St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-27
ABOUT DOMESTIC TRAINING
The Good Accomplished by the House
Schools.
IT WAS A LONDON IDEA
Work Of Emily Huntington In the Field
OF the Kitchen Garden. Scenes at
| Il, 4; An Annual Reception.

Dispatch. 1t is not so long since the
subject with us was novel one-as-
suredlY so in this country-but the OBJ
jects sought to be attained in these
schools, and the advantages resulting so
obviously from them, wherever they
have been established. have commended
them so favorably to intelligent people
that it is not to be wondered at that
they have already in many cities come
to be regarded as permanent institu-
tions.
The first domestic training school in
the modern sense was established III
the Kensington museum, West London.
England, some sixteen or seventeen
years ago, under the auspices OF GER
tain benevolent society. At that time
the high price of provision and the low
rates of labor, together with the lmprov-
idence noticed among the laborlng
class, made their condition very deplor-
able. The object of the association was
to fit teachers for the special purpose
of going among the people and OF CIV
ing them, in turn, practical les
sons. The instruction was at first
attempted to be given by lectures, but
it was soon found that this method was
Inadequate to meet the desired end.
Something more was necessary to make
the project successful. Hence the happy
expedient was devised of getting the
material and utensils necessary and OF
joining with the verbal instruction the
practical application. The school was
henceforward successful beyond al!
former anticipation. 1t was attended
by all classes of people, was literally
supported, and, in 10 long time, schools
England and great good was done.
Progress in America.
In the city of New York there have
been established for twelve or thirteen
years past number of training schools
sometimes called kitchen garden or
house schools. Much interest has been
taken in them, and it is safe to say the
efforts put forth to make them success
full have not been in vain. Many of the
churches support their own school, and
for the elevation of the children. within
certain limits, it is considered an ad-
jnnct no less important than the Sunday
school. The founder of kitchen garden
is Miss Emily Huntington, a lady emil
nently adapted for leadership. She
conceived the idea that the hOmely art
of Homework could be made interesting
and attractive to children by the use of
appropriate songs and games, mnch
is impaired in the kindergarten system.
This idea she put in execution, and her
school is the mother school OF these
training schools, or all schools of like
sort. q
Probably the scope of this system OF
instruction can be better conveyed in
the words of Rev. DR.. Bellows, who
says, I'M writing of Miss Huntington's
plan: What idea of more valuable or
urgent character has lately come into
any WOman's head or any mans, than
the idea that girls, poor or rich, could be
taught in great classes, and by the hum
bred, all The methods of setting the
family table, of serving the food. OF
cleaning knives and forks, of washing
dishes and clothes, of sweeping rooms
and busting closets and ceilings-how
to handle knife and fork. broom and
duster; how and in which order to take
hold ofiall forms of household work?
There is a best way of doing these
things, and only trained and experienced
housekeepers, by extensively trained
servants, have hitherto been able to
u
incapable of learning it-because they
began too late"
Rich and Poor Alike.
With us, therefore, the chief end of
these schools is to furnish instruction to
all classes of children in the necessary
arts of Housekeeping, and further, but
i'm a somewhat different way, to train
grown-up girls to housekeeping, or to
fit them as skilled servants. Both kinds
of these schools were, at their fOunda-
ton, benevolent in character. AS to
the kitchen garden schools, it was the
intention of the founder to bring to-
gether, particularly, the children of the
poor. who were willing to be thus in
Structed, and although these schools
still retain this important characteristic,
they have increased in the scope OF
their usefulness, and are now patron
lied by all classes. In some of the most
successful of them you may see the
children of the richest and of the poorest
working together with hearty enjoy
ment in their ''occupationS,' as it is
called. The beneficial results of these
schools are obvious, where they have
been tried, and there is the most con-
elusive and satisfactory evidence OF sub
stantlal good traceable to them. One OF
the most interesting and successful
training schools was established some
wears since at 1.-THE Old Brewery
Mission Five Points. A teacher re-
lates that among the pupils was a bright
little girl scarcely five years old. This
child had listened attentively to the
snatch Lesson" and one day. not long
after, she found her mother lighting a
match Tin her usual way) on the wall.
| The little one said to her, reprOvingly,
and with an air of great Importance,
mamma, you
~ Are not to light it on the wall,
p. Nor on the carpet let it fall"
This was a new lesson to the mother,
| who was so delighted with the child's
| knowledge that she lost no time in find
| ing the teacher to inform her OF the
fact.
| Like Bower In Eden.
Itwas the writer's pleasure to visit
not long since, one of the most flourish.
ing house schools in New York city. II
was the annual reception day of this
| mission school, and the room was like
| unto a bower III Eden. Flowers, the
| gifts of friends, were everywhere, and
| seemed to shed their sweetest fragrance
| for tits occasion. Choice books were
piled high ready for distribution to
these pupils who were about to acqui1
| themselves with so much credit. There
were eighty-four children present, and
twas only by their plain clothing thai
one one could tell that they came from the
| homes of the poor. A number of the
| children, some of them very young. die
the honors upon this occasion, and theil
| manner of receiving and retiring guests
reflected much credit upon themselves
and the cultured ladies who had sc
kindly trained them. The cleanliness:
of the children and the good repair Of
their clothing. without an exception
was subject of much comment among
! the visitors, especially when we hat
beeng told that the majority of these
children came from most wretchee
homes.
! During the year. the teacher said. no
! one child had been reprOved for untidi
| ness, nor had one button been missing
| from garments or shoes. These rule:
for cleanliness and the care OF buttons
49,, IL.