New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-17
GIOVANNI, AGED THREE,
A PROUD DRUM MAJOR
italian Lad Leads 700 Pupils to
New Home of ChiIdren'S
Aid Society.
GIVES CAPTAIN LESSON
officer Of Rifle Guards Failed
to Make Proper Salute
Old Teacher Stirred as
She Says Goodby.

The proudest boy in all New York yes
terday was Giovanni the Youngest pupil
in the Children's Aid Society's Italian
school With all the dignity Of his three
years and ten months, Giovanni. sternly
Suppressing his dimples led the seven hun
dred pupils of that school in their march
from the old building at No l55 Worth
street, to the new one, which stands at
Hester and Elizabeth streets.
Oh, he was on his job Giovanni was
And if be hadn't been. there was his
mother. with 500 or 600 other Italian
mothers and fathers, painting along on the
sidewalk. with Giovanni's baby sister in
her arms. calling proudly TO Giovanni:
MAKE a good soldier. now! Make
good soldier"
But Giovanni didn't need the admoni-
ton Neither did Michele. aged four years
and one month. who marched by Clio
vanni's side, and neither did any Of the
rest of the seven hundred. Why, when
Captain Luigi Corriglia of the Italian
Rifle Guards, who came, one hundred
strong. to help the police look out for the
seven hundred marching children, saluted
Giovanni. the child noted instantly that
he brought his hand too far to the left
Of his forehead
This is the way" said Giovanni, and
bringing his hand straight to the front
he did IL in the correct manner
Old and inconvenient as the Worth
street building is. Mrs. Louisa Weygandt
felt some emotion on leaving il. and she
wasn't the only one.
Here's where I've taught. in this build
ing or one not a block away. for thirty
three years, from the time when the Five
Points neighborhood was far from a safe
place to be in nights" she said, as she
went through the school saying goodby to
the old rooms And as 1.-THE > a and 3
girls left the building they sang to the
tune of the Soldiers Farewell" Fare
well Italian School"
There was huge excitement in the neigh
hood as the procession started off. Many
of the people there have been Mrs Wey-
gandt's pupils in the old school one time
or another The letter carrier came trot-
ting up. and-"Can't ! march with YOU
Mrs. Weygandt" he asked.
You know Uncle Sam won't let you
she told him.
I'll march a block, anyhow" he said,
and he did.
Captain Luigi. Of the guards, beamed
with paternal pride as he stationed his
men on the TANKS Of the procession, for
iidn't he go to Mrs. Weygandt's school
when ne was only four years old? Yes.
md when h, married he sent his little
laughter there, and now his granddaugh-
en- a kindergarten pupil. was marching
n that very procession.
Every child in line carried a small
American flag. and along with the Stars
md Stripes al the head the Italian colors
uttered. Mrs. Weygandt Matthew p.
ADAMS superintendent of schools for the
~hidrens Aid Society, and Delano
Weeks, trustee, led the way. and after
them Giovanni and Michele. The boys
oand from Public School 12l made the
music. The route lay from No. l55 Worth
street 10 Park street, and straight along
Hester street to the new school. Innu-
merable parents. babies in arms accom-
panied them all the way. and as many as
could be allowed swarmed inside to see
the building.
A nine-story building il is, counting the
roof, on which, besides the roof garden,
is an open-air classroom for the frail
children, and a diet kitchen. on the
eighth floor is Mrs. Weygandt's home
and administration rooms, and on the
seventh floor the trade school and
pretty model fat, where the girls will
learn housekeeping.
on the sixth. fifth and fourth floors are
big airy classrooms. The third is kinder
garten floor and the second has an i'm
mense gym" where on Friday nights
he neighborhood will dance; a billiard
room for the children's fathers and big
brothers and a room where they can read
and smoke.
On the first floor is the big assembly
room, with a stage for plays and a place
for moving pictures. Here also is the
dental clinic. and here the day nursery
and the most modern of kitchenettes.
The building is the gift Of Arthur Cur
tiss James and his mother. Mrs. d. Willis
James. and is designed to be not merely
a school but real social centre.