The Washington times., 1895-02-10
What II Costs to Send a Girl to
a Fashionable School.
IN TRAINING FOR SOCIETY
The Average Father Finds It Costly Pro
cess TO Finish His Dar glters in Latter
day Boarding School = Music M-stsrs,
Drawing Masters, Dancing Masters, and
Riding Masters Ali Come Very Dear.

mildred must go to a finishing school II
We can possibly afford to send her." said the
mother. as she made coffee at the breakfast
table. II made a tour of investigation
among the most fashionable ones when I
was in New York and found them delight
full; it was hard to realize they were actually
schools. when compared them with the rigid
regime OF my day. 1 had a tiny niche in tho
dormitory, was compelled to make up my
own bed. daily faced a set of rules pinned to
the wall that were absurd in their require
ments, and company was considered factor
from the world and the devil, consequently
was forbidden. The teachers were regarded
with horror, and our only desire was to steal
pleasure without being caught.
LATTER-DAY LIVING.
Everything IS different nowadays. Tha
young students are treated Ike gentlewomen-
No rules, except those that govern any we'll
hammered person. The sleeping-rooms are
charming. Each girl is allowed her quota Of
adOrnments from the yards Of iHtertWined
college coiors 10 the prescribed thirty pieces
OF toilet silver
They serve tea in their rooms from the
daintiest tea tables, they dine as at their own
I
in an uaobs.rusive manner. and Friday even
ing sees them being versed in all the elegan-
cies of social life A reception committee,
appointed for these, and cOtiIliOns or teas,
furnish the weekly recreation
TINS reg me encourages their mental
cultivation as well. for 1 find that some OF
the most brilliant society women received
their finishing touches from these schools.
And you certainly approve Of this eOmbina-
tiOn of social and mental cultivation, dOn's
/ you father the mother anxiously concluded
yes. L think 1 do, he answered. as he
/ looked at her over the morning paper. Il
/ hold that no woman loses by familiarity with
the delicate refinement of social courtesies.
/ whether she trans to be a professor of peda-
gocics or IN exquisite bred in the rose garden
/ of life. But the vital question is. i1y dear,
/ doesn't one have to be 'bloated bondholder'
I to send his daughter 10 one OF these finishing
sehools-as you term them? What would is
| cost US to keep Mildred there year9''
ROUGH ESTIMATE.
/ sWeH, you calculate the cost as 1 name the
various things" the mother eagerly sug-
| gested. The head of the family laid down his
paper and took out pad and pencil.
| TO start you with an easy calculation"
! she resumed, ''some OF the schools announce
| that 81 coo will cover tuition, board, table
| and bed linen. fuel and laundry. seat in
/ church. and French with German. or Latin
with Greek. But those l preferred started on
with a basis OF 500. This is for tuition and
board
THAT sounds encouraging" interpolated
her listener. as he made a note OF the sum-
add to that S25 pew rent; laundry $50,
and use OF piano S25, and towels, table nap
/ kins, single sheets, and pillow cases, Mildred
must take from home.
Then your sum total is 81 900. for the
necessary linen need not be included as extra
expense. for we can easily spare these.
Well Us he laid down the pad, I don't
think it so very expensive. We had best
think 81 sending her at once
! Gracious" calculated mother, ''what are
you thinking of You don't suppose am
through? Why. that 81 900 is only the nest
egg to insure Mildred's actual education"
''Ohl no. So 1 crowed too soon2 The
parental purse strings are to be further
pulled, eh?' and the pad came back for
service.
COSTLY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
The mother leaned earnestly forward,
checking of the points as she enumerated
them.
Mildred has decided talent for music. ]
think, and a good master costs 50 lesson.
She could get one for IS If she was ordi-
finest instruction. We can leave singing out
of the account. That costs the same as IN
strumentsl lessons, but Mildred has no
voice"
What about drawing asked the account
ant, 'she displays some talent in that diree-
tion, especially in portraiture
-Four dollars lessen VIII cover that. and
two lessons week are sufficient, checked OF
the mother.
add SIS a week to the nest egg and the
account is complete" was the calculator
conclusion as he pushed back his char.
"CompIete! OF course not. Where do YOU
suppose her riding and dancing and gymnas-
ties and
"Wait one moment. 1 am not lightning
calculator Let me get back to my pencil.
Now. riding lessons tirstr'
''Well. $50 for twenty lessons will cover
that. Then il she goes out in the park, the
attending groom IS 81 an hour. Two sets oil
tickets will carry her through the season.
/ Dancing lessons are the same. but the extra
expense fora groom is cancelled Member-
ship in q iyeeum. where most OF the girls go
is quite costly, and the DelSarte and Jhysiea
| culture included in the schools curriculum
is considered sufficient.
"Cheek of the lyeeum then, suggested
the father.
HIGH PRICED AMUSE NENT5.
"Stil." answered the mother lingeringly
''AIildred would come in contact with de-
lightful people at the lyceLm. But the opera
tickets are a necessity. That is part Of edu-
cation Ten tickets would do for the year
That's flfty dollars; another twenty-five dol
lars should be allowed for gooi theaters and
the PhilharmOnics- Lecture classes are fifty
! cents. so add ten dollars for those"
"a small tariff is levied for the ticket o
the attending teacher for each amusement
but a. the cliques are large, this taril amount;
to little.
Anything more. my DEAR" astonishmeni
| spreadiny over his face. 1T seems Mildred
would te adjudged insane instead of eul-
tured. after taking in all this ] am sure
should lose my senses. Do you really thinA
she can 90 in for ali these things" b,
| anxi5usly asked.
'Of course. Doesn't every girl do so a
these schools. You and 1 weren't educated
that way, but we didn't have our youth il
such progressive days."
You have omitted matters Of dress" ht
said That's always an important item"
THAT wouldn't differ from what she would
wear at home. Two stuff and one church
gown vii! serve. with the summer muslin.
and wash silks for Friday evenings"
TIPS, FLOWERS. EFT CETERAs.
''Her allowance must include 50 month
forsear fare, servants tips at holidays, q
cents week allowed fer fruit feandy is no
permitted) and occasional flowers, as bOU
Quets are usually exchanged on birthdays o
teachers and scholars. | think that's al,
she concIu ed with wise nod OF her head
- he can have the uasseuse. the manieurist
and the hair-dresser every Saturday if sh,
wishes. but we won't count that in."
$50 the amount stands 81, ,953 for the neees
sities'' and the pad as held up for view
.'Ald 500 for allowance TO cover the small