The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-24
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 The following bright letter from a Montgomery woman as to certain phases of womans work in Montgom- cry is clipped fromsThe Mobile Regis ter:
 '.The report that has seemed diff cult to secure wsa one of the kinder garten movement in Montgomery, and 1t is a matter of congratulation that through co-worker on the kinder garten committee, one earnest and faithful in every duty. Mrs. w. Jerome Chambers, that the charming report appears today. Mrs. Chambers is a member of the Mothers Union or Montgomery, and has always been in- terested in what would help the child. The report made by Miss Dimniick, which will be read with interest by many club women and by all kinder garten workers in the state. appears below:
 SKETCH OF THE KINDER
 GARTEN MOVEMENT IN
 MONTGOMERY.
 In the fall of 1897 Mrs. L. s. Brig ham opened a kindergarten in Mont gomery. That was the first real kin- Sdergarten of which Montgomery could boast there had been previously to that time primary schools. designated as kindergartens, but as reading, writing and 'rithmetic' were taught Tn them, suppose they were really pe- yond the pale of polite society Tn Kin dergarten realms.
 Mrs. Brigham was a bostohian' With her Boston training. determina- : ton and rolling r-r-r'st she reached Montgomery with very clear Vislon as A.. Yo,,aI41 triudarrarten she would establish.
 | have often heard her tell since, in tragic tones, how difficult she found it., to give to her Kindergarten "airy nothings a local babitatlon ana A name" True, she had been told that Montgomery children did not go to Kindergarten. but she reasoned that IL was only because there had been no kindergarten. So with light heart and no misgivfngs, the dear woman furnished, in a reckless fashion, the dantiest of kindergartens. After put ting all in readiness, she inserted an announcement in the papers. and. walt ed, and-waited, for the host or children she had visions of arriving.
 Imagine her feelings when at the end of the first day she was honored by the presence of one young lady or four.
 However, her efforts were not in vain, for in the course of time others came-very. very slowly, 1t is true. but still they came. a,
 Montgomery mothers did not take kindly to the kindergarten idea at first. Of course, the thinking and reading mothers did. hut the. majority thought it wicked to send "babies to school" That 1t was not school, seemed too weighty to be grasped, and the first year Mrs. Brigham taught there. were times when she had t0 go out ana borrow children to keep her kindergarten open.
 To her and to the few brave mothers who dared defy public opinion. we owe the beginning of Kindergarten life in Montgomery.
 During 4her first year in this 4city Mrs Brigham was assisted In her work by Miss Ellie Shepard. now Mrs. Clarence Agee.
 Beginning with her second year. Mrs. Brigham opened in connection with her kindergarten a training class. On the impulse of the moment, never dreaming of continuing the work In years to come, joined that class, and so I have vivid recollections of the second years work of kindergarten in Montgomery.
 TO a very great extent Mrs. Brig ham reaped the fruits of her labors of the previous year, for her old puuffs returned to her, bringing with them all their small relatives.
 Mothers began waking up to the adyantages of Kindergarten, and children from all parts of the town wewe entered. For the first few months it seemed that the procession of children would never cease. We found our accommodations too limited therefore we moved into a larger place. and then, when we began to feel that the kindergarten was really established, and had taken its place In our community, then. with one ac- cord. about two-thirds or our child rem were suddenly dithdrawn--audib ly withdrawn in many cases. for there was much weeping and wailing amongst them at leave-taktng.
 But why?" we asked one another. "has this happened"
 'eWhat is the troubIe?" we wonder ed.
 Ana yet 1t was long time before we found the. real cause for those withdrawals.
 one day, walking down the street, i met a lady who had been teaching in the public schools a great many years. She was much beloved, as only the first teacher of children usually is loved. For many years she had been not only teacher. but friend and adviser in numerous homes. That dav as we walked together, in the manner of all other young kindergart- ners. I expatiated upon the beauty of kindergarten work. When I had fin-