The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-14
NORTH SIDE NEWS
Troubles of Japanese Children
in Sunday Schools.
Must Carry Babies ON Their
Backs.
GET SHOES MIXED.
Missionary From Toxic Ad-
dresses Y. P. A.
Assembly Closes MOnday-Has
Been Successful.
MIXED.

One of the features of this mornings
program of the Young Peoples ALI
ence and Womens Missionary society
which is in session at Garfield park
was an address on Japanese children
delivered by Miss Susan Bauerindend
returned missionary from Japan. who is
attending the convention Although her
talk was given for the children at the
pavilion in the east part of the park,
many grown ups listened with in
Aerest as her remarks were very in
structive. She told of the school life
of the Japanese children and how they
carried their baby brothers or sisters
when they attended Sunday school
Among other things the speaker said:
ssIn Toxic school begins September and
lasts until July Is. The hours are from
8 a. m. until 1 p. M The first three
years the pupils learn little else be-
sides reading and writing the difficult
Japanese alpha bet. However, every one,
especially the boys. are anxious to learn
10 write and read as it is considered
o. great disgrace for young japanese
not to be able to do so.
School attendance is compulsory for
@hildren over years and under A.
1.-THE children are also anxious to
attend our Sunday schools, but their
parents wish them to stay at home on
Khe Sabbath and help them take care
of the smaller children. However, some
of the parents compromise by allow
anE the oder cn1IQT0n Inc llIl1O
ones to Sunday school strapped on their
back.
'This is a great inconvenience. espec-
daily when the little ones cry have
heard that japanese children DO not
cry very much but think that they
cry more than American babies.
when they do so at Sunday school
the older boys and girls on whose backs
their own bodies. This shakes the in
fants and some times quiets them.
Another difficulty in Sunday schoo!
work is caused by Japanese custom OF
slipping off their street shoes when en-
tering a house and then wearing a
straw sandal. The shoes look so much
alike than the first ones out often get
the wrong shoes. The older people do
this purposely, as they generally get
a better shoe than their own. On this
account at Christmas time, we have
each of the congregation wrap mis- own
slipper in a newspaper and place II
under his bench.
However, the greater part of our
work is with the children. We have
no 'grownups' IN the Sunday school,
The ages run from between 4 and IA.
You would be surprised how well they
remember the hard names in the Old
Testament after once hearing them
They also memorize hymns readily. |
We have no hymn books for the chill |
dren, but write them in Japanese on
a chart and let the pupils learn them.
Generally we get boy who can
write well to prepare these charts. The
writing is done with India ink. a
stick of this solid ink is rubbed on a
stone on which water has been pour
ed. An expert writer does not use a
table but Folds the paper in his hands
and writes on it..
. Miss Bauerinfiend illustrated how this
was done She also sang Jesus Loves
Me. This Know" in Japanese.
The assembly closes Monday. It is
expected that about 1000 people will
be at the park tomorrow. The meeting
of the Y. P. A, the eighteenth annual
assembly, is considered one of the most
successful in the history of the organi-
ration.
Frank ]. Snyder. street commissioner,
md his assistant. Mr. Miller, have done
! good service in cutting down the
weeds on the North side Lots which
have been unsightly from high weeds
have been made fairly attractive by
mis- work In speaking of the matter
Mt. Snyder said: II wish it understood
hat I make no distinction in between
sither side of the river in my work.
roll for North Topeka as the pay
roII had been made out separate former
~ but call it all the Topeka payroll
North Side Y. p. A.
The program for this evening. to-
and Monday is as follows:
7:45-Praise service; male quar-
tette.
g. Hefnmiller, D. D.
SUNDAY MORNING
500 a. m.-Sunrise meeting, Rev.