The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-02-03

method which promises more liberty
to the child. There were teachers So
bered by experience and a little du-
bious, but with minds open to con-
viction, and there were gay young
things, just out of college or normal
school, who were ready to turn their
backs on Froebel and the established
order of education in general.
There wee mothers, most of them
very young and very serious, easily
distinguished from the teachers by
their conversation which took a per-
scnal turn.
AS always in Boston. the chief
seats were filed by phalanx OF Bos-
tonians of the old school, men and
women who spend their days in seek
ing wisdom and finding it.
Here and there in contrast were
solitary Italians who had left thei'
fruit stalls to har the music of their
mother tongue. One of them had in
tow refractory Americanized son
who spoke good American SLAMS in
response to his fathers italian, and
saw little reason in having to attend
lecture by a foreigner.
In the wait before the lecture be-
gan, people aired their educational
convictions and analyzed their own
positions. Hopeful teachers assured
each other that Madame Montessori
had surely got hold" OF the some
thing that our school system has
lacked. A mother was heard to de-
clare thankfully, Il really believe it
Is going to be just the thing for Endi-
colt, he is so impatient of restraint
O. authority. but there never was
better child when he is doing some
thing that interests him"
The voice of the pessimist was
raised, though not loudly. "Oh, every
one said the same things about the
kindergarten, and that hasn't worked
any miracles. Al there Is to H.
there are some children who just
went do anything in school guess
know!"
With all its diversity OF opinion,
the audience was one in it's spirit
this assembly had not come for mere
entertainment. o. to be passiyely in
structed. Everyone was waiting with
eagerness for a message 10 be brought
by woman with new vision.
Madame Montessori appeared and
the atmosphere suddenly grew less
academic. There was applause that
seemed genuine welcome as well as
q tribute ard murmur of admira-
ticn went around The audience had
been thinking of the educator, and the
wcman herself took them by surprise
The beautiful lady in black, bowling
so graciously. suggested the prima
donna rather than the exponent of a
method OF education.
She was attended by several men
and women whom the audience dis
posed of vaguely as important peo-
pie. and presently an introduction
was being made by a man who was
said to be someone from Harvard
in Boston. when all is well with a lee
turer and there can be no doubt about
the value of the lecture, someone
from Harva -d' introduces the speaA
er, and the audience breathes freely.
II was no less than Dean Hurlburt
who introduced Madame Montessori.
With a passing reference to Mr.. Sam
uel Mcclure the publisher, who
thereupon made a speech of some
length. There was no self-effacing
modesty about Mr.. Mcclure. lie had
succeeded in making a lecture con
tract with the most interesting woman
in Europe and he was proud of the
fact Moreover. II developed that il
was Mr.. Mcclure who had discovered
Madame Montessori and revealed her
to America through the medium of
McCluro's Magazine, as the back
numbers will testify. There was a
commercial note in Mr.. McClure's
remarks that Jared considerably.
bul the audience was obliged to re-
feet that there is after all a CONNIE =
cial element in the visits of interest
ing Europeans 10 America.
And at last Madame Montessori
spoke. Her voice was what one
might expect-clear and sweet with
bird-like notes that reconciled one to
her speaking in Italian.
Mr. Mcclure had explained that
she would speak in her own language
and that her co-worker. Miss Amy
Gee sc would act as interpreter
Madame Montessori spoke perhaps
two minutes then Miss George who
stood a little back stepped forward
and translated her words into Eng
rsh.
To be honest. one must confess
that the first striking impression OF
the lecture was the difference in voic
es. Madame Montessorfs un-
meaning words were a delight to the
ea-. Miss George gave us clear. 1u-
ent English in a high-pitched rau-
Cous voice that actually hurt. Per
hans il was the temporary effect Of
overwork and strain upon the vocal
chords. but az any rate. Boston heard
and shuddered and one could bu.
wonder II it were a typical contrast
between the Italian and the Amer
fcar voice