The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-17

funny conglomeration of garments, the
mirth and jollity that pervade the whole
crew, form a certain cure for the blues.
Visitors are welcome in the kindergarten
and he would be a very blase person, in
deed, who could not find something TO inter-
est. TO amuse, to touch him in this
dark-skinned gathering OF miniature
humankind.
The main room of the kindergarten is an
immense square with light-colored wains
coated walls. hung with pictures of children
and Of people who love children. and flood
ed with sunshine, on the days that the
eondescends TO shine The hour of o'clock
finds the center of the room occupied by
the circle of children and teachers before
the row of little kindergarten chairs, ready
for the opening song and the little prayer.
which all follow, some Justify, some halt
ingly with just a word here and there and
q S1rft GLANCE ovar the folded hands ~ SEQ
what teacher is doing.
THE FLAG SALUTE.
Then next in the order of the day comes
the flag salute. One of the small dusky
ones brings the flag from its place to the
head OF the circle. where he stands holding
IL proudly.
Henry. you find the red on the flag and
tell US what 1t stands for" says the
Henry sidIes across the room. He finds
the red stripes, stands woOdenly at salute
and makes his speech in a prim way. Then,
with sidelong glance at teacher, he re-
treats to his own place.
Now John. you find The blue and tell
US about it John, n 1,s his turn tiP5 I,"e
Three times he essays II tell about it, but
each time shyness seizes upon him and no
words come. Sc dainty Isabel with her
sleek hair tied with blue ribbons and her
eyes shining Ike stars, marches UP and
salutes and says IN prlm, Sop1-ih iie-gifi-
fashion: BLUE means 10 ne true
Then there is the white. George can
tell us about tho white. know" en-
couraSes the teacher. George marches
sturdily across the room with an I-hct-yoli-
lean air. His salute Is dashiHg one. and
his voice rings out braVely: White means
10 be bright"
The little dusky faces look hewildered.
That isn't what they have been taught. but
IT sounds good, and George is very sure. lis
that what white mears?' asks the teacher
White means to be blight brig IS the reiterated
response. till fnally-"Doesnt the white
mean to be pure? suggests the teacher.
and the dusky ones bob assent again. That
sounds just as good as Georges sugges-
ton. so they adopt that. too. Then Lester.
the stancard-bearer crosses the room and
the classes form in line TO follow the flag
In a march. The girl at the piano strums
spirited march and off they go-left-right-
left-right until the march ends in a kind
OF calisthenic drill in which the children
cap their hands, wave them, toss them
above their heads and caper up and down,
all with that sense of rhythm which is In
herent In the African makeup.
A FUNNY COLLECTION.
A funny collection OF mites they are Some
of them are as scrubby and shiny of face
and neck. as starchy of rufie and skirt,
as ever were the children of white-skinned
mothers waved off to kindergarten others
we'll there is Lengene, who comes from
over on the dumps somewhere. Black
h.
which undoubtedly knows the washrag.
shows like black satin, while his neck and
ears. about which matters are more doubt
full look as though they had been left by
mistake for a while in an ash pile Dirt
shows white against the real brunette.
Leugene is marvellous collection of tat
tiers; wherever there is a hinge-at knees
or at elbows-shreds OF white, of dust color,
OF ali hueS. mingle with the shredS of the
dark blue OF his outermost covering, Civ
ing him the effect OF leaking tatters. But
Leugene - happy. Snow, shine or rain, ne
trudges the distance between his home and
the kindergarten, and once there he makes
the most of the moments. He marches
sings claps and dances with the loose
Inc pickaninny knows. Maggie is another
picturesque bit. Her round brown face is
set In a deep ruffie OF scarlet and white
material Her frock has evidently been
made over from the garment of an ample
mamma, and the baggy scarlet and white
frock is RULED at sleeves. throat and hem
Beneath Is worn bright blue petticoat,
covered with Tufiies at one side almost
touching the floor. at the other practically
nOnexistent Clothes are nothing 10 Mar
garet, however, who waves her slim brown
wrists Enthusiastically from the deep fun
rufties which enhance their skinniness ON
the reverse side OF the picture is Harold.
trim and neat as a little pin. who appears
with delight In his ceuntenance and some
meat for the bear" I'm his hand The
bear Is the penny bank. into which the chill
dren who can drop odd cents 10 help on
the work, and pretty fiction helped
pennies the children feed the bear which
sits atop. The children come from
homes as diversified as they are them
selves. one from snug little cottage
which owns a sideboard and even piano
another from One-room shed which con-
tains a stove and bed. which shelters
-wo whole families. and whose trout door i