"MRS. MOTHERLEY'S LUCK."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1252, 7 October 1911, Page 14

"MRS. MOTHERLEY'S LUCK."

Sir,—l ehould like to say a few words with regard to the principles involved in the production of. a play performed at the Opera House. Tho object of tho play is to raise funds for tho JFree Kindergartens, established j somo few years ago in this city, and tho play has been written by one who is considered an educational expert. That being so, is not tho position rather an illogical one? A truo kindergarten is a place wher« children are taught to bo perfectly natural and simple. Tho chief aim of those training children should be, in my opinion, to keep them simple and free from artificiality for as long as. it is possible. Certainly late hours, public applause, fantastic dress, etc., should be avoided. Now, in this play there are some thirty or forty children of a very tender age, who for threo or four nights are kept up to a, very late hour; many of them are

dressed in a way, even though the effect is charming, that must expose them to great danger from cold, somo of them are kept for a considerable tiino in a position that must bo positively painful, their little, brains (which should bo at rest at that hour) aid kept active in trying to remember the intricacies of the dances; they make acquaintance with all artificial contrivances of a theatre, thus completely destroying the sweet simplicity of childhood, and, in fact, tho whole 'atmosphere is one of artificiality, and can do nothing but harm to those children taking part in it. They probably like it-children liko many things not good for them, and the tendency of the age is, unfortunately, to do away with tho childish simplicity and to bring children forward far too soon. But surely an educationist who has, or ought to have, the true welfare of all children at heart should bo able to find somo other method of raising funds to help a children's cause than ono which tends to injure other children morally and physically Of tho merits of the play, and tho many hours that must have been spent in rehearsing to attain to such perfection as was shown by the children, I will say nothing. I just wish to draw attention to what I consider is a wrong and illogical position.—T am, etc., & EEAI MOTHER.