" THE CRY OF THE CHILDREN."

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9307, 7 January 1896, Page 6

" THE CRY OF THE CHILDREN."

Last evening at the Oddfellows' Hall those who were present at Miss Freeman's lecture enjoyed an intellectual treat of tho highest possible order. Miss Freeman is not only an accomplished lecturess, but also an elocutionist of the highest order. Anyone who heard Miss Freeman give that moat pathetic of recitations " The Cry of the Children," by Mrs Browning, must have recognised the pathos and dramatic power with which it was declaimed. The lecture itself was wonderfully clever, and full of material for deep and serious thought on the subject of the responsibility of parents in the care of their families. Miss Freeman holds strong views—and has the courage of her opinions—as to the absolute necessity of the education of girls in the duties and responsibilities of marriage. Miss Freeman contended for the claim lof the unborn children to a healthy I parentage, to a parentage which was ! without physical and mental disability. The too eager pursuit of pleasure in the shape of sports of all kinds was referred to !by Miss Freeman as a mistake; not that she objected,to physical education, on the contrary she advocated it, but reprehended it being made the be-all and end-all of the young man's ambition. Miss Freeman referred to the want of parental control noticeable in colonial life. " The children," said she, •* bring np the parents in the colonies, not the parents the children." The necessity for technical education as a relief from so much mental work was insisted on, and the kindergarten system highly praised. Miss Freeman, it may be noted, is an enthusiastic supporter of the giving of religions instruction in onr State schools, though by the way, she failed to indicate the machinery by which the " end she so much desired was to be brought about." During the lecture Miss Freeman gave several recitations with much elocutionary power, particularly the one in which reference has already been made. The audience, which was* an excellent one, listened witn the greatest possible attention, and the lecture throughout was one which afforded the g eateat possible pleasure and gratification to those present.