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The Training School

Entered March 14, 1904, at Vineland,

+» a8 second-class matter,

under act of mn en 2 July 16, 1894.

No. 35. JANUARY 1907.

25e. per Annum.

CHRISTMAS TIME.

The parents of our children and many of our other friends have ex- pressed a wish to hear a fuller account of our doings at Christmas time than is found in letters, programs, ete. It is a pleasure to describe what we do for it is often said: ‘If only ———’s mother could see him now,” or ‘‘if the parents could) only look in on this seene,”’ ete.

SANTA’S LETTERS.

The Christmas leaven really began to work right after Thanksgiving Day. From then on the ery was ‘‘How many days yet until Christmas?”

About the tenth of December the letter writing began. Every child who was able to do so wrote a letter to Santa Claus telling him just what he would like to have in his stocking on Christmas morning. Those who eould not write themselves told either their companions or their teachers, and for those who were unable to tell, the at- tendant wrote what seemed most suit- able. In this way every child in the school had a note sent to Santa.

These notes were all carefully cheek- ed off and the contents noted on the ehildren’s individual ‘‘eards’* which are kept from year to year, so that Santa will be sure not to give a child the same kind of a present every year: forit must be remembered that our children do not grow up very rapidly. Many of these. *‘letters’™ were sent home, and some letters of children who have no parents were sent by request to other friends of the School and the

returns were most generous.

THE TREES.

About the twentieth the big farm wagons went out after the greens and trees. What grown up ean feel the thrill and joy that makes a little child jump and scream with pleasure at the sight of the great pile of Christmas green. Whata foretaste it is of hap- piness to come!

When the wagons were unloaded the carpenters came to set up the trees. As each was finished from some child would come: ‘*Oo-oo0, that’s for Robi- son’’ or ‘*That’s for our cottage, isn’t it fine?”’

Then came the trimming of the cot- tages. Great garlands and wreaths were made up and strung from corner to corner and post to post. Wreaths were made for the windows and every where were the symbols of everlasting life. As each room was completed there might be heard some such ex- pression as: ‘*Won’t Santa think this

is fine when he sees it?”

THE BOXES

Did you ever get a “box from home?” If you did not you have missed one of the greatest joys of life. In response to the ‘*Santa’’ letters packages began arriving about Tues- day. They came large and small, wood and pastehoard, wrapped, mailed and sealed. Each package was opened checked with the list whieh accom pan- ied it, part of the contents (when toys, ete.) put back for the child to unpack himself. In many we found some ex- tra thing with a loving little note, say ing: **These are for some other little

child who has no pare nts.”°

N ' '

SS Anette Seine ee

THE TRAINING SCHOOL

Many parents and friends sent money and we purchased presents for the children’s stockings or made up boxes containing nuts, wafers, fruits, ete. as requested, telling the children that the home folks had provided for these things.

SUNDAY SERVICES.

The services were very beautiful this year and were thoroly appreciated by the children. Coming after a week of rush and hurry, Sunday was indeed a day of rest for all. The Christmas spirit was inthe air and ‘‘Happy Christmas Day’ and ‘Joy to the World”’ were sung most heartily.

The Program was as follows:

Voluntary. Choral “The Glory.” The Children’s Prayer. Carol “Happy Christmas Day.” Scripture Reading THE SUPERINTENDENT. Hymn “Joy tothe World.” Remarks PRESIDENT BAKER. Cornet Quartette. The Christmas Story THE SUPERINTENDENT. Anthem ‘Come Sound His Praise

Abroad” Remarks MR. DAVIDSON. Vocal Solo C. EMERSON NASH. Songs THE KINDERGARTEN.

Hymn “Lead us Heavenly Father.” The Lord’s Prayer. The Doxology. Benediction. “Grant Us Thy Peace.”

CHRISTMAS EVE.

This is the greatest party of the year. It is the time when Santa Claus himself appears and spends a little while with us. This year we fixed up an immense fireplace, so large that even Santa Claus with his great pack- age on his back was able to get down without difficulty.

The children assembled at seven- thirty, each one having a stocking which was later hung in the big assembly-room where there is plenty of space for 350 stockings to hang. Each hook had a child’s name so that

Santa would make no mistake and it was rather a pathetic sight to see all of these stockings hanging side by side, flat and empty, in mute appeal to the bounty of the world.

Soon a jingle was heard outside and all thought was given to the shouting and ringing going on overhead. Santa seemed to be in trouble for he kept asking for the chimney. The curtain was raised on the stage and as the children saw the massive chimney, directions were shouted to Santa in excited voices of all tones and pitches. At last he called ‘‘Ha! Here it is.’’ and in a moment he came jumping down the chimney with a shout and a laugh and a Merry Christmas for everybody. Around his neck was a pair of rubber boots for Warren and in his bag were toys, dolls, balls. horns, ete. untill it seemed as tho it would burst. Then he told of all of the other things he had—too many to carry in one load—and that later when all were in bed he would return and fill the stockings.

Then he turned to the fire-place and lo—it was piled high with candy boxes, one for each one in the Hall.

CHRISTMAS.

About 4.30 on Christmas morning the sound of musie was heard, gradually coming nearer and nearer. Some of the band boys were out giving their serenade. The music was very pretty and no one seemed to mind being awakened.

The children were all excited. Breakfast was only half eaten—the morning work was rushed thru and then—oh how the minutes did d-r-a-g until 10 o’cloek. Then off to the Hall. Christmas time means a great deal of very hard work indeed. It means long hours and tired people, but it is all made up an hundred fold by the sight of the children entering the hall on Christmas morning. There hang the stockings with all sorts of lumps and bumps inthem aud on the floor

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THE TRAINING SCHOOL

The Training School.

Published monthly by the New Jersey Training School for Feeble-Minded Girls and Boys, Vineland, N. J. We wish this paper to be self-supporting. Send sub- scriptions (25c. per annum) to E. R. Johnstone, Superintendent.

The School was founded and incor- porated as a public charitable institu- tion in 1888 by a number ofthe philan- thropic citizens ofthe State. It is built upon the cottage plan, sothat close class- ification is possible, and is intended to give care and training to those children whose mental condition prevents their attending the public schools.

JANUARY 1907.

A blue mark here? Please renew your subseription.

The Training School sends to all of its friends sincerest wishes for a very Happy, Prosperous and Satisfactory New Year

The Announcements of our Vineland Summer Sehool for Teachers for 1907 will be ready in about two weeks. We shal be glad to send them to any one interested.

Mr. Howard Branson, of Vineland, gave a pretty and very interesting stereopticon entertainment to the children.

The views were particularly fine and the children enjoyed the whole even- ing thoroly. That fun, laughter and beauty may well go together was ex- emplified thruout the entertainment.

After the children were safely in bed there was held a social for the employes in Garrison Hall. A num- ber remained up to see the New Year. in.

and hanging from the hooks are pack- ages too large to go in a stocking. On the platform were a lot of the very large things—some express wagons and sleds, some rocking and wheeled horses, some Teddy bears, and even a live goat for Keller Cottage, with his neck and tail and horns tied with pretty red ribbons.

After the singing of a number of Christmas songs and ‘‘ Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow’’ the stoek- ings were distributed. Many packages were opened right there and so every one shared in the pleasure of the gifts as dolls and dishes, games and tricks, balls and tops, horns and harmonicas, indeed almost every kind of book, game ortoy that is likely to come at Christmas seemed to be represented.

Next came dinner, and the fact that hardly anyone wanted: supper seemed to show that all had had plenty of the chicken, cranberry sauce and other **fixin’s’’ that are served on Christmas Day.

Each cottage had a prettily decorat- ed tree which remained until after New Year’s Day—a source of great pleasure to all.

THE OTHER WISE MAN.

In the years past we have given for our Christmas entertainment some thing rather light and jolly such as “The Crystal Ball,’’ *‘Aladdin or the Wonderful Gamp,” ‘‘Little Lord Fauntleroy,’’ ‘*The Old Homestead,’’ ‘*Cinderella,’’ ete., but this year we attempted something more solid and suitable to the season. The entertain- ment was based upon Henry Van Dyke’s beautiful story of "The Other Wise Man”’ one scene being taken from a chapter in Ben Hur.

In Part ], Artaban, a magian, ealls a meeting of some of his friends to meet the three wise men, in hopes that all may go together to greet the king who, according to the prophesies is soon to be born in the city of David

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THE TRAINING

SCHOOL

The others refuse to go, but Artaban and the Three see the Star and decide to start at once, Artaban remaining only long enough to sell his goods and purehase gifts for the little King.

Part II shows Artaban on his jour- ney bearing a sapphire, a ruby and a pearl, all beautiful stones of great value. He is hurrying to keep his ap- pointment with The Three when he comes upon a dying Hebrew. After several hours work he restores him sufficiently to send him on his way, giving him the sapphire to keep him until his strength returns enough to enable him to earn his living.

Artaban, a few minutes later, meets some shepherds who have a note for him from the others saying they have waited until past sunrise and then pro- ceeded on their journey. He then fol- lows alone.

Part III is in Bethlehem. Artaban finds Miriam in front of her house singing to her babe. To his inquiries she replies that Joseph of Nazareth has been visited by strangers and his child worshipped and that the night before they had gone into Egypt. A few moments later the Roman soldiers enter carrying out their bloody order to kill the children of Bethlehem. They perform a number of evolutions to gratify their captain and then he attempts to enter the house of Miriam. Artaban stands in the door way. He gives the captain the ruby and the latter orders his soldiers on. Artaban thus sacrifices the second of the King’s jewels to save the life of a child.

The fourth part is thirty-three years later. Balthasar and Simonides meet with Ben Hur who, with the legions, which they have sold all of their pos- sessions to raise, hopes to reseue the Messiah from the erucifixion to which he has been condemned. Artaban is found and comes to the meeting only to find that the legions have deserted. This seems to be his long sought op- portunity and he offers his wonderful pearl as the ransom. At this moment

Esther, pursued by Roman soldiers, throws herself at his feet and implores his help to save her from being sold as a slave for her father’s debts. Ar- trban gives his last jewel to purchase her freedom.

Itis the hour of the Crucifixion. An earthquake and darkness come and all flee but Esther and Artaban, who falls dying of a broken heart because he has given the king’s gifts to man and has not seen Him. Then he hears a voice and sees the Great Vision. His journey is ended. His treasures were accepted. The Other Wise Man finds the King.

Immediately following the fourth part is a beautiful tableau. Artaban lies with his head on Esther’s knee and all around are little children in white who pantomine while soft voices without sing: ‘‘Nearer My God to Thee.’’

The entertainment was repeated on Thursday evening for the children and again for the publie on Wednesday, January 2nd.

VALUE RECEIVED.

We never give an entertainment of any character without being profound- ly impressed with the training ob- tained from such _ things. Many children go thru the year showing little or no improvement. Then comes the Christmas entertainment and the “taking a part’? and immediately there is positive advancement.

The child is now in the midst of a spirit of interest, encouragement and happiness. There is a most pleasant outlook for the future, all are working in harmony; indeed, everything that goes to make up an ideal environment for learning is at hand and the child learns. It is not merely the drill or the speech or the song that is learned, it is the power to make hand, foot and voice do the will of the brain that is of value, for the edueated child is that one who ean best control and direct himself in every way.

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