n 1852, and it is possible that his system of
education would have died with him--to be resurrected and
reapplied by somebody else centuries later--only for a friend
and interpreter who remained to give his teachings to the world.
This friend, disciple, and interpreter was Madame Von Marenholz.
His system of education had this peculiarity which made it
different from any other plan of teaching ever given to the
world--it was first grasped in its full significance by women.
They, sooner than men, saw its truth to nature, and its grand,
far-reaching meaning, and became at once its enthusiastic
disciples. But the German women are in a bondage almost unknown
to their sisters of the other civilized races, therefore
Froebel's reform progressed only slowly. Had his principles been
given to the world in the midst of American or English women,
they would most likely have been popularly known and adopted
long ago.

"Froebel did not see any very magnificent practical results flow
from the "new education" in his time. While he lived the
ungrateful tribe of humanity abused, misrepresented, and laughed
him to scorn, as it has done everybody who ever conferred any
great and lasting benefit on it. A touching illustration of this
is given in the anecdote narrating Frau Von Marenholz's first
meeting with the founder of kindergartens. The anecdote begins
the book, and it is the key-note of the sorrowful undertone
throughout.

"In 1849 Frau Von Marenholz went to the baths of Liebenstein.
She happened to ask her landlady what was going on in the place,
and in answer the landlady said that a few weeks before a man
had settled down near the springs who danced and played with the
village children, and was called by people "the old fool." A few
days afterwards Madame Von M. was walking out, and met "the old
fool." He was an old man, with long gray hair, who was marching
a troop of village children two and two up a hill. He was
teaching them a play, and was singing with them a song belonging
to it. There was something about the gray-haired old man, as he
played with the children, which brought tears into the eyes of
both Madame Von M. and her companion. She watched him awhile,
and said to her companion:

"'This man is called 'old fool' by these people. Perhaps he is
one of those men who