The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-25
CNRISHnAS TREE FOR CHINESE
QUAINT CELEBRATION IN TEE
PHIPPS kISDERGARTEN.

4 Of all the thfistmAe ceteDrations N view
York there was not one moro interssting
than that Of forty little Celest ials who had
a real American Christmas tree on ccccm-
Der -. through the kindness Of Henry
Phipps
kindergarten. which has ROW been con-
Quoted for more than four years in China
town through money provided by M
Phipps. Some time ago a system Of
kindergartens was started for the poor
children OF the city. and this one is known
n No. %, Hamilton Mabie is president
OF the system and Miss Mary Waterman
|, il the superint endent
Formerly the kindergarten was al ~
Doysrs street. but the building was burned
down last summer and since that time Tho
little school has been held in the old
Mariners Temple n Oliver and Henry
streets II was here in the bssemen al
the ancient church that the Christmas
celebrafion was given.
For several weeks tho Chinese chilrirsn
have been working for their christuser
tree. Everything hung upon if wassAb
by themselves and some OF the artfcles
show skill.
A few days before the ccIebraai0m III
kindergarten WAS visited by a rspeEt2.
and whiie the youngest ciass Was b1anilv
working ON the calendars Woo
| round red cards. on which the cAik1rue
were sticking Santa Claus heads and 49,
ing q calendar in the centrs-one nktue
Chinese hoy OF about was asked:
Who is this manipulating to tn
little gum backed paster. -
Obi Him SAnte Claus said the bog.
with rounded eyes
Ind who IL Santa Ciaus?-
-Oh. Him big man with red cap and
whisker-
Have you ever seen him before''
Yep
And who are you making the calendar
for?' ~ ~
For my mother. to hang on the door,
The blotte,s were for the fathers.
This was a real Chinese child. with
slanting eyes and quaint little mannesp.
hut being born in America and having
had 70 schooling but from AmssicenA h
was not strange that he should adept ths
ways and msnneriszns OF our own chl,4qp.
Nor do IL Chinese parents objsCt U ~
christian training of thsse chitdrsn..rs
Before the Christmas tree was begun
the teachers laugh. .k-..: :.s s:ss:::ss:r1=s;Ss
and meaning. and dancing around IL ir
their pretty exercises. the boys and grin
sang several httle songs. Dark eyed.
dark skinned. with demure little smiles
from the girls and bursts OF reol fun feosn
the boys. they acted just like any other
children Many OF the children wore
American dress others chung to the native
costumes In native costume the boys
and girls are dressed much alike. Boeh
wear the straight slip or blouse extending
L. L.. h.. ss~~Rs
sers while the girls wear loose ones with
a stripe running around the bottom a.
trimming.
The kinder garten room Is a big. CHEEKY
place. and here the children are divided
into two classes Of which Miss r.. VI. VIII
cox teaches the advanced class and Miss
Florence Dixon the beginners. Here
daily forty pairs Of slantng eyes are bent
upon whatever task their teachers place
before them. II is half work and hak
play. hut through IL all the r,diments a
an American training are sown
In speak ing Of the work Miss Dixon said:
This little school was started by Mr.
Phipp- four years ago. and most all OF our
children are fun biooded Chinese Some
times few Of mixed races come also.
Most Of the children find naturally
bright. and there ~ quaintRees about
the little Chinese that IL particularly IN
terrs,ing AZ first the children spoke
litil. or no English but thev have learned
very rapidly. and they are great on panto-
mime
Parents all over Chinatown are glad
and an xious to send their children hero.
but We can't begin school early in the
morning because all our little scholars
are late risers. and since our rooms
burned down in Doyers street we have
to 20 over to Mott street each day and
bring the children across the car tracks.
The policemen come after school hours
especially to escort Va over, But We are
very anxious to get back in immediate
Chinatown and shall do NO just as soon a
suitable rooms can be found
You would be- surprised TO see how
quickly the children learn. They are
little imitntors at best. but they do not
forget. They are deft at drawing. and
like their water color work. We tcach
them history by pictures. after which the
pictures are pinned TO the walls for
future reference. II h interesting -
times to hear q scholar explaining thcss
scenes to n newcomer.
III any one has ever heard the native
Chinese sing he will note at once the
strident. high pitched native voice. that
i- queer and certainly unmusicai. But
thi- il not true OF these children. They
sing like any other children and have
pretty. musical voices and menortzo
the words very quickly.
We always prefer to call the children
by their chinese names. but some have
b-con. 40 modern now that a small Riri
or hoy of 2 or will insist on being called
-oIne American name. sirh a. Rosie.
Tom or sam Some times the Chinese
mothers come and ask us TO find q pretty
American name for their children and the
children themselves are eager 10 adopt u.
N is a national custom i'm China that q per-
son may change his given name.
fail tn. vrfo ek<, fsufn