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January 29, 1927 WINNETKA TALK 3 TEACHES MODERN FARM PRINCIPLES IN INDIA Missionary of Winnetka Congre- gational Relates Experiences in Annual Letter EDITOR'S NOTE: Members of the Win- netka Congregational church have re- ceived ' the annual "report" from their church representative in India, the Rev. Clarence E. Wolsted. This letter to the home church contains so much of general interest, particularly along the lines of agricultural development--in which Mr. Wolsted is primarily interested--as to merit publication for the benefit of the readers of WINNETKA TALK. The accom- nanying is the first installment of Mr. Wolsted's letter. Another installment will follow next weex. "It is with a keen sense of joy that we turn to write what seems to have become our annual letter. Although it is in printed form, we hope you will not think of it as a circular. How often we have thought of home friends as we hurried along over these Indian roads. We have tried to keep in touch with doings in America and believe you have had a good year if Herbert Hoover's estimate is correct. our Alumni association about the bright prospects for the college foot- ball team, and of course that touched a loyal chord. TI am also glad that Jack Dempsey was beaten and that St. Louis won the baseball series. That much T read in the Literary Digest, but fur- ther than that IT have no knowledge of what happened on the athletic side. India in 1926 "Now in regard to what has been happening in India this past year. It has been a normal year in many re- spects with a long stride toward im- provements. The new Viceroy, Lord Irwin, is much interested in Agricul- ture and it is hoped that his coming will stir up new developments along that line. A commission was appointed to make a study of the actual condi- tions and needs of India's farmers. These men have made their tour over the country and we now look forward to their report and the outcome of it all. Tt is now definite that a new rail- way line will be built from Manama- dura due north to connect with Mad- ras. According to the survey the sta- tion will be only one block from our compound. As it is, we are located one mile from the station of the South Indian railway, so we have 'good rail connections with two fast mails and two local trains every day. But this new road will open up all the fine coun- try north from here. Educational and industrial schemes are being developed rapidly. Roads are kept in good re- pair and new roads are being built. In the four years we have been here re- markable changes have come. a "An appreciation for good, stable government can well be had, by study- ing local history for this Ramnad district. A record of this area for 150 years ago speaks of it as a wild coun- try infested with roving bands. I have been making a study of the suc- cess or failure of crops over a certain period as a means of comparison with the present day. For the sixty years of 1806 to 1866 this is the record: 9 years good crops, 21 years fair crops, 21 years decidedly bad crops, 7 years complete failure. _ Irrigate Large Area "During this period there was only one very good year when all kinds of crops were decidedly heavy and the health of the people thoroughly good. But it seems many of the Indian people who criticize Government forget these things which made life such a burden in days past. A large tract of 110,000 acres is now under irrigation, so two crops per vear is certain. I pass through this country on my way to Madura and it is a revelation to see (Continued on page 50) Word came from Local Shoeman Has Business in Village for Quarter Century Twenty-five years ago when Henry Luensman first opened his shoe repair- ing shop in Winnetka, the village then was but a small north shore hamlet of a few hundred souls. Today, Winnetka is one of the most rapidly growing villages on the north shore, with a population of over 10,000 and Mr. Luensman has one of the most modern shoe stores and repair shops in the village. The week beginning Monday, Jan- uary 31, marks the twenty-fifth anni- versary of the founding of this busi- ness, and Mr. Luensman, in commemo- ration thereof, will inaugurate a week's special sale of shoes, on which, during the sale he will give a discount of from 10 to 20 percent, on everything in his stock, except rubber goods. Mr. Luensman, like the village, has builded on high standards. Years ago, when he conducted only a repair shop, he early enjoyed a reputation for doing the best work. Later, in February, 1913, when he opened his shoe store in his present location, at 804 Elm street, he carried only the best lines and by fair dealing, has prospered. Winnetka, when Mr. Luéftsman opened his first shop in a little frame building about 12 by 12 feet, on Elm street, where Peters' market is now located, did not boast the present high class business blocks which now fea- ture the village growth. It had few paved streets then and the few side- walks were wooden. Mr. Luensman's business has grown with the village, and he proposes to make the observance of his first quar- ter of a century here, an occasion worth while, by giving this liberal buying op- portunity to his scores of friends and customers, many of whom are of life- long standing. Music Club Will Offer English Singers Feb. 14 The Winnetka Music club is present- ing "The English Singers" in its fourth concert in the current Artist-Recital series on Monday, February 14. The group of singers is made up of three women and three men, who sing with carefree perfection, seated inform- ally about a table, the club reports. Called back to England after a few performances, these singers in 1925 es- tablished a reputation which brings them back for a large number of con- certs in 1926 and 1927. Their program will include several folksong arrange- ments and work of old composers from England, Italy, and France. Through an error it was stated last week the concert would be held Feb- ruary 24. The correct date is Feb- ruary 14. Competent, reliable housemen, chauffeurs and gardener can be found easily through the Classified Ads: WHITE MAN EXPERIENCED gardener, handy about home, Drive Wil. painting and repairs, etc. and care for automobile. 2623 SCHOOL IN NEW HOME Long Cherished Ambitions of Dr. Mon- tessori, Noted Educator, Realized With Completion of New Building With the moving of the North Shore Montessori school from the Winnetka Woman's club to its new home at 761 Cherry street, Winnetka, the long cherished ambition and ideals of a well known chil- dren's educa- tor, were real- ized. Some Children's House fifteen years ago Dr. Montessori arous- ed the interest and attention of the. educational world by calling attention to what she called "the disregarded rights of little children." Most out- standing of these "rights," as pointed out at that time, is an environment adapted to the capacities of the child. A place where the furniture is fitted to their own diminutive sizes; where objects of beauty and interest may be reached and touched and understood. In short, a "Children's house." The ideals and requirements as em- bodied in the new building are de- scribed by Miss Dorothy Sears, direc- tor of the school. "The building not on- ly carries out the educational require- ments as outlined by Dr. Montessori, but also expresses in the simplicity of its New England architecture her con- viction that charm and beauty of sur- roundings are an essential part of the life of a growing child. In this en- vironment fitted to the nature and needs of the little folk, théir person- alities may develop and unfold free from nervous strain. Here character is moulded naturally, a love for work fostered and intellectual curiosity stim- ulated. Reading, writing and arithme- tic come spontaneously and free from the usual mental pain. Thus is laid the foundation for future school work. "In the new 'children's home' the tables and chairs may be moved about to suit the child's own taste and all of the furnjshings are reduced in size so that the child may execute the ordinary acts expected of him without finding it necessary to surmout heavy material difficulties. "A valuable factor in such an en- vironment is the ease with which the child's social adjustments are made. Here in the 'children's house' he finds a housekeeping room, equipped with the tools of domestic industry and pro- viding him with the means of caring for his little home in an orderly and painstaking manner. There is develop- ed in him a very valuable sense of responsibility for his acts and the acts to those about him." Visitors are welcome at the school on Tuesdays and Fridays, according to Miss Sears, and may call between the hours of 9 and 12 o'clock. Enrollment for the second term may be made by appointment with Miss Sears. Book of John, Subject for Men's Class Sunday The fifteenth chapter of the Book of Tohn, sometimes called "the heart of the gospel," is the subject for the meet- ing of the Men's class of the Win- netka Congregational church Sunday morning, January 30. The Rev. James Austin Richards will conduct the ses- sion and will give the class the benefit of the study he has given to this book. any many ways the most obscure and difficult of the four gospels to under- stand. The meeting will be open for discussion, and is expected to prove one of the most profitable of the sea- son. The hour is 9:30 A. M. in the American Legion room of Community House. SCHOOL FOR BLIND _ GAINS WIDE RENOWN Termination of Fifth Year Finds Winnetka Institution Giving Far-Reaching Service By Alfred Allen (Secretary, Hadley Correspondence School for the Blind) Another milestone has been passed, and the Hadley Correspondence School for the Blind has now completed its fifth year of corporate existence--five vears in which an inestimable good has been done in uplifting the lives of thousands of blind people all over the country. More than ever are the blind of America coming to lean on the school, to depend on' it as a friend and help when all other means have failed in bringing them back into the light of the world. A blind woman, a street preacher in the south, writes that she thanks God every day for The Had- ley Correspondence school, and that she wishes it had come sooner, since it is the only thing she has any con- fidence in. Reach Many Lands The reputation of the school is ever growing. The list of foreign countries served has now been ex- tended to include China, India, Aus- tralia, England, South Africa, Java, and Canada, as well as. the Philippines. Every state in the Union is repre- sented. . Last year 280 new students were added, all unsolicited. The school has now become sufficiently well known to leave alone all methods of reaching. the blind. One of the most satisfying develop- ments in the work has been that of the course in Life Insurance. It is less than a vear since it was begun, dur- ing which time twenty-four students have completed it. The Hadley school has placed twelve of these successful students as agents for the New York Life Insurance company, selling in their respective territories. All of these blind boys are doing well. One sold $5.000 in policies during his first week. Two others secured agencies to represent other companies, and still others are doing part-time work as agents. The school has made arrange- ments to find a position for every stu- dent who completes the course. Win Lofty Recognition Reviewing the achievements of 1926 we note with pleasure that certificates issued by the school to its students completing their courses have been rec- ognized in several institutions of higher learning. A blind student who entered Stetson University was given credit for work taken with us. A Wisconsin Normal school is giving credit to a blind man entering to take work to fit him for a teacher Others of our stu- dents have been able to gain credit when entering college. During 1926 three new text-books were embossed. and 1.000 books printed from these embossed plates, in all a total of 52,500 book pages in Braille. The school makes its own books, from embossing the plate and printing the hook page to binding the book ready for use More than 5000 lessons were re- ceived, read, graded, corrected, and re- turned to the students. Approximately 5000 books, maga- zines, and musical compositions were circulated during the vear From All Walks of Life The student body comes from all walks of life. The enrollment includes physicians, osteopaths and chiroprac- tors, people engaged in poultry raising, teachers of the blind, chair-caners and basket-makers, rug weavers, stenogra- (Continued on page 8)