The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-12-08
hfexico's Handy Girls.

Clara BridPeman writes enthusiastical-
~ OF tho Sci ool OF Arts and Trades for
Women, established there some years
ago by President Juarez:
As It Is, however, Mexico could not
furnish more interesting and attract
I've sight than this school when it is in
operation, with all its workshops crowd
ed with busy students and such hum
and stir of bustling activity that one Is
constautly reminded Of vast beehive.
There are troops of dark-eyed maid ns
on every side, cheerfully engaged in all
manner OF occupation, and one hardly
knows which to admire most, the deft-
ness with which they perform their
various tasks or the exquisite neatness
OF their appearance, with faces and
clothes spotlessly clean, hair smoothly
braided, and all with long Holland
aprons that give to them a particularly
tidy look. The school numbers about
1868 regular attendants varying in age
from girls of IL up to women of middle
age. The government not only gives
them every variety of instruction free
of charge, but likewise provides all the
materials and apparatus for work, two
substantial meals each day, and the
linen aprons. Moreover 1t allows them
to dispose OF what they make, and for
that purpose a pretty little store Is at
tached TO the school building, where
all such articles may be exposed for
sale. Further assistance is furnished
by the government officials, who give
orders for upholstery, bookbinding,
| oil aInAh,ra, Fr,- La, 81, al,
able institutions OF the city. Several
hours in the morning are devoted to
the primary branches of good Spanish
education as well as book. keeping, and
the rest of the day is passed in learning
the trades appropriate to the different
classes. On the Pround floor are the
workshops, or "talleres," all largely
attended by students that seem deeply
interested in their various labors. LII
one room you will find crowd OF work
ers busily engaged in upholstering fur
niture; in another q multitude OF deli.
cate hands are moulding and gliding,
while In third one is surprised to see
the skill with wich these Mexican girls
can bind books. One large department
is set aside for the manufacture of arti-
fetal flowers, in which the Sol. olars are
particularly expert, and they are sure
of finding ready sale for these beautiful
specimens of their handiwork. The
pf1nting-room is well stocked with all
appliances ior the art, and although
the class at present is small, the work
is done very satisfactorily and proves be-
yond doubt thRt woman is eminently
qualified for this employment. Anews-
paper is published by the students-a
small weekly of four sheets which
bears the appropriate title OF La Mujer.
On the second floor are the apartments
for sewing and fancy work, and thest
contain a large number of machines,
looms and instruments for making all
manner of trimmings, fringes, cords
and tassels, and the like. Some oi
the embroidery and "mallIa" is beauti
iul beyond description, for the Mex.
cans are unnyaled in this branch OF
needlework, and their dainty fingers
seem specially adapted to all that re-
quires delicate handling. In the meau.
tune the higher arts are not neglected;
the school has several good pianos, and
both vocal and ins rumental music are
| tduBuh1 Wul1o SuCu US CNluCb lhldubb iOi
drawing and painting are sent to the
academy of San Carlos, near by. When
one considers that these advantages are
all enjoyed without the slightest ex
pense to the poor students; that, more
over, they are partly supported anu
aided in every possible way in their ef-
forts to be independent and self-help-
iul, one cannot refrain from paying a
tribute of heartful admiration to the
government which shows SO paterna'
an interest in the welfare of Its daught.
eTs, and makes such generous efforts to
fit them for career of usefulness. Nor
are these efforts confined to the capital.
Similar Institutions exist in other cities
OF the republic, and in almost every
direction the prospects for the future
improvement and education Of womeI
are most encouraging. In GuadalaJara,
connected with the Hospiclo, there is a
school OF arts and trades, where women
are taught printing, photography, htho,
graphy, stenography, tailoring, shoe
making, stocking and cloth weaving.