A Free Kindergarten Wants the Old South School—and the City's Horses Out

The board of education failed to materialize last evening for want of a quorum, J. H. MacDougall and George H. Kinnear alone putting in an appearance with Secretary H. F. Whitney. The two members waited until past 9 o'clock for at least one member more, and, no one showing up, the little party broke up to meet again at the call of the secretary, after an informal discussion of the best provision to be made for quarters for the free kindergarten, which it is proposed to establish.

The subject was brought up by the reading of a letter from Mrs. H. E. Holmes, president of the Free Kindergarten Association, to Superintendent Barnard, in which she says:

'I do so earnestly desire your help and advice about the building for our proposed free kindergarten. What steps should we take about the old South school building? We are informed that it could easily be put into proper sanitary condition, but it would be quite an expense, and, of course, we could not afford to go to any expense in the matter unless we could be assured that we would not be disturbed in our occupancy for a reasonable length of time. In the first place we must know if we can have the building and for how long a time. How can we find out, and when, and where? If we can have the building much if not all of the labor of cleaning it and putting it in shape for our school will be donated; also much of the material needed, such as paint, lumber, glass and so forth, would be donated. I have received a number of promises of help, and one gentleman has offered his services as superintendent of the work. I feel that we ought to do something about getting a place in readiness at once, or so soon as possible, for Mrs. Dewhurst, our secretary, will be in San Francisco next week and will see and probably engage as our teacher Miss Nellie Creelman, who has been most highly recommended to us, and with whom we have had quite a correspondence.'

Mrs. Holmes was in attendance and expected to present her needs to the board in person. The matter was informally talked over between her and Messrs. MacDougall and Kinnear. Mrs. Holmes is anxious to get the building referred to, which is now occupied as the city stables, her idea being to have the city move its horses to some other locality and give her the entire control of the building for her free kindergarten. Mrs. Holmes stated that she had so far succeeded in securing pledges that would give a monthly revenue of $40 for the work, though that was about $10 short of what would be needed to cover actual expenses.