The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-11

COGTY
'The Messiah" which was sung at
the auditorium Thursday evening by
the Musical Art society, under the di-
rection of Dean Horace Whitehousc
!, of Washburn college, was very much
enjoyed by many of the musical and
society people of the city.
The solo parts were taken by Nine.
Grace Bruno Marcusson of Chicago,
soprano; Miss Emma Rempfer, head
of the Washburn college department
of music, alto; Mr.. Geo. Deane OF
Kansas City, tenor. and Mr.. Joseph A.
Farrell of Kansas City. basso.
Nine. Grace Bruno Marcusson has
high soprano voice without sharpness
and her notes were sweet and clear.
She was enthusiastically received by
the Topeka audience.
Owing to the fact that the alto solo
ist from Chicago could not come, Miss
Emma Rempfer of Washburn college
appeared in the controlto role and did
it very successfully indeed. The tenor
was not well received as was the
bass, but both renditions were enjoy
able.
They were assisted by a mixed cho-
rus of two hundred and fifty voices
well known Topeka musicians APP
fpeared in both the chorus and the or
chestra. d. V. n.
A message was received today from
Mr.. Frank z. MacLennan, who with
Mrs. MacLennan and their daughter,
Miss Mary MacLennan, left Topeka
early in November for an extended
trip along the Pacific coast, stating
that an operation was necessary to
save the life of Miss Mary MacLennan-
After an attack of tonsilitis Miss Mac
Lehman developed a growth in the
ear and the operation on the masto1G i
bone was necessary. 1t was success I
full. and Miss MacLennan is resting /
easily today. She will remain in Lee
land Stanford University Lane hospital
at San Francisco until about Decem-
Der 20. her physicians say
Mr.. and Mrs John F. McHugh an
nounce the engagement OF their daugh-
ter, Helen, to Mr.. Harold r. Halleck, /
of Holton. The wedding will take /
p-1o' : T. +
In this age nothing surprises us (
very much and things which would /
have made our grandmothers and /
grandfathers gasp with amazement,
we take quite for granted. The col
lege graduate of seventy-five years
ago was one who had had marvellous .
opportunity and schooling of any sort
was a great privilege kindergarten I
was unknown and now
Well. if one of our grandmothers
COulQ nave lOe6kSu. TINS
into the Montessori childrens school,
a new system of education for chill
dren of today. she would have re-
ceived the surprise of her life.
The room itself is quite unlike the
customary school room. Dainty cur
tains. rugs on the floor, white enam-
eled chairs, tables and cabinets adapt
ed to the size of the child, give quite
the impression of a child's room in
the home. Nothing suggests discipline
or enforced study. The idea is in no
way to curb the natural activity of
childhood. but to surround II ana ;
place within its reach such material as
will attract the child and develop it by I
unconscious self effort. +
The :. r., who visited the school !
this morning. arrived promptly at 3, II
expecting to see the opening exercises. :
Much to her surprise this school has I
no opening exercises The children \
came in naturally, removed and put :
away their own wraps, went to the
cabinets where each child has his
drawer and took whatever material in I
terested him most and. seating him ,
self at one of the tables, went to ,
work. =
The teacher who quietly observed
the whole proceeding. explained the /
correct use of any new material any
child may have chosen. l
One thing that Interested the s r.
particularly was q buttoning frame.
This is a frame with buttons on one 7
side and button holes on the other
This makes huttoning ones shoes so 7
fascinating that after a lesson or two :
it is no longer necessary for mother ,
to button shoes in the morning
The teacher explained to the s X Z
that the tactile sense is the child's
strongest sense up to : years of age +
For this reason sand paper figures of
numbers and letters are used which c
the children feel Going through the :
motions of feeling these figures, ,
teaches the motions necessary in max
ing them. One little boy working at ,
the blackboard this morning gave =
shout of joy and, dancing up to the ,
teacher. called out, "Oh, Miss Lind !
say. I made a six without feeling it
The table period where little maids
of 8 and lay the cloths and pour =
the water and serve the crackers is 1
quite as surprising it is entertain
ing. The consideration with which the
children. who have been in the school
longer. treat the newer ones is beau J
tiful. Those who have learned great i
er self control are as lenient as pos +
sib1e in their treatment of those who l
haven't learned yet how to do. They e
q II sit down to eat together and the {
child who for9etS and sits down too /
soon is gently reminded by his little Y
neighbor that I'VE don't sit down till '
all are ready. you know" And the O
thing is that these babies, +
who would resent greatly being cor c
mildly accept the correction from each A
other and make every effort to do the
proper thing.
When all these apparently unusual
lessons were explained to the S. r. n
they seemed to comprise the most c