Excerpt from Quarter Century Edition of the Paradise of Childhood: A Practical Guide to Kindergartners Irx the year 1868 the editor of the present edition was persuaded to publish The Para disc of Childhood, by one of his neighbors, Mr. Edward viebe, and also to begin the man ufacture of kindergarten material for use in America. Mr. Weibe, who came to Springfield a few years prior to that time, was a very intelligent and well educated man and was then en gaged in teaching music, but had gained a knowledge of the kindergarten system through his association with the widow of Freebel before leaving Germany. He was anxious to introduce it in this country, and as soon as he became acquainted with the editor, who was at the head of a factory for making children's games and home amusements, began to urge his co-opera tion, both from an educational and a commercial standpoint. The editor knew nothing about the kindergarten and did not take any interest in it so long as Mr. Wiebe was its only advocate. Not many months later, however, he attended an exposition of kindergarten prin ciples and aims by Miss Elizabeth P. Peabody, who had recently returned from a careful study of them in Germany and undertaken to convert America to the cause. To that single even ing talk, given in a school-house near his home, the editor attributes whatever he has done in the name of the kindergarten during the last twenty-five years, and as an immediate result he yielded to Mr. Vvieb'e's entreaties to publish the manuscript of The Paradise of Childhood, which had been prepared for a long time, and also began making the kindergarten material. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com