OCR Text |
Show and Miss Brown had some foundation for her work. For forty years, the mission schools had taught not alone Christian morals and doctrine, but geography, history, astronomy, mathematics, needlework and domestic economy. She could take her pupils and train them in music, psychology and methods. The first graduates handled such subjects as these: "Glimpses of Froebel," "Kindergarten Gifts and Occupations," and "Kindergartens the Greatest Educational Need for China." Miss Brown had only five years in which to work out her plans, when she was obliged to come homxC for health reasons, but she had laid her foundations with such remarkable skill, her graduates continued her work. Among the early visitors to FoochoAv were, Miss ]\Iary Porter and her brother, Mr. James Porter of Chicago, who together had an opportunity to study the situation. When they found the W. B. M. P. had really undertaken to furnish for Miss Brown the building she so greatly needed, they electrified the workers at home by giving the Memorial Fund in honor of their mother, Mrs. Eliza Chappell Porter. To match that our women here worked with greatest enthusiasm to raise a like sum for a residence, to bear the name of Susan Merrill Farnum. The next remarkable event was that an accomplished kinder-gartner of California, Miss Mary B. Ledyard, gave us two years at Foochow. She had studied with the best kindergartners in this country and Germany, and had had a wide experience in establishing kindergartens on this Coast, particularly the complete system of Los Angeles. She was one who saw and furthered the coming plan of Union work with the American Methodists and with the Church of England Society. It was Mrs. Bishop McDowell of the Methodist W. F. M. S. who visited Foochow, and returning through San Francisco, suggested in person that the new Training School be Union; as the W. B. M. P. had made a brave start, let them furnish the plant; and the other denominations co-operate. New visions, new work for a new day; and of course the way was not always plain; but always there was some one to catch up the thread, and in spite of rebellion, turmoil, [ 73 ] |