CHILD CITIZENS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 129, 24 February 1908, Page 8

CHILD CITIZENS.

; A --"children's .citizen, meeting" is- tho latest-thing indention:, public life. A hundred;-boys and/girls, invited from the public- schools at-'BarneSj met recently in Vhandsome public-hall-to hear an address on "Votes and Voting," and to. competo-for •prizes for ~tho best ' answers. to questions about- tho duties of 'district councils and boards, of-guardians.-'-;':.,'. L - ... Hundreds of children)asked for invitations. ■Some."who. 'had'; no ticket's went .to the hall to, beg .admission.. The important preliminary to the" citizens' deliberations was a free tea; , . ... ,' ■' Few speakers at public meetings havo such eager audiences as tho "citizens" of ■Barnes, aged 'from ten to fourteen. They had dozens of answers "on the tips of their .eyery question, and sometimes tho right, ones.. "AVha't'did our- prize most?",'. asked ;the lecturer, ~ "Freedom,!'', cried, tho shrill voice of a girl ,who had "instantly flung up.her hand! ; "Who. ..was- the mail - who.' first ' secured .that: tho- ipeople; should, bo represented- in :the country's; Government?" tho lecturer demapded;,.:',,, I"' The answers; came .like a' fusillade, •' and they were, all '• wrong : "Charles tlio First I" • . ..... ■"Henry 1" "Alfred;tho Grcatl '

; : "Edward'thos-Thirdlll" . . .."Stephen, Langtoii 1,111"' shouted . the citi,zens. Simon do Montfort was left out. ; When tho .lecturer, discussing parliamentary vote's,' told tho girls that they would nover havo them, he was met with tho challenge, "Shan't,we?". - ! "How do, people express their disagreemqnt at a public meeting?" asked tho .speaker. . "Rotten'eggs!" was tho swift reply, and tho citizens, shrieked with laughter.