Smyrna times., 1897-05-05
MISS BRIGGS IN MEXICO.

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from The ItOO Republics, a newspaper
published in the city of Mexico. Miss
briggs, who is sister of DIR. briggs
of the Alaskan mission, is Delawareau
by adoption, Smyrna Del, )and is well
known to many of the readers of this
paper.
The Maria Hooker school for Mexi-
can girls, in the City of Mexico,i is stu
ated in the 1st Gale de Nina, meaning
street of the mine. It is called by the
Mexicans, Colegio Maria Josephine
Hooker, and was established more than
twenty years ago, in 1875, by Mrs.
Mary Josephine Hooker, widow of a
clergyman of the Episcopal church,
the Rev. Herman Hooker, of Philadel-
phia.
Mrs. Hooker succeeded in interest
ing a good many churches in the
United States, who sent contributions
to help build up and sustain the school.
She also spent all her own money and
devoted her life to it. For years she
had to rent building and pay teachers
herself, but before her death, in 1898,
she had, with some assistance, bought
large one-stOry stone building, which
comfortably provides a home for the
torty-One children who live in the Or
panage. 1t is presided over by Miss
Henrietta briggs, who was one of Mrs.
Hooker's assistants for the term of
three years.
The house is a large one, and is
built in the substantial manner that all
Mexican houses are. The rooms are
large and lofty, the walls are about
three feet thick. One-story buildings
In Mexico are almost as high as two
stories are with us. The doors are of
wood, but very heavy, and beautifully
carved, fastened in a primitive manner
by strong, thick wooden bar, and, as
IN all other houses, the windows are
inclosed by iron CRATES.
In the centre of the building is a
court patiO), which has trees, shrubs
and beautiful blooming plants. One
long room is the chapel. The School
is opened with prayer, in Spanish, and
a short service. saw the girls going
into the chapel. They were in line, two
abreast, the largest going first; at the
rear were two little tots of three wears;
last of all, the teachers. The children
were bright-eyed and happy looking,
but the chief charm was in their ex-
treme neatness, which was such a con-
trast to Mexican children one sees in
the streets. They were very polite.
one offering me seat, another a book.
and all seemed pleased to have me
with them. There were several teach
ers, one man and five young ladies, the
ladies all Americans. They seem de-
voted to their work, and most of them
live in the orphanage.
Miss briggs kindly took me over the
school after service. There are five
rooms for the different grades. The
children are taught to cook, wash, iron.
scrub, clean house and sew. The
large girls perform all the manual labor
OF the house, with the assistance of one
servant. The refectory or dining room
was scrupulously clean, with its long
tables for pupils, and small round ones
for teachers, and the tables were set
In nice order. l was regaled with
chocolate cake made by the girls. It
was their first effort and quite an
achievement, as Mexioans do not know
how to make cake in American fashion.
The next visit was to the sewing
room, where we were shown very beau
tltul drawn work on linen, made by
the pupils, and sold for the benefit of
the school. A large wardrobe in this
room contains the dresses and other
clothing, which is furnished by a
society in the church for the day pupils.
They wear these clothes while in school.
The day pupils number about twenty.
One young Mexican girl, who had
been pupil for years, had just been
appointed as teacher in the primary
department..
In the laundry was a woman washing.
One of the large girls did the ironing,
different one each day, but nothing
was allowed to interfere with study
hours. Eash large girl had several
smaller ones under her charge in the
dormitories, which looked very neat
with the little beds, each with its white
cover. These children are very fortu-
nate; those that are orphans are kept
free OF charge, and for those that have
parents only nominal sum is charged,
nothing, if they are very poor. They
are taught neatness and order, every
useful kind of work, so that they can
be self-supporting, a good plain educa-
tion, and, above all, Christianity,
1t is said that the children educated
IN this school have q good influence on
their families, They seem affectionate
and docile, and are devoted to Miss
briggs and the teachers. Mr. Forester
is the clergyman in charge, and holds
services in the chapel every Sunday,
as we'll as opening school every day.
He has prepared catechism in Span
ish for the Sunday-chool.
Mrs. Hooker endowed several schol-
srships with the little money she had
left. .-DeLGaOare Churchnaan.