The herald., 1894-01-25
THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

Where Small Children Are Taught the
Arts of Housekeeping.
Many more of Los Angeles benevolent
and well-to-do people than those who do
now know much of the Lafayette street
industrial school should make haste to
acquire full knowledge of it, and go
have their hearts effectually warmed
toward it. The one sure way of becom-
ing acquainted with it's workings and it's
objects is to attend at some one of its
sessions-it may be that of any day OF
the week. The teachers are glad at any
time to receive visitors. But one will
be fortunate to have Mrs. 7. d. Stimson,
the practical head aud generous patron
of this school, as conductress over the
premises. This lady has had respon-
eibly associated with her in the under
taking Mrs. Charlotte L. Wills. These
two have heretofore carried the work on
together in self-denying and satisfact-
DRY manner. The execting care neces-
sary to be bestowed, and the actual hard
work entailed by it all, is almost too
much for one or two devoted women;
but no complaining is heard. and as to
the future there is no misgiving uttered;
doubtless none is felt. Still these ladies
would very willingly accept of further
material aid and beneficial Aeympathy
from the people of this city who should
take an interest.
The Lafayette street industrial school
was wisely placed by its founders in
quarter of the city where numerous
young girls of respectable but poor par
ents or respectable parents in very mod
crate circumstances, could easily find it,
and not have to go far from their homes.
1t is located at the corner of jackson and
Lafayette streets. The building is suit
able. if large enough, which soon it will
not be at the present rate of increase of
pupils, who now number upward of 80
in the four divisions of kindergarten,
kitchen garden, laundry aud the cooking
department. 1t was built on equal shares
by Mrs. Stimson and Mrs. Wills at a
cost, including the lot, OF $4,000. Three
competent teachers are employed, two OF
them at the sole expense of these ladies'
the third is paid out of a fund of few
hundred dollars that was donated by the
, Kirmess society two years ago. Miss
Ella Clark, who, with Miss Lamb as as
sistant, is in charge Of the kindergarten
and kitchen garden or housekeeping
department, is an experienced instruct
or. Her pupils are bright and responsive,
even the little ones of and years OF
age, showing intelligence that is rare in
children so young. By the whole
class Ia manifested proficiency
in the simpler household arts that
| is remarkable, while individuals in the
class (all are under seven years. have de-
veloped intelligence and acquired skill
that would make them even now of
great use in real households. The
kindergarten lessons and exercises are
gone through with interest and fair pre-
cision, and then the game of housekeep.
ing begins. 1t is all playing, so the lit
tie ones evidently think, but visitors
can see excellent method in it through.
out, and at last the children themselves
find that the work is done. 1t ia perfec-
ton in every particular, for if the table,
cloth is not laid on straight, or q plate
set wrong. or knife and fork not given
the right angle, the error is detected
instantly by the teacher and has to be
corrected by the child at fault. The
chairs are arranged in order at the
table, the piano playing and the chill
dren singing the while. The soup is
served, and roast and vegetables, dessert
| and Coffee all in make believe, and the
feast is ended. Some OF the children
have beea ladies at the table, and some
have acted as mattresses. Not
every day is it a Barmeclde repast,
for occasionally actual food is prepared
by the children in the cooking school
and sent in and served up in savory por-
ton to the little housekeepers. Either
way the feast" satisfies them; and to
the visitor it is delight for the pro-
prietors of the "hostess" and their
''guests" while seated at the meal and
the quiet activities of the Mattresses.
are better than mimicry-the attitudes
and motions of those of real persons
thus actually engaged. Good servants
will necessarily be made of some, and
others will rise TO have orderly homes
of their own. No more useful lesson
can be presented to the very young girls