Madame Alma von Tillow

 

Madame Alma von Tillow. ---- The lady whose name appears at the head of this biographical notice is one who has endeared herself to the hearts and homes of the people of Sacramento, and we offer no apology in according to her this space in historical work of the county, believing that too much cannot be said in praise of the work that she has set herself to do, or of the results which are being accomplished by her now popular method. A brief mention of her career cannot but be interesting to the hundreds of people whose little ones will some time need the fostering care of just such a teacher to guide their youthful footsteps along the rugged pathway to knowledge. The Madame is a native of the State of New York; was brought up amid the refinements of the most highly cultured society in the Empire State. When by the death of her husband in 1879, in Wadsworth, Nevada, the duty of providing for her boy devolved upon her unaided efforts, she bravely but quietly proceeded to make the most of whatever opportunities lay nearest at hand. She at once began teaching vocal and instrumental music, traveling from Reno to Battle Mountain each week, to reach her pupils, who resided in all the larger towns between the above mentioned places. This proving too arduous, in the spring of 1881 she accepted an engagement with a conservatory of music in San Francisco. Always a lover of little children, an peculiarly fitted by nature to have the care of them, she became interested in the study of the system of kindergarten as taught by Miss Emma Marwedel, of San Francisco; and very soon became an assistant at the pioneer kindergarten of that city. In March, 1883, she came to Sacramento and started a small class on G street, beginning with but five pupils; but she was thoroughly imbued with the spirit of her work, and accomplished results which eventually brought the patronage and the support of the leading people of the Capital City. She advocates principles for all departments of school life, and claims for this application the fact that her school so much resembles a large, busy family affectionately interested in each other’s work and play, though widely separated as to age. The day pupils, numbering over forty, are conveyed to and from the school in a handsome wagonette, being always accompanied by a teacher. Among them may have been noticed the children of the Governor of the State, Secretary of State Hendricks, Chief Justice Beatty, Judges Van Fleet and Blanchard, Prof. E. C. Atkinson, A. L. Hart, L. L. Lewis, Frank Miller, Prentis Smith, and most of the leading professionals and business men of the city.  The system of kindergarten and object-teaching for younger children, and the oral method for more advanced scholars, is becoming more and more popular wherever it is properly introduced; and it is to the lasting credit of Sacramento that such schools are receiving the patronage of her best citizens. Nor can too much credit be given to Madame von Tillow, through whose instrumentality this system of teaching was first made a success.