The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-12
BOSTON Wv. C. A. BUILDING.

tuition always contain more applica-
tions from families desiring to secure
the services of graduates than there are
graduates to take the places. The Bos-
ton Young Woman's Christian associa-
lion was the first of its kind in the
world It's primary object was to fur
nish comfortable and safe lodgings and
wholesome and cheap meals for working
women. 1t was not long after the or
ganization had we'll settled itself in
two rented rooms on Warrenton streets
that the idea of adding domestic train
ing to its work was preached. Before
the plan was adopted an experiment.
was made with a young orphan girl
who had no friends save those that were
raised up for her in the association.
She was carefully trained at the rooms
of the organization, and a home was
quickly found for her in a family,
where she gave perfect satisfaction as a
most competent domestic.
AS soon as her success had demon
strated the feasibility of the scheme
quarters for the school adjoining the
boarding house were leased, and the
training school thrown open. From the
beginning it was decided not to use the
pupils of the school to do the work of
the boarding house, because it was de-
sired that the graduates should be capa-
BILE of doing work we'll upon small
scale and of performing all sorts of du-
lies such as would be required in
moderate sized family. 1t was realized
that if during their term of schooling
obey were employed to cook and do
other work for many people they would
be untitled rather than fitted for service
in families. It was somewhat difficult
during the early years of the insEitu
tion to give the pupils just the right
training, but when, in 1884, it was de-
cided to put up a special building for
the association arrangements were made,
the carrying out of which has made the
school almost a perfect model, and the
pupils are now trained to do exactly the
work they will be called upon to per-
form when actually engaged as domestic
servants.
The working apartments of the school
are four in number-parlOr, dining
room, kitchen and classroom. In the
classroom lessons, or lectures, as they
are called, are given twice a week. OF
these lectures the girls are required to
make careful notes in books furnished
for that purpose, which they must pre-
serve and to which they find it neces-
Bary to make frequent reference. The
parlor is furnished just as the parlor of
we'll to do family would be fitted up.
Upon the floor there is large rug about
which there is margin. Other rugs
are scattered about, the chairs are up
holstered, there are tables with books,
lamps with shades, bric-a- brac, pieces
of statuary, a o'clock tea table with
Its fittings, and so on. To learn how tC
care for these things properly is one OF
the most important parts of the instruc-
ton given, and in order that the time
spent by the girls in the school may not
seem to be one unending round of work
they are allowed to serve tea occasion
ally to each other, a privilege with
which they are greatly delighted.
The kitchen ana dining room are fit
ted up in complementary fashion. The
kitchen hasa large range and is fur
nished with all sorts of cooking uten