The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-09-16
BOYS AND GIRLS OF SOUTH
AMERICA

Is W any WOnueT Inat Tue DOyS |
and girls Of the South American re-
publics want to study English, when
This language opens up so many
new avenues Of life which lead TO
success?
Some think that these children
are content with their language and
habits Of life. This is quite as un-
true with them as IL is with our
boys and girls of Ken
lucky who aspire TO the better
things OF life.
With this correction Of the pre-
vailing thought let us lead you into
one OF our mission schools where
English is especially taught. We
have limited that these young peo-
pie came for English alone.
They often, the more prejudiced,
come with their minds fully made
up to learn nothing of the religion
of the yankee Protestants." IL is
exceedingly amusing TO observe
them as they come to the first de-
Notional exercises. They have been
particularly instructed by their
priests to refrain from hearing the
Scriptures read, the songs sung and
the prayers offered and in order to
be loyal TO their priests they have
been known TO hold their ears shut
While the exercises were in prog
ress. This in time becomes tire
some and little by little they open
their stopped ears and hear for the
first time the things that do not
sound so very differently from their
accustomed worship. Here Is
where they begin TO admire the lives
and teachings of the missionaries
and begin TO doubt the truthfulness
and sincerity Of the erroneous
priestly teachings.
IL is always necessary for both
teacher and pupil to have something
in common before results Of deslr-
able character shall be brought to
pass.
There is no better way to get on
common ground than through true
religion.
This first obstacle being over
come. the interest in the English
language is increasing proportion
a,ely. Il is simply remarkable how
rapidly the average girl or boy, borr
Of Spanish or French parentaeH
FORCES ahead in English. The pupl
is taught in class and out of class
at play and at the table while par
taking of the four meals each day
We will remember that the Spanish
speaking people excel our Ameri'
can Young as we'll as old people II
politeness toward the foreigners o.
those of their own, acquiring
Language other than theirs. A
these children are taught the name
of the different articles on the Ia
BILE and the way to ask for them
and il is but a short time till the,
are able to help themselves by Tn
use Of English.
In order TO enforce the Englisi
for which they come, it is neces
sary TO correct and sometimes to al
minister punishment for speakin
SPANISH at the table and at pla!
This is done in different ways
sometimes by tasks Of commlttln
English poetry, writing in Englls
a page of a text book a dozen
more times, depending upon the OF
Tense: or in the task OF raisin
nineteen to the nineteenth powe
or some such exercise that woul
benefit in more ways than one.
IL is not an unusual thing fo
these young people to get a reason
able command of the English laI
guage after being in this kind
training a period OF three months.
The young men are ambitious
enter the commercial world. re
this, they must have the Englisl
They are as a rule bright and al
in language: but generally slo
, in mathematics and the sciences.
, The girls are looking forward
! marrying English or American hu'
bands. For this, they must be az
complished in the English ianguae
accompanied by the accomplish
ments of the finer arts of mus
and painting. We are sure SON
of our boy acquaintance woul
much admire the natural beaui
! that these girls possess. They al
looking for you or your equals.
In our next letter we shall tie
YOU about some of the customs
our South American cousins Whic