Mrs. Gatzert's Kindergarten to Open Among the Pear Trees

Mrs. Bailey Gatzert's kindergarten, which she is building as a memorial to her late husband, will be opened in the fall among the fruit trees on the hill at South Twelfth and Norman streets, with some thirty little children, ranging in age from 2½ to 6 years. The garden will be in charge of a young woman thoroughly trained in the wonderful art of child culture, probably some one from San Francisco, where kindergartens have flourished for the last twenty years, and have become a recognized part of the system of education.

Mrs. Gatzert would have had the children in the garden already merrily playing and learning unawares, had not an unfortunate accident confined her to her room for several months. However, gratifying progress is now being made. The foundations of the building are laid, the cellar cemented and carpenters are busy with the superstructure.

The plans adopted by Mrs. Gatzert were furnished by Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper, and are much the same as those of Mrs. Cooper's model kindergarten in San Jose, which is as nearly perfect as the highest trained intelligence can make it. Mrs. Cooper is the president of the Golden Gate Kindergarten Association, and has devoted her life to the study of the subject. No less than thirty-eight of these boons to childhood have been established in and about San Francisco under her supervision, and she visits each one of them regularly. Her work sprang out of her Sunday school class, and she is now recognized as the head of the work of child culture on the Pacific coast. Of 8000 children that have grown up in these quarters under her care, all so far as known have become reputable citizens, with but a single exception.

The building now under way for Mrs. Gatzert will be so arranged that as more children apply more room can be added and the additions will keep pace with the demand. A short time ago one of the builders called to tell Mrs. Gatzert that a certain large pear tree must be cut down, as it would be in the way of the entrance.

"You may change the entrance," she said, "but do not harm the tree."

The children will have a lot of fun climbing for the fruit in the fall.