The Vashon Island record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1916-1919, 1917-04-19

| iuItof tHe hW'hlthl hpliHEs, lnf lnoal
protected caves. we're the objects OF
his thought and search.
Poetry came to him earliest Of any
form Of audible appreciation Of the
wonders Of nature, and seeking blind
~ for an explanation Of things beyond
the mind Of man to explain, he devel-
oped superstition and something
which his, 1escendants still cling to as
their most precious heritage from
those old ldylllc times-reyerenc for
the great unknown.
Today we are surrounded by very
complex civilization. and the child TO
live safely and happily must be put In
accord with his surroundings AS the
race has brought itself to its present
development by successive stages, go
the Individual IN way represents
these stages and Is developed by the
same processes.
Poetry, the result of imagination
| hbi't tht uibl tAl'HlBtd IT DHflbhO-
ply; History, the record of what has
been; Science, the practical uses OF
knowledge and art. the enjoyment Of
It all, which is copartner In every.
thing developing from first TO last
all these must be used to educate the
brain of the individual to put him In
touch with his race
Is there any particular where the
undeveloped mind may not be helped
by one little In advance of It In
progress?
Are things getting sordid in this
age of the world? DO you think that
money is everything? Have you lost
sight of the great things of life?
Children are sometimes so overbur.
dened with work that the poetic side
OF their nature Is never developed.
They look at the sunset with uDseeing
eyes. The music of the birds or of the
whispering fir trees falls upon ears
ihpt htbi hpls nI iloHh WI tnt Olil
logs, the ferny dells where in ages
past fairies were wont to dwell and
the sunlight 1lckerlng through leafy
branches upon their pathway, must be
pointed out to them, or remain for
ever unseen
After ages of n0madic life mankind
developed the idea of home and was
led TO lie down in green pastures"
and to rest beside still waters" As
they settled down they adapted them
selves to their environment, and with
brain and hand worked out what was
necessary for their preservation and
happiness.
Another step in civilization was the
making of tools TO aid the hand.
These were first of stone, later of cop
per, then bronze, and later still OF
iron. Then he cut trees or shaped
stones and built himself homes, not
where 1t CHANGED, but where he wlled.
The early requirements of civilized
man were all made at home. His JOY
was in his complete and perfect work,
and with this his time was filed.
Now we have evolved severe divi-
sion of labor. In many factories some
little part is made for years by the
same person. The JOY of the complete
and perfect whole Is not his. He has.
however, more time than his ancestor
who did everything. What shall he do
with this time?
AS the person who is too overbur-
dened should be taught to throw off
some of It and enjoy what he has at
hand to enjoy; so the person who has
abundant leisure should be taught 10
use 1t for his own development. PEG
pie need avocations as well as voca-
tons. and in the education of the
child we should help him to find not
only what he is best fitted to do TO
earn living, but also something that
he can do for the mere joy of doing.
and If possible let it be something
that will give JOY TO others besides
himself
Poetry, music, art, invention, gar
dening, all offer fair fields for the joy
of creation. Let the child find some
| thing that he loves to do, for joy is the
best developer, and for this reason /,
for one, believe in much play as well
as much work for children. JOY is