The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-07
MARRIAGE SCHOOLS"
Several Reasons Why German Women
Make Good Wives.

Finishing schools In England gre Of
doubtful utility. In south Germany, how
ever, writes London Chronicle CORE
spondent, the institution has been dovcl-
oped on very practical lines. Before adj
mission the girls are supposed TO have
been thoroughly well educated. They
must know the rudiments of arithmetic,
must have a fair acquaintance with Eng
lssh and German grammar and must be
able to write and speak their own Ian
guage properly. They come 10 the school
mainly TO learn housekeeping.
The schools generally number from 10
to 90 boarders, each of whom has sepa-
rate bedroom. Every morning after break
fast 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 cup
boards where they hang and pack them in
a box with everything else she may re-
quire for long visit. This done, the
mistress inspects IL and points out the
many ways in which she may save space.
In n school I'm Baden | visited only 10
pupils are admitted and two housemaids
and one cook are kept. At the commence
ment 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
afterward 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 tho
sweets. This meal over, those on duty
have after short rest To arrange after
noon ten, 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 frequently some music or light rocrea-
ton, where the four girls have to act as
hostesses They finish up their days work
by arranging supper, but arc not allowed
10 retire for the night until they have left
tho kitchen in perfect order and have seen
that the doors and windows all over the
house are properly secured.
The value of such training rs this
cannot be overcstimated. The girls leave
school quite competent TO undertake tho
management of n 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 i'm the house are taught
sewing aud the making and repairing of
their own garments. In che 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 even.
ings dances are arranged, and these are
entirely managed by the girls on duty.
They see to The preparation of the rooms,
engage the musicians, draw up the pro-
grammcs, etc. This lady told me that 80
OF her girls had met their husbands at
these dances.
We nistresses, sho added. "are said
In Germany TO be the proprietors of mar.
riagc schools. Don't laugh. Ii Is true,
and tho torn is not quite inappropriate. "