation which. indeed the present writer Is
-aoe 70 dispute. He was finally asked what
lked best In the show. and replied that II
- The dance which Jil and the toymaker's
0I 20 IN the shop. Abr he cried. they
a'is ana they knock everything down. and
faat don't they DOR"
Louis is a normal boy, after all" vvh,sns-ea
Re principal
Weren't you sorry when the rls,, va. O,-.-,a
he teacher asked louis