Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-12
SHARPENING THE TOOLS OF
LIFE w.
BV DR.. Frank Crane

There have come to my desk three remark
able little books. The three compose set
called "Mind Training for Children" The first
book is entitled, "The Senses and Faculties"
the second, "The Memory" and the third
"Helps in School" They are composed and
published by W. E. Miller, Alhambra Cal.
They are so unusual, practical, clear, and,
above all, interesting, that wish had space
to describe them l must confne myself to
hint or two.
Any one who has to do with children, any
parent or teacher, will find these books a treas
ure.
They show how to train the child in the very
best of ways, the only true way, which is
through play.
Over fifty games and as many exercises are
given, all of which are based on scientific
principles. The object is to develop the senses,
Here is great boon to mothers. Here is
the salvation of the rainy day and the solution
of the children's party.
There is no business in which human beings
are engaged comparable in importance with the
training of children, and any book which &C
tually gets down to telling us just how to do
it is godSend. Such are these little paper
backed pamphlets.
Sense training is the logical beginning of all
education
To succeed in life we need sharp tools, and
these the keen senses
Professor MagnuSSen says: "There is affect
ing our senses what may be called the disease
of civilization. Civilized man does not have
the use of his senses"
Nine grown persons in ten are deficient in
sight, hearing, or the sense of smell.
These faculties can be developed. Effort
and practice can accomplish wonders.
In the matter of hearing, for instance, psyche
logical tests have revealed that the ear of the
avpraoe percOn iS cent Of the
time
One game Mr.. Miller describes is Hide-the
Watch. A watch is concealed somewhere in
the room. The children are admitted; all are
quiet, and it is to be seen who finds the watch
by hearing its tick.
Another is called the Game of Silence. All
the children must be absolutely still, breath
ing quietly. Then at a certain distance a number
of pins are dropped and the one who counts
correctly, wins.
Then there is the Game of Drop It, The
children sit quietly, with their backs to the
table. You have number of articles in your
hand, such as key, coin, pencil, knife, a
book, a marble, and the like, which you drop
upon the table one at time, the children to
tell by the sense of hearing what it is you have
dropped
These little books are crowded with games
and examples by which the eye, the senses of
touch and taste and smell can be Sharpened
There is also an excellent program for men,
DRY training.
The books most needed in this world are real
books for real boys and girls.
And these three books are so amazing that
they seem to me to be works of sheer genius.
Copyright, 1924, by Frank Crane)
-%
"He was a big game hunter, and he had in
serted an advertisement in morning paper
asking if anY man would accompany him to
Central Africa to shoot lions, rhinoS, hippoS,
etc. the said companion to bear half the cost
of the expedition. Late that night, or rather
at o'clock the next morning, his household
was awakened by violent ringing of the
front door bell, and man was admitted who
to put it mildly, appeared to have been wine
ing
"Look here" explained he, 81 read your
'vertiSement this mornin' and | was bound to
come to you"
''Well," queried the hunter. "ItS bit late
to talk business, but will you accompany me-"
accompany your" retorted the visitor. NO.
thir, called to tell you I'd see you hanged