pletely bridged over-with an older class. I saw some very successful ball games, similar to the simple ones used in the Kindergarten, and like them developing skill of hand and accuracy of eye, while giving full exercise to every part of the body. One afternoon I attended a lecture on the Kindergarten by Mrs. Brooke (formerly Miss Wallach of Miss Lord's school), in which the general aim and spirit of the work was presented in a most convincing manner to the consideration of mothers.

Mme. Michaelis has now removed her training school from Croydon, where she has been so long, and has re-opened theone which Miss Lord formerly had in charge. It is now known as the Froebel Training School of Primary Instruction, Miss Lord's school furnishing the necessary means for practice and observation. Mme. Michaelis invited me to spend an afternoon with her and showed me some excellent normal work prepared for the annual examinations of the London Froebel Society. Mme. Michaelis is as enthusiastic in her work as if she had but just begun it and her students show the impress of her zeal. She was interested in all I could tell her of work in this country, entered heartily into the spirit of some of Miss Poulsson's charming finger plays which I showed her, and took careful notes of all I could tell her of the new movement towards better teaching of color and form. Have you seen her new translation of Froebel's "Letters on the Kindergarten?" She was so kind as to present me with a copy, and though I've yet had no opportunity to read it carefully, it seems most valuable to me from a hasty perusal.

Miss Lychinska was too busy to see strangers," so that I was unable to see her or know of her work, except in the

most general way. Several people told me that Free Kindergartens in London would be an impossibility so long as the Board Schools were open to so young children, the average parent preferring to have his child cared for during the entire day.

In Leipsic, I spent a morning with Frau Dr. Goldschmidt and in company with her visited one of the Volks Kindergartens with which she is connected. The games here were played with much spirit, and I noticed that all joined in the singing, there being no piano upon which they could depend for music.

It was a disappointment not to meet Frau Schrader in Berlin, but she sent me a card of introduction to one of her friends from whom I learned much of the work there. I also visited the Pestalozzi Froebel House, and though the children were absent I could see the arrangement of the rooms, etc. The garden and play-ground were specially interesting, the former having a small house where there were several hens and chickens, while in the flower-beds were growing many different kinds of vegetables evidently planted by the children.

The Baroness von Marenholtz has been too ill to see visitors for many months, but her niece told me of her continued interest in the work, especially in relation to that in our own country. The Kindergartens in Dresden closed the day previous to my arrival there, but I had an opportunity to visit the principal building, that in which the Normal instruction is carried on. It surprised me greatly to find the little general interest in Kindergartens among the people I met, and to learn or rather fail to learn of any in many places. There may have been many private enterprises which work in a quiet way, but my inquiries in

regard to Kindergartens that I could. visit, showed a lack of interest in the subject and often ignorance. Of course this does not apply to those directly engaged in educational work, but I met, unfortunately, few of this class, and these few were teachers of higher grades. In a little German village where I spent some days, I found a "Kinder-schule " where the children played games in the garden whenever the weather permitted, but the exercises within were in the line of object lessons, there being little opportunity afforded for the children to "learn by doing." The teacher, a very intelligent girl, had heard of Froebel but had never seen a Kindergarten.

Mme. Goldschmidt told me that it was difficult to secure funds to carry on her work, and said that the military spirit was so prominent that the idealism of Froebel was nearly crushed out. Comparing the work abroad with that of our own country, it seems to me Froebel's words were prophetic when he declared that it was in America that his ideas were to be worked out. Gratefully acknowledging Germany as the fountainhead of our learning and inspiration, and realizing our own failures and limitations all along the line of our chosen work, I come back filled with a firm belief that our energy and enthusiasm will in time overcome all obstacles, and that the Kindergarten of the future will be nearer the ideal of our great leader and carried out in his spirit.

celebrations of the birthday of Froebel in the dear home country, to write you a brief account of our little "frista" on the same day, though it may seem to you too stale to offer to your readers so long after its celebration. It must be remembered that our limited mail facilities make it impossible to receive or send news to the United States in less than five or six weeks, and frequently the delay is even greater. Ever since we have been able to call our "6 seedling" a Kindergarten it has been our custom to celebrate the birthday of Froebel in a simple manner, and with each passing year I can see a growing interest in the man and his theory of education, on the part of students and professors in this the largest Normal School in the Republic, as well as on the part of the parents and intelligent citizens in general.

For several weeks beforehand the children's interest in the occasion is awakened by stories, telling something of the history of Froebel and what he has done for them; and their plays, both in the circle and with the gifts, are conducted as far as possible with the same end in view, i. e., to inspire them with love and veneration for the name, and to live as he wished them to. It is easy to do this, as, by nature these dear little Spanish-American children are so impressionable, and they are never happier than when told they may build a monument or house for Froebel, or make a frame for his portrait.

The account of the anniversary I will translate from one of the daily local papers of that date, that you may see how it appeared to a "looker-on."

"The children entered the salon marching to the lively music of the piano, each one bearing in his or her hand a bouquet of beautiful flowers,

which they deposited in front of the portraits of Froebel (arranged on low tables at either end of the space allotted for the exercises and already wreathed with vines and flowers), after which, with excellent order they formed a circle. Then the soft, sweet voices were raised in tender melody as they sang a hymn to the grand Founder of the Kindergarten. Very beautiful were the verses (written for the occasion by one of the professors in the school, Sr. Ceballos), and the enthusiasm of the little ones as they sang, showed that they were within their comprehension.

Then three tiny girls recited beautifully in concert, a little poem "a' Froebel," from the pen of the same kind professor, after which they marched out to return-bearing, instead of flowers, tiny envelopes containing a little offering. from each of money, destined for the benefit of the newly-established children's hospital in Buenos Ares, which they dropped in passing, in small baskets placed in front of the portraits, and with what radiant faces they deposited their donations! Again they left the salon to return directly carrying their little chairs, and with great curiosity we waited to see why they came thus incumbered! This was soon gratified, as after forming again in perfect order, three semi-circles in front of one of the assistant teachers, Sta. Yole Zolezzi, they listened with the strictest attention to the story of Froebel's triste" childhood, and his life-time devotion to the cause of education, given in language that they could not fail to understand, and which can not fail to increase their affection for and interest in him, if there is yet room for growth in that sense. When the story was finished the children rising from their seats, sang another song in commemoration of the day, and then returned to their own room, to be dispatched to their homes.

The results of such a celebration show us clearly the benefit of the education received by the children in the Kindergarten. There they are guided to think and to feel-learn to see and appreciate the innumerable beauties of nature, and

the sublime grandeur of the universe, and the little hearts are filled with beautiful ideas which will bring only good results in the future. In corroboration of this, we need only refer to the work of charity of this day, not unconsciously done, but with a complete understanding of its object, and with glad hearts contributing their mite* to the good cause.

The education of the highest and most delicate sentiments of the human soul must begin very early in life, if their roots are to strike deeply and have their proper effect upon the mature character. We felicitate the directress and the assistant teachers upon the success of their happy idea, and the Normal School in the possession of such an element of happiness and well-being for the future."

The above is an almost literal translation of the article mentioned, which will convince you that there are at least some in our midst with whom "seeing is believing," and who with appreciative eyes and hearts have penetrated beneath the surface, which is so frequently the only part visible to those who have not given especial study to the system.

MRS. S. C. ECCLESTON. Esauela Normal, Parona, Entre Reios, Arg. Rep.

LOUISVILLE, KY.-Three years ago there was but one Kindergarten in Louisville; to-day there are ten, all of which are well supported, well attended and flourishing. There are three or four more starting this year. Flattering as has been the success of the past two years to those who have labored so earnestly to place them on a firm footing, it is likely that this year's results will far surpass all previous ones. The Louisville Free Kindergarten Association, although one of the youngest in the country, is turning out some of the strongest

The offering amounted to more than fifty Argentine dollars.

of workers in the field. The central thought in their work is "creativeness," which is, of course, the deepest idea in Froebel's theory.

COLUMBUS, O.-Last year there were three Kindergartens in this city with a training class of eight. This Fall there are seven schools and a training class of twenty-eight, the work having almost trebled in a year. Mrs. Hattie Hopkins superintends the work, besides having the immediate management of one of the principal Kindergartens. She writes: "Good reports from other places give us new energy to push this the grandest of work for not only the child, but the future of our land, as we see in it the solving of not only the temperance question, but all other great problems that arise in the future of our country."

TACOMA.-Gross Bros. two leading dry-goods men in Tacoma, Wash., open in their home city the first free Kindergarten, Oct. 1st. This philanthropic movement must open the eyes of the townsmen and undoubtedly will make the way for excellent work. There is promise of a a Froebel Society being formed there.

KINDERGARTENING is steadily on the increase in the South. In Memphis, Miss Ella M. Wheatley opens a school this Fall, with the intention of gradually spreading the institution into a training school as the demand grows for it. Southern women are taking a deeper interest in the world's work, year by year, and when the spirit of devotion to a cause, which is their chief characteristic, takes hold of this beautiful calling of child-culture, we may look for wonderful developments among the Southern sisters.

THE Colorado Kindergarten Normal School enters upon its second year as a free institution. This school is regularly incorporated and is under the direction of educational people. It aims to provide every possible advantage to those wishing to study the Froebel system of Child Culture, and also to provide competent Kindergartners for Colorado and adjoining States and Territories. Its design is further, to make the Kindergarten felt as an educational power, and by conscientious and faithful labor to remove the prejudices too often justly felt against Kindergarten instruction. The large expense of maintaining the work, including support of auxiliary Kindergartens, engagement of a faculty, etc., is met by persons of means interested in educational philanthropy. It is the purpose of all connected with the institution to make it thorough in every respect. The widespread interest in this subject throughout this portion of the West is illustrated by the fact that there have been already seventy-five applicants for admission. Among those enrolled, are students from Kansas, Wyoming, Arizona and all the principal cities of Colorado.

Miss L. E. Spencer, superintendent of the work, has had thorough preparation as a Kindergartner, and the Colorado educational public have great confidence in the work undertaken.

CALIFORNIA.After a vacation of two months the California Froebel Society again met Friday, August 7, at 64 Silver street, San Francisco.

Many interesting facts were given regarding the re-opening of the old, and the establishment of new Kindergartens.

Twenty-six of the forty graduates of the California Kindergarten Training

Kindergarten now accommodating fifty children. Several churches contribute to the support of the work. This large school is the result of a small summer Kindergarten held in Mrs. Bourland's home two years ago.

JAPAN. Miss Annie L. Howe, of Kobe, Japan, writes of having graduated ten women after a two years' course in the Kindergarten training school. The work is very promising there and is proving the great fact that the Christlike gospel of the Kindergarten is to do much in redeeming the nations.

BOOK NOTES.

Three Booklets : How the Rose found the King's Daughter," by Maude Menefee (40 cts. ); "Anton and Antoine," by Rosalie Kaufman (50 cts. ); "Mother Goose's Christmas Party," by Abby Morton Diaz (50cts. ); published by Searle & Gorton, Chicago.

The first contains three dainty stories set in poetic prose, full of feeling and of undoubted merit. There is purity in the thought and style, and a height of ideal that is seldom wrought into the simple child story. As an example of child literature this booklet is the truest thing that has lately come to our table. The writer is full of childlike wonderment and sweet reasoning, touching even the older heart.

The second is a charming semi-human picture of ant life, scientifically true yet quaintly romantic. It has quite caught the Kindergarten idea of presenting facts clothed in interesting garb.

The third is such a book as every one interested in child entertainments is seek ing. It is full of sparkle and fun and set in entirety and ready for adaptation.