Speaks
If - f 7 V . . , .tarn
BT MARTHA E. COM AN.
N
EW YORK. Saturday And. still
the wonder grows, puzzling edu
cators everywhere, that the email
head of little Miss Winifred Sackville
Stoner, Jr., aged 12 years, can carry
all It knows. For this knowledge in
cludes Japanese. Latin, Italian, French,
German. Spanish, Esperanto and Eng
lish eight languages, which the child
Fpeaks fluently and nine others, in
cluding; Chinese, which she can write,
read and recite in, and a more than
superficial acquaintance with astron
omy, physiology, geometry and various
other "ologries" found in the college
curriculum.
The adjective "small" is used merely
because the owner of this well-stocked
head la so much a. cHlld. For WinHred
,now stopping In New York, is normal
physically if her mental attainments
are extraordinary, though her mother,
Mrs. Winnifred Sackville Stoner, de
clares that the daughter, who success
fully passed her college entrance ex
aminations at the age of nine years.
Is just a healthy, happy, normal child
properly educated.
By that Mrs. Stoner means according
to the natural method which she has
come to New York to explain to and
Interest other mothers In so that they
may help to educate their children and
Incidentally brighten up their own
minds. In this educational campaign
the mother will be ably assisted by the
Junior member of the family, who de
livers Cicero's orations in the original
when she isn't playing ball, dancfng,
having a game of chess or otherwise
amusing herself. Or she will write a
Jingle for you in Chinese, tell you the
history of the world in Esperanto or
teach a class of children how to read
and write in ten days. "
If you didn't know of Winifred's re
markable mental accomplishments and
you saw her playing in the park with
other little girls and boys probably it
would be with boys, because she pre
fers them as playmates and likes their
rough and tumble sports you would
think her Just like any other little
Sirl. She is unusually large for her
age and here she displays a truly fem
inine characteristic she is a bit sen
sitive about her weight, which is 129 M
pounds. She has the reddest cheeks of
any little girl who ever came to New
York. "That's because we both take
cold plunges," Mrs. Stoner explained.
"Winifred and I both like the cold
water."
They were entertainlg callers in
their apartments in the Plaza Hotel,
t where they have rooms high up and
overlooking Central Park. In a book-
I case near the window was a row of
volumes representing the - work of
little Mlsa Stoner. At the age of five
she published her first book and has
since added 29 volumes to her list of
literary efforts, one having been pub
lished secretly for her mother's birth
day present.
She has translated her mother's book
en natural education Into French and
was the first person, according to Mrs.
Stoner, to give the Mother Goose
Jingles to little girls and boys of
numerous other countries. She has
translated it Into Esperanto, which
language she has mastered so perfectly
that she has received medals from
practically all the European rulers.
Last Winter she conducted a class in
Esperanto for older persons attending
the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburg.
"Tell us how you learned physiol
ogy," Mrs. Stoner said.
"Jingles." replied the girl. "I learn
everything in jingles. They stick, you
know.
"Eight and twenty bones, 'tis said.
. Are located in my head.
In my trunk are fifty-four
That I add to my bone store,
"While my limbs have plenty more
Fuli one hundred twenty-four.
"That's the first of the 10 verses of
the jingle on physiology," Mrs. Stoner
explained. "We study everything in jin
gles. A child remembers what she
learns that way. You know yourself
that when you want to find out how
many days there are in the month of
September yoU repeat the little Jingle
beginning 'Thirty days has September,'
and then you know.
"Winifred wrote this "Bony j Sons'
r..
s
yf- A y . A
five years ago just to help her remem
ber all the bones in her body. And she
never forgets. She has written a set
of verses on the Kings of England,
another on the history of the world
and ever so many other subjects which
children usually find so hard to learn
in school."
This nutshell knowledge Is the se
cret of Winifred's cleverness.
"How did you learn to read and
write?" the reporter asked the romp
ing younster, who was restless under
the showins-off process.
"On the typewriter," was the quick
reply. "First I learned to say the
name Peter; then I picked out the let
ters to make the name on the type
writer. I found the ones that
matched the letters In the book and it
was easy after that."
When Winifred junior was two
weeks old she learned to play ball
with a soft sphere suspended above her
feet. She kicked, at this until she
learned how to hit it. "She knew how
to play football then," her mother said.
"Then we taught her to throw. Wini
fred can throw a ball just like a boy
and both of us are extremely proud
of her athletic accomplishments.
"She can row, fence, swim, skate,
box, ride, cook, crochet, knit, sew and
play chess. We have Yeared her" in
the way we think best for her physi
cal development. I have never worn
a corset in my life and Winifred will,
never be harnessed into one. Of course,
she doesn't want to." Mrs. Stoner has
a small, splendid figure, which she at
tributes to the perfect freedom she
has allowed her body. Winifred is as
tall as her mother and promises to
develop Into a fine and beautiful
woman.
Ever since she could read this child
phenomenon has kept a book in which
she has pasted all sorts of information.
Whenever she wants to find the answer
to a riddle she appeals to this book.
And what does this small girl do for
mental recreation? Before She came
here she played with, and absorbed
knowledge from Professor Raymond
Gros. head of the School of Languages.
When they were playing tag they
talked in French and alternating with
this educator was a Japanese friend.
Dr. M. W. Kuriuker, who played chess
three times a week with Winifred
junior and chatted with her in his na
tive tongue.
"But loesn't she have any time to
play with children? Don't they amuse
her?"
"Listen," was Mrs. Stoner's reply.
And from the inner room came a series
of chidlish screams, and a peep inside
showed the learned girl of 12 pum
meling her small boy playmate.
In a '"votes for women' speech de
livered by this youthful advocate of
the ballot Winifred burst into verse,
beginning:
Ma can sew and ma can bake;
Kvery sort of thins cod make
Out of thread and wool and yarns.
And, besides, 'tis she who darns
All the rente in all our clothes.
And the holes made by our toes;
But our ma she cannot vote
Any more than BUI, our goat.
Winifred junior's dally routine Is
that of a healthy, normal child, one
with an excellent appetite. She rises
at half past 8 o'clock, takes a cold
bath and rub and breakfasts at 9.
Usually this consists of beefsteak, baked
potato and any other nourishment the
child desires.
She works, writes letters, reads and
then goes marketing with her mother.
At noon she has luncheon and she fills
in the afternoon with a little play and
some study. She has dinner at the
hour usual in most families and, after
games and conversation, she goes to
bed. "And she wants to be tucked in
Just like any other little girl." Mrs.
Stoner hastened to add, "for Winifred
has been reared on love and she must
have just so much affection and atten
tion every day.
"I don't altogether approve of' her
hearty meals, especially the break
fasts, but her father insists on letting
her have them."
And the natural education system
which has been responsible for the re
markable knowledge of this 12-year-old
girl, what about that?
Therein lies the secret the one Mrs.
TIIE SUNDAY OKEGONIAN, PORTLAND, APR1X 25, 1913.
Stoner has come to New York to share
with other mothers, for she believes
absolutly that every mother can be her
child's best teacher If she goes about
it In the right way, and here are Mrs.
Stoner's ten commandments of natural
education:
"Thou shalt not administer unto thy
child physical punishment.
"Thou shalt not scold thy child, but
give rewards for good behavior.
"Thou shalt never say 'don't' to thy
child.
"Thou shalt never say 'must' to thy
child.
"Thou shalt not give thy child occa
sion to disrespect thee.
"Thou shalt never frighten thy
child.
. "Thou shalt not allow thy child to
say 'I can't."
"Thou shalt always answer
child's Questions.
thy
"Thou shalt not tease thy child.
"Thou shalt make thy home the most
attractive place thy child can find."
"Don't imagine that Winifred ls an
angel.' Mrs. stoner hastened to say
after repeating the Ten Command-
ments. v "She Isn't at all. In fact, she
would be a very naughty little girl If
we did not try hard to develop her.
NT" . ; i Vithtlcril
- , ' ; ; . (g o loner. J i , , v
.3
Sometimes she and I have violent
wrestling matches, but these are Just
for fun. She likes nothing better not
even teaching Esperanto or playing
a Japanese game than punching the
'stuffing' out of some boy, as she puts
it. You see, she is a regular tomboy.
But that does not hurt her In the
least"
"I should say not." volunteered the
child in question. "I like being a tom-
boy, and I'd rather play with boys any
time than with girls. Boys can do lots
more things than girls, can't they?"
And the mother had to admit that,
generally speaking, boys can.
"The trouble with mothers is
aren't polite to their children."
Stoner eaid. "Politeness goes a
way with little folk. You say
child, 'Go get that ball of yarn,
they
Mrs.
long:
to a
' and
move
johnny will go, but he doesn't
with Joy and alactrlty, and If he can
possibly get out of doing It he will.
But you say in a gentle voice, such as
you would use to a guest to whom you
were trying to be very nice, 'Johnny,
please go and get me that ball of yarn.'
and Johnny goes and fetches it prop-
erly. You get back exactly what you
give In this world.
'If you rear your little ones in an
NO-D M
atmosphere of giggles you get plenty
of sunninees and happiness In your
home, but try bringing up your chil-
dren In an atmosphere of gloom and
see how it will affect them.
All there is in education Is self-con-
trol and the Joy of service. You know
how you have to train even a baby not
to scream but to use seit-controi, ana
when you can teach that baby how to
perform services with joy you have
mastered thevery foundation of nat-
ural education.
"We can all learn from Mother Tabby
as to nature's intended first teacher of
the young. I believe Mother Tabby
never allows any grandmothers, cous
ins, aunts or hirelings to give her off
spring their first lessons. She insists
upon being their teacher, and. more
over, she never plays aimlessly, but al
wayi to a purpose. When she teaches
her kittens to catch hold of their tails
sh is training their muscles so that
when they reach the cathood state they
can earn their own livelihood by catch-
lng rats and mice.
"I am working for higher nav for
teachers, fewer pupils for each teacher
and shorter hours. I want the teachers
to be able to smile when they have fin-
ished their day work. That's why
ImMCS r
both Winifred and I want the vote. The
Government spends $3,000,000 a year on
pigs, for investigating diseases, etc..
and only $30,000 a year on its children.
When women have the ballot they will
spend the 3, 000, 000 on the children
and the $30,000 on pigs.
"My new and ideal school will have
10 pupils in each classroom where
children have to go to school instead
cf being taught at home by their
mothers. Just recollect that the
mother has the child in her care 168
hours a week and the teacher 30. The
child brought up by its mother only is
a namby-pamby creature. -The father's
influence Is needed.
"Before you go do let me tell you
something more about Winifred '
'Cherie.' as she is called at home."
cried the enthusiastic mother, follow-
WORK OF AEROPLANES
E SAW a hostile aeroplane
soaring above our position and
hastened to dig in. for we knew what
was going to happen. Sure enough, in
a few moments shells came plumping
in upon us."
These lines are familiar in battle re
ports of the European war, because the
co-operation of the aeroplane and the
big gun has come. Range-finding by
aviators is a recognized part of mod-
ern warfare, as carefully worked out
as any other branch of the service.
The big gun's range is estimated in
miles nowadays instead of in yards as
formerly. More often than not the gun-
ners do not see the target at which
they are aiming, and the men in the
target do not see the spot whence de-
struction Is being: pumped at them.
High hills and broad valleys probably
intervene. But circling about in the
air is the busy aeroplane which is
establishing contact between the gun
and its objective.
It is essential, of course, that the
man in the airship and the man at the
gun have a constant system of com-
munication. Seemingly difficult, this Is
a feat that is simplicity itself. The
airship carries certain lights or smoke
DOmbs with which it can convey Infor-
mation to the watchers on the ground,
The g.unnerB have great strips of white
ma,terjai which can be formed into let-
tera o the alphabet and can be seen
trom the airship.
The rcst ls merely a matter of codes
and mechanics. If the letter X means
"observe for range." and the letter V
means "observe for effect of fire." the
airman Can convey to the marksman
whatever Information he may desire.
The first thing, of course, is to lo-
cate the target. The airman goes up
to a prearranged altitude and scouts
about until he finds it. When he is di-
rectly over It. he drops Very's lihts
in some understood comDination ot
numbers or colors. The aviator's
height is known and the distance at
which the lights are dropped can be
ascertained by instruments. The dis-
tance then between tne gun ana me
target becomes a simple proDiem oi
triangulation.
The location ana distance oeins
known, as well as the proper direction,
tne aviator gets the signal: "Observe
for ,lne of nre- shell or so Is thrown
in tne Seneral direction of the taig-et.
A soon as the correct I,ne ' found,
the avlator Kva th proper signal and
VI 1)1 in v--
4
J-
J
KvarwMU
lng me to the door. "She is the head
of the International Junior Peace
League and has written a poem on
peace. She wrote a book of 20,000
words In two days; she has beaten
every ches champion she has ever
played with but one; when she was 4
years old she composed a set of verses
on whooping cough, from which mal
ady she had just recovered; she dances
very nicely, plays the violin, mandolin,
guitar and piano; she could recite 1000
classical poemd when tho was 6 years
old; can repeat numerous Latin ora
tions of great length and she lias been
my secretary, writ Ins: nil my leter.-,
since she was 6 years old.
' "This is the age of the child, isn't
it? We have had the aire of the man,
then came the age of the woman, and
now it la the a?o of the child."
then gets the slgnaj to "observe for
raniie." The first shell falls ehbrt. The
second, perhaps, overshoots. The third
perhaps reaches its mark. The aviator
signals "Range!" and the real bom
bardment is on.
If the gunner wishes to know whether
his shells are timed to explode at the
right place, he signals to the aviator.
observe for fuse." If be wishes to
Icarn the effect of the cannonade, ho
signals "observe for effect of fire." In
this way a complete check of all that
is going on is obtained,
Rarely, except on tho preliminary
scouting expedition, docs the aviator
attempt to fly over the enemy's po-
sltion. Once he has located the target.
that part of his work la done. It Is
naturally the riskiest part, for his ap
pearance 1 Is certain to make him tlio
target for defensive aeroplane batteries
and probably for. a duel with a hostile
aeroplane. So he flies back into a safer
lone.
Ills subsequent position is decided
largely by weather conditions. When
the sun is shining he tries to keep from
being between his battery and the sun.
because if the gunners have to face the
sun to find him It is hard for them to
read the signals accurately. If the
sun is shining towards the target, the
aviator gets behind his battery. It the
sun is behind the battery the aviutor
gets between it and the tarsct.
In the early maneuvers, when he is
signalling the line t,i fire, he tries to
fly in a resular ellipse at a stated alti-
tude. When "observing for range," he
flies in an elongated tlaure 8. Tho
purpose of thUi ls to enable him to
move toward the target in his turn;.
In this way fire can be observed at
every moment.
It is obvious that to insure the effect
iveness of all this, scientific and me-
chanical knowledge must be required.
Modern shells are so constructed that
they can be exploded at any desired
height or distance. A shell that burets
too Boon 9 practically valueless, while
ono that bursts too late loses much nf
its efficacy.
An error of a few feet
In the calculation of the aeroplane's
height or in the target's distance would
seriously impair the effectiveness of the
nre H ls for thu reason tnat obKerv.
have declared that "it take. . t
r,t nictal to kill a man." Practice Is cn-
bling the gunners to rut down a great
deal of the waRfe of materlat. til.
Louis Post-Dispatch.
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