Shy as squirrels and wild as hawks, for several days they wandered around in open-eyed and lawless wonder. They gradually came under the refining influences around them and now are like the rest in behavior and intelligence.

The principal of Bethesda Kindergarten was astonished on visiting the Art Institute one day, to find two of her little Italians, brothers, wandering around hand in hand. On inquiry she found that this was not their first visit, and that they were admitted almost any day, as they were quiet and orderly, though they had nearly always to be sent to wash their hands and faces, before appearing on the upper floors.

A favorite

picture, before which they would sit speechless for a half hour at a time, represented a child playing in some shavings, and watching an old man, evidently a grandfather and a carpenter. After a morning spent in the Kindergarten, the street was not altogether a satisfying place, and the quiet and refinement of the picture galleries was more keenly appreciated. A love of the good and beautiful is implanted in all these childish souls, by the wise hand of the Gardener, and it often needs only the gentle influence of the Kindergarten to make it bud and grow, and become often a powerful factor in the whole of a life.Mary C. May, Chicago.

WE Kindergartners had such a delightful time together last year in attending the N. E. A., that we are going to try it over again. All who anticipate going with us to Saratoga, please address Editors KINDERGARTEN MAGAZINE, 277 Madison Street, Chicago. We think all will wish to go via Niagara. The Wabash is our line. See announcements on another page.

FROEBEL'S BIRTHDAY.--On the 21st of April the Kindergartens of the three Kindergarten Associations of Chicago met at Plymouth Church to commemorate the one hundred and tenth birthday of Friedrich Froebel. It was an informal gathering-marches, Kindergarten songs. games, and a few impromptu speeches,

Frau Froebel's picture in a frame stood on a table beside the bust of Froebel. It was a joyous meeting and the harmony and good-will felt by all was the spirit Froebel would have all the world feel and demonstrate.

THE Indianapolis Froebel Club gave a reception in honor of the celebration of the birthday of Froebel, Friday, April 22.

MISS S. B. GOODMAN, superintendent of the public school Kindergartens, in Saginaw, Mich, writes: "We began in a small way in the middle of the year, but next year we expect to open Kindergartens in at least four of the wards of the city, and enlarge our training class. There is a good deal of kindly feeling toward the work and considerable intelligence on the subject here. We hope to make it a success."

A SERIES of lectures has just been given by the Chicago Kindergarten College on Dante, the program consisted of ten lectures covering five days and was enjoyed by a large audience.

THE N. E. A. CONVENTION AT SARATOGA.

Our friends who went to Toronto last year via the Great Wabash Line will be glad to know that this road has a line to Saratoga via Niagara Falls and the Hoosac Tunnel Route, and another by the way of Kingston, Ont., the St. Lawrence river and Lakes George and Champlain. Imagination can hardly picture a more desirable trip; it will be the event of a life-time; and the low rate of fare puts it within the reach of every teacher. You owe it to yourself, after months of confinement in the schoolroom, to take advantage of this restful, health-renewing excursion.

For further particulars, call on or address, F. A. Palmer, Asst. Genl. Pass. Agent, or N. C. Keeran, C. P. & T. A., 201 Clark street, Chicago.

VOL. IV.

NO. X.

One of the voices of to-day which insists upon a hearing, says: "Take care of the child!" There is a powerful and increasing devotion to the best interests of childhood, which is of comparatively recent date.

As one result of this awakening, Kindergartens have grown marvelously in excellence and in numbers, but the demand for Kindergartners exceed the supply, and this has led to, at least, two serious evils which call loudly for

a cure.

implied in this that the child must some day be seized by the old method of instruction which would surely make her unhappy and possibly cultivate a distaste for learning. This woman was indeed wise to value happiness, but what does. that "learn anything" mean? Reading, writing and arithmetic, still?

Is it not learning something to be acquiring accurate habits of observation and truthful expression; to be taught how to think, to feel, and to do; to gain self-control, and to strengthen the will

Second. The presence of the immature and untrained Kindergartner which directly tends to continue the first evil, if not to actually render the Kindergarten unpopular or dangerous.

The time when the Kindergarten is regarded merely as "a play-school" a play-school" for amusement and fancy-work should be in the past.

Yet only last week, a mother said to me,--and she felt that her remark rested upon the foundation stones of liberality and understanding-"I don't care to have my little daughter learn anything, she is happy in the Kindergarten." She

child is the universe'; in him lies hidden all the potentiality of God." (Josephine C. Locke.)

We need to change our idea of a good Kindergarten; to take the higher view which will broaden our horizon; to do our share in moulding the public sentiment; and to more heartily sympathize and co-operate with the genuine Kindergartner, that she may not falter because of a lack of appreciation.

So surely as we do this the noble young woman will catch the inspiration, and rise to meet the occasion!

II. Think of the army of poorly qualified Kindergartners who are teaching "It is the hasty and superficial· student who is conceited, presumptuous and rash. The master is humble, unassuming and cautious. Long ago it was thought that any one could be a minister. A son who showed no particular gift was urged to choose that profession. Now this is changed. The churchgoing public demands the presence of the brightest intellect, the warmest heart, and the clearest spiritual insight, in the pulpit. So it must be in the Kindergarten. We need all these gifts, and one of the first steps toward the possession of them is the demand for them, from the people in general, and parents in particular.

It is a fact that many a would-be teacher, who had not the education to pass the examinations, nor the health to endure the arduous duties of the Public School has knocked at the door of the Kindergarten with the idea that the training was short, the hours only three per day, the work easy, and that any one could teach babies. Look at such qualifications and motives in the pure light of such words as these from our Emerson :

"Vice and virtue emit a breath at every moment."

"It does not so much matter what you study as with whom you study."

"How can I hear what you say when what you are is thundering in my ears

Or, "All the college professors shall exert less influence than the child's first teacher."

"Long before the majority of mothers are conscious of the fact, the child's ideas of life, of right, of duty, of pleasure, of usefulness are receiving a bent which all the education of schools and colleges can not uproot or replace with that which is either better or worse."

"A bad character goes beyond the hand and arm."

"A bad will is worse than bad language in its effect upon the child."

Many believe that, despite heredity, any child will do well if allowed to develop under good conditions. The tendency of the young tree is upright into the air, if no obstruction is placed in its way. So of the young child, the prevailing energy is for good if we are careful of his early environment.

Two points come up in the search for better conditions of Kindergarten and Kindergartner:

1. Thorough training, which includes an entrance examination, a trial of the work, and health of applicant.

2. Salary for the Kindergartner.

Training and apprenticeship are becoming more and more necessary in every department of labor. Even in the insane hospital, the need of trained attendants is recognized so that in connection with some of the hospitals they have a school for that purpose.

The lovers of little children must be keenly alive to the need of the highest culture for her who is to be the guardian.