The Van Buren press., 1897-12-18
MARRIAGE SCHOOLS"
Several Reasons Why German Wom-
en- ldake Good Wives.

Finishing schools in England are of
doubtful utility. In South Germany,
however, writes correspondent, the
institution has been developed on very
practical lines. Before admission the
girls are supposed to have been thor
oughly well educated. They must know
the rudiments of arithmetic, must have
a fair acquaintance with English and
German grammar, and must be able to
write and speak their own language
properly. They come to the school
mainly to learn housekeeping.
The schools generally number from
ten to twenty boarders, each of whom
has separate bedroom. Every morn
ing after breakfast the girl has to make
her own bed and dust the room. Once
or twice a month she is obliged to alter
the position of the furniture, so that she
may know how to arrange things.
Every week she is called upon to take
her dresses from the eupboards, where
they hang, and pack them in a box,
with everything else she may require
for long visit. This done, the mistress
inspects it, and points out the many
ways in which she may save space.
In a school in Baden | visited, only
16 pupils are admitted and two house
maids and one cook are kept. At the
commencement of the term the girls are
informed by the mistress that four OF
them are required every week to take
absolute charge of the house. They
have to rise early in the morning, and
see to the preparation of breakfast.
When this is finished they make their
beds and tidy their rooms, and after
ward go around the house to see that
the servants have done their work.
Then they are told by the mistress what
the midday dinner will consist of, and
this they have to prepare though the
cook will supervise what they do in the
kitchen, giving hints, and preventing
waste.
One of the four girls will have to sit
at the head of the table and serve the
soup, carve the poultry or joint, and
help the sweets This meal over, those
on duty have, after short rest, to ar
range afternoon tea, which they lay in
the drawing-room, and at which they
have to wait upon their companions
and any visitors who may happen to
call. In the evening there is frequent
ly some music or light recreation,
where the girls have to act as hostesses.
They finish up their days work by ar
ranging supper, but are not allowed to
retire for the night until they have seen
that the doors and windows all over the
house are properly secured.
The value of such training as this
cannot be overestimated. The girls
leave school quite competent TO under
take the management of house; they
are good cooks, and are able to turn
their hand to anything without being
dependent on the servants.
The other girls who have not been so
actively engaged in the house are
taught sewing and the making and re-
pairing of their own garments. In the
morning they have their studies, and
in the afternoon generally go for walks
The mistress of the school | visited is
well connected, and has many visitors.
In the winter evenings dances are ar
ranged, and these are entirely man
aged by the girls on duty. They see to
the preparation of the rooms, engage
the musicians, draw up the pro-
grammes, etc. This lady told me that 32
Of her girls had met their husbands at
these dances.
'We mistresses," she added, "are said
in Germany to be proprietors of mar
riage schools. Don't laugh. 1t is true,
and the term is not quite inappropri-
ate. London Chronicle.