THE KINDERGARTENS.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 287, 3 December 1889, Page 2

THE KINDERGARTENS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Few being found who can find time to defend the weak, may I bo allowed a small space in defence of the Kindergartens from the attack of "J. B." and others who think with him? With many of us the chief aim of the Kindergarten is to receive the libble ones whose mothers are incapable, whether through natural unfitness or pressure of other duties, to attend to the mosb sacred of. all—thab of training their children. If "J. 8." will take the. trouble to visib either of the Kindergartens he may leave it a wisor man when he learns how many women through no fault of their own find ib impossible to look after the wants of their little ones as they wouldgladlydo.andwhowillinglypaya small fee to have them taken care of. Even cases where it is sheer idleness on the parb of themother—to take the lowest view of the case—is ifc wise to see a race of thieves and vagabonds growing up without trying some means to prevent ib ? Mosb of us believe thab habits are formed in early childhood; for this reason some of Auckland's women are taking the parb of the neglected children, and trying to teach them godliness, cleanliness, and industry. -The dinners are only a necessary adjunct. Libble ones cannob go to and fro without care, nor can they fast all day, hence-the need of providing a simple meal. A newspaper might be filled in defence of this work, bub insbead, I kindly invite " J. 8." to visit our institutions, see _ the work being . done, and if he is a father and a Christian, he musb go away convinced 1 of their usefulness. These ladies are doing their work from no false idea's of benovolende; many hours of selfsacrifice are required on their part. If "J. 8." knew the labour it involves, the anxiety to reach the mothers through the children, the need the mothers have of all the sympathy they cart get from those more happily circumstanced, instead of throwing cold water on "their efforts he would urge on all his lady friends the need to help on tho work, and on his gentlemen friends the privilege of supplying the means. I am a strong opponent of indiscrimiri'o charity and think there is a great deal too much of it; but hundreds of our children are growing up in worse than ' heathenish ways. Shall we stand idly by until the devil has done his worat and then .support them

shall we whilst there is hope try to make good citizens of them ? Christians should be Chrisb-like—read 6 John, 27 bo 34; in all His life He seems bo have supplied the nabural wanbs, thab He might create in tbe people a soul want. Let us do like wise. —I am,

T... A.W.K.

[The following letter has been senb us for publication as an advertisement.]

To the Editor " New Zealand Herald."

(Per favour of the Auckland Stab),

Sir, —In your sub-leader of the 9bh inst.' you have made statements which are nob correct. First, you state that Hooper had left fche colony before his retractation was published. Such was nofc the case, as he was seen and spoken to in Auckland by Charles Gledhill, of this town, who was then on a visib bo . your city. Ib would lead your readers bo conclude, from your remarks, that Hooper's apology to me was suppressed. I beg to state ib was nob. On bhe 9fch of September, bwo days after fche apology was given, it was forwarded to Mr Jellicoe ab Wellington, I ab bhe same time urging him to place the same before the House, as I had been charged with contempb, and ,w„3 threatened wilh punishment. Owing to the lateness of tho session, and obher business demanding members' attention, nobbing, was done. On the 12th September I sent two documents to Mr J. Wilson, proprietor of your paper, with a letter calling his attention bo the Parliamentary reporb, afc the sajhe time asking him to insert; the contents of the two documents, which contained conclusive evidence exonerating me from the charges made. This request wa_ not granted. On the ISth September you inserted a local, for Avhich I now thank yon. I should nob have troubled you further upon the subject in question had you acted upon the principles you profess to be guided by, viz., Be jusb and fear nob, etc. I should like to call your attention to fche leader in fche " Wellington Press " of the Ist insfc., which is a striking contrast to yours. Any further attacks you may make upon me either directly or through those here who are smarting for their "wrong-doing, will be treated with silence, as the newspaper is not always the best medium for defending character.— Yours respectfully, John Mynatt.

New Plymouth, November 12.

P. S. The above letter was duly forwarded to the "New Zealand Herald," bub was refused inserbion.