Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-05-12
A WISE EMPLOYMENT.
Society Girls Who Teach Poor Chit
dren HOusewffery

Those who fancy that the life of th,
society girl of San Francisco means
balls, dinners, teas, luncheons and thea
ter parties would be much surprised Il
they could take a good look at the
housekeeping school that meets every
Saturday morning at the Silver Star
kindergarten. 1t shows that the soci ty
girls of the city have been well trained
in the practical, and have not been
formed merely for the tinsel of life.
A number of years ago several young
ladies of the fashionable circle agreed
to devote Saturday morning to aiding
the neglected little ones in a purely
practical way. They determined to Sc
lect portion of the city where the chill
dren have few opportunities, and where
life means for them one hard struggle.
1t was the young girls living in the To-
cality of the Silver Star kindergarten
that these ambitious society women de-
cided to aid. The kindergarten itself is
composed of poor little tots who rarely
have new frocks and boots, and the old
er sisters of these infants were the for
tunate ones chosen for lessons in house
keeping.
The instructresses decided to take no
one younger than five years of age, for
they realized that girl must attain that
number of years in order to grasp the
first rudiments of housekeeping. Girls
who must make their own way in the
world as housemaids or seamstresses
cannot begin too soon.
The teachers had no difficulty in pro-
curing girls who desired TO be instruct
ed, because it was sugar-coated labor
they were offered. There is no greater
punishment to young girl than to ask
her to care for her room or bed, and vet
she will spend hours laboring with her
dolls, their beds, and in sweeping and
busting toy houses. Girls who would be
horrifed if their mothers suggested
that they wash the dishes will assidu-
ously wash dolls china, and feel no ia
tigue.
These young ladies understood this.
and so they worked accordingly. A
brilliant idea came-they would use
dolls utensils.
So the children in the neighborhood,
who had difficulty in procuring even
boots or frocks, not even to consider
toys, thought II the jolliest sort of fun TO
go up to the Silver Star building and
play with dolls and dishes and wee
brooms, just like the grown people.
Girls, IT is said, only abandon their dolls
because they are ashamed to play with
them when women. They were de-
lighted with the quantities of TOYS they
were permitted to pay with the entire
forenoon by the sweet-faced, strange
young ladies.
The children began by learning to
make beds, and al first they were given
he dearest miniature bedsteads, with
oy sheets, covers and pillows.
One of the most useful tasks taught
s that of serving dinner. There are
wee tables, dishes, wine glasses and
lEives and forks. These latter are of |
in. and there are neat little napkins and |
able covers. The children are shown
low wine and water should be properly |
erved. and thus they gain knowledge |
hat they could obtain only by years of |
experience.
Each of the teachers has a class in |
ewing, and accuracy is insisted upon
y the instructresses. They supply the
hiidren with stamped patterns, and
hey first illustrate the proper way to
o running" When this is mastered
hey are Shown how to do patchwork
eatly. Then they are taught TO make
etticoats for little ones younger than
When the underskirts are
nished they are given TO the needy OF
nat neighborhood. and so. indirsc-Yv.f