Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-23
miscellaneous.
4 Schoel for Girls.
PLAYING Hostess. GUEST AND WAITING
MAID ALL AT ONCE.

1 Scheel TOR Giris.
PIAYne HosrEss. GUEST AND WAITING
MAID ALL AT ONCE.
Mrs. E. d. Kellogg gives most inter-
esting sketch of Mrs. Hemenway's sum-
mer school for girls ON Tennyson street.
Boston. This school is held during vaca-
ton only, and its object is industrial edu-
cation. giving instruction to $50 girls from
8 to IA years of age. in various employ
menn. Did every city in the land have
similar institutions, they would largely
aid in setting the hard question of employ
ment tor girls. and would form a most
potent aid in guarding the youngest
against vicious habits.
Mrs. Kellogg. taking her readers
through this school, first leads them into
the kitchen garden. where dozen demure
little women are playing at housekeeping
with such thoughtful faces and def fingers
that we see at once that the discipline Of
head and hand that underlies all this play
work has been attained. and that definite
method and system have entered into the
smallest detail. Now let US cross the hall
and see this same table-setting through q
magnifying glass; tor here is real din
ing room and all its belongings. At the
head of an extension table sits the teacher
directingisix little girls. To play at host,
hostess. guest, and waiting-maid all at
once, in an atmosphere of refinement and
decorum. and with as much punctilious-
ness as can be found in an elegant home.
1t is four course dinner to- day with all
but the dinner), and the little folks are
going through it all as tremendously as
the "make-believe" conditions and dane
ing eyes will permit. Perhaps they are
handling real chira and silver for the first
time in their lives, but they group it
around that center bouquet of golden rod
with an enjoyment that shows the wo-
mans love of beauty springing up at the
first opportunity. But what use is all this
luxury to these little girls. who may never
be carried off by King Cophetua to fairy
land ? One can never tell, in this repub-
lie, where mistress and maid are constant
" changing places, what position one
need be fitted for; but here. observe, the
training is for either.
But we are not listening to the questions
and suggestions from the teacher going
on all the while. which is the very best Of
it all. She is asking the prices of the
table linen, and these pretty things, to
teach relative values, and suggesting in
every case that something cheaper and
palmer "would do just as we'll" if that
something was scrupulously clean and all
was served in good order. This spirit of
making the most and best of common
place things runs all through this and the
elementary housekeeping we saw first.
and these girls will not carry back false
ideas to humble homes after such con-
slant reiteration of this truth, but must. we
believe, look about them with newly
opened eyes to see where purity, order.
and sympathy are needed, and with a
leaning toward the beautiful they never
had before.
We cannot stay longer in this fascinat-
ing spot, for the click of dumb bells warns
US we are losing the calisthenics. Don't
let US be caught in the intricate figure
marching that will follow. as we pass into
the inder-hearted- rooms filled with bits
OF humanity who think they are only play
ing with weaving, sewing. and clay mod
cling. and don't know they are "getting
control of world with their little nervous
fingers. Froebel, looking down from his
gilt frame on the wall. must feel celes-
tial joy at the "kingdom come" of his
ideal teaching for these wee folks gath
cred from the highways and hedges.
Come to this other room now, where
nature, beauty and art combine in exquis
tie embroidery. Yes, these girls are ac-
tually copying those ferns. flowers and
berries from nature and transferring them
for embroidery from their own designs
In the next room dolls dressmaklng is
going forward. and the little girls are
women enough to be absorbed hand and
heart in it, and their work is very credta-
BILE. too.
But have the best till the last. Now
step down into the basement and see what
other things girls can do. Here is a room
thoroughly fitted up for cooking. No
make-beleve here. but real cooking Run
ming around the room in the shape of a
horseshoe (for good luck p is counter
like table, around which standthe earnest
little cooks. The teacher stands inside so
that glance can sweep it all. and watches
directs and decides all doubtful points.
Isn't it a pretty sight. and don't your
quick ened pulses keep time with the whirr
of those egg-beaters? It is near enough
to lunch-hour for those omelets and that
beef tea to be very tempting. but we shall
never be invited. so tear yourself away to
see the last browning glory OF all.
All we have seen so far has been "pure
womanlv" occupations. Nobody is shocked
and no conventionality is violated But
now you are to pass out of woman into a
carpenters shop, where young girls are
at work manufacturing useful articles
with as commonplace an air as if they
had never done anything else. Their
teacher is young man. and cookbook
ing one, too; and yet the work goes for
ward without a sign of recognition of
either sex on either side. The principal
told US last year that this ability to work
together as comrades. each compelled to
treat the other as that only, was a greater
point gained than all the work done.
But is there really anything unladylike
about these young girls at work ? Isn't
that fair girl Just as modest and graceful
with that plane or saw as those across the
way with rolling pins? When masculinity
has settled that "a woman can't drive a
nail" isn't it little satisfaction to look
on and see that it is only a matter of sim
pile usage why she can't? All, but there
is good deal of the woman question"
that could be hammered out and driven
| in hx- ,yatob;,rr th;a l,;lv, ,r,,,l- -.