New-York tribune., 1907-11-23
\ USEFUL MEMORIAL.
kindergarten Building Dedicated to
J. D. ArchboIdS Daughter.

In perpetual memory of a gracious and beauti-
full woman. to the children of New York to their
mothers, TO their homes and 10 the welfare ana
honor OF the city an improved citizenship, to use
the words of Hamilton w. Mable the New York
Kindergarten Association yesterday afternoon dedi-
Gated what is said be the best equipped building
for kindergarten work in the country. The build
ing which IS a four story structure of brick and
limestone stands at No. 524 West 42d street. in
the centre of a field of broad usefulness. It was
built by John D. Archbold and presented to the
association as memorial to his daughter, Frances
Dana Archbold Walcott
Ihe auditorium filled when the exercises
We're opened with prayer by the Rev. Wallace
MacNlullen, pastor of the Madison Avenue Episco-
pdI Church Above the platform of the auditorium
lung portrait Of Mrs. Walcott. Mr.. Mabie, presi-
cent OF the association. was chairman.
President Nicholas Murray Butler of Columbia
University said it would be difficult to imagine a
more significant or fitting memorial to good
womans life 1t was a fortress. he said which
would ne occupied and defended by the forces
that make for the spiritual and intellectual well
rare of the city 1t had not been placed as an
ornate addition to n section of the city already
peauufuI' but occupied a strategic position where
II could do the most good for the children of the
Poor' remember" he said. that the influences
10 go out from this building through this city and
NOie, throughout the country, mark one more
sIep on the path Of civic and national growth -
Frceoels kindergarten ideas were et first thouoy+
u Oe the Iheorles Of dreamer. Dr. Butler said
ana nor in harmony with the genius of our coun
- ms misunderstanding has long since passed
away duded the speaker. The kindergarter has
eooiig ne an integral part Of our educational svs-
tehi' me principles which It rests have snrea1
~ ,louehout our entire educational system 50 +ba+
high place" ' at ied'I occupy
.'o iteV MT MacMuen said the building was
,rH oI the fact that children OF povertv
we're SUBJECT to peculiar dangers ..7rris b,,i,5;
"eiPs US 10 remember he said that tbe age bss
0' peeh oenaturaltzed by its commercialisn-tbat
II reefs that neither worth nor roope,, &C. 90 -
'iuch value as souls. This building reminds us
% 'le enid Is the beginning of all social noIiticaI
anu CIVIC forces. In this building we have a rec.
os'ltIoh OF social values and have kent and
0IeHs'hened for us guarantees of the physical and
mental upift OF the race.
inns oullding also recognizes that one Of the
iaIlehaoe rights Of childhood is TO play PIavtIra
iS one OF the stages Of human life and we M
io"seI regard 1t as useless and merely to be toll
Grated. This kindergarten building and its work
are an attempt to restore the children of
'he right to play. of which they robbed by the
yaFdIess tenement and the crowded street MAY all
'ne chhdren planted In these gardens become whole
some and sturdy for the time when they are to be-
come transplanted to active citizenship"
MI Mabe told of the beginnings of the associa-
uon seventeen years ago. Its object" he said
was to spread the educational ideas of Froebel
TO help the little children OF the tenement houses
and broaden and supplement the work of the public
school system. We believed that the kindersarten
was the expression of tho democratic idea in edu-
cation"
MI Mabie also paid a tribute to the work OF
Walter Cook the architect. In addition to being
the headquarters OF the association, the building
has room for three kindergartens