The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-01-22
LOYAL W0MANS WORK
Educational Matters--The Household.
Experience Meeting.
MIXED SCHOOLS.

Several of THE TRIBUNE readers, older and
younger, have asked the Editors opiu'on as to
the effect of mixed schools upon Individuals
and communities; whether they are Tor good
or ILL., The Editor would reply, unreservedly,
that the effect is good
In this connection it would be best TO ex-
plain that by mixed schools is meant not only
schools 10 which boys and girls are admitted,
but schools 10 which the rich and the poor
the high and the humble of all races, nation
alities and coors, meet TO receive instruction
and exert their powers of mind and heart.
At first glance ii might seem that the more
privileged classes would lose instead of gain by
being brought ia close contact and competition
with those less beautifully endowed with this
worlds eoodly gifts, but experience and obser-
walton have proved it otherwise. 1t has been
demonstrated beyond a peradventure that such
contact and competition has been a mutual in
terchange OF commodities equally advantageous
to both. If the children carefully reared, with
surroundings of refinement and culture, bring
better manners and more correct speech and
department 10 the daily school barter, the chill
dren of those whose life is a perpetual struggle
TO make both ends meet, bring in turn more
rugged nature, a loitier sense of independence
and more determined will. The consequence
is that the child of ease feels all his faculties
quickened and his desire TO excel stimulated
by the REORGANIZATION and sieadiera application
of the child of irugality; while the latter in
turn Is sOftened in his speech and restrained
in his irreprcssible humors by the milder graces
of the forlnei.
Another great advantage of this intimate
comminging of the youth of classes is the in
creased respect they have for the abilities of
one another, and the larger sympathy with
each others ambitious and pursuits. The
members Of
A CERTAIN HIGH SCHOOL CLASS
the Editor has in mind will be better citizens all
their lives long because a eolored boy, who
grew up and was educated with them, carried off
some OF the highest honors on graduation day
There can be no war Of races while the mixed
school is fixture in the land.
Equally wholesome is the competition and
good-natuTcd rivalry between the sexes. The
fact that colleges and universities are OPEN
ing TO women is a direct tribute TO what has
been accomplished by the girls working side
by side with the boys in our mixed schools.
The gain is mutual. Better manners, better
morals, a better education is everywhere the
result. Nothing takes the nonsensical airs
from girl so much as to set her hard at work
over an arithmetical problem with boy. Moth
ing takes the conceit out of a boy so much as
to have girl lead the class in contest for the
first honor. 1t is the girl brought up behind
convent bars or seminary walls who is so often
half-taught and foolish and simpering 1t is the
boy bound TO a close community of boys who is
too often idle and namby- panlby and depraved.
A well-managed family is the ideal school, and
scale. The boys and the girls are taught
mutual respect, Interchange of civilities, no.
bility of purpose. They are taught that honor,
and honesty, aud gentleness, and forbearance,
and virtue much part of manlness as
womanliness. Learning to know one another.
they>learn to know all there is of human So
ciety. As boys and girls they have learned the
true philosophy of life; as men and women
they will put it into daily practice.
The mixed school is the cradle of American
Government, and<e much has it become part
of our national system as to extenuate the re-
mark SO generally made when boy or girl is
removed from his associates and placed in a
private school: 3" 1t is because he could not
keep up with his classes The Editor believes
every boy and girl the better for the most
thorough education at command. And the
Editor equally believes that this is found first
in the mixed schools, and after that in the col
lege or university that makes brains, not sex,
color, or condition, the qualification Of admis-
sion.
BABY's TOILET.
"Young Mother" writes that the babies are
neglected in the fashion hints of THE TRIBUNE.
Very well; these notes are for young mothers.
This one ASKS, first, for pretty carriage robe. |
OF these the styles are many, but one of the
prettiest we have seen lately was made of al
ternate stripes, one of pink and blue and the
other of pink. The pink and blue stripe was
knitted OF alternate cross stripes. Each stripe
W d. ABOUT Il Blger-lengI0 VIDE. Inc stripes
when done were sewed together and pressed
by laying a cloth, slightly damped, on the
wrong side Of the seam and pressing with hot
iron. Alternate strands OF blue and white yarn
were knotted in as fringe. The yarn was
coarse, knitted on wooden needles
A pretty hood for a baby is made of GRO
cheted foundation of white wool over which is
crOcheted cover made of white silk. The hood
may be trimmed around with quilted lace or
swans down. The hood need not be shaped,
but may be made Of long strip doubled over
and Joined at the back with the point turned
up and finished with bow.
Lovely little shoes are made of quilted satin,
lined with cotton with thin piece of muslin
over it. Cut the shape from baby's foot.
A white cashmere dress for baby's best
Mother Hubbard" style, will wash beauti-
fully and be found both economical and pretty
4 piece OF economy well worth praeticing is
to cut oyer-stockiBgs. Seryiccable and hand
some ones can be cut from the upper part of
long ones. Take stocking which fits the
child and cut pattern of it, then cnt out the
stockings; they are 80 be darned together
Sew carefully back and forth, just drawing the
edges together; in this way the seam is as PHI
able as any other part of the stocking A
woman of moderate means can afford to buy
stockings OF excellent quality for herself if she
knows that she can utilize them after the feet
are too thin f0r her own wear.