The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-17

space, the pioneer philanthropic So
clety, namely the st. Paul Society for
the Relief of the Poor, should appear.
1t is safest and by far most just to
let an organization of so long standing
Git is now twenty-five years old speak
for itself. From the fruit it has borne
and is bearing today, the public will
best be able to name the tree. OF its
present principles of labor Mr.. NJ. l..
IIutchins, the secretary of the society,
says:
Our principal features of work are
to prevent suffering promptly, knowing
that he gives twice who gives prompt
~, and to so give as to stimulate to
effort towards self-help. We believe
when family is found in distress, in
aiding them so literally that they may
take heart and feel that they are slim
ulated to help themselves, but after we
find that these efforts are in vain we
soon change our tactics, as we do not
wish to pauperize the people.
On these lines we encourage many
TO take advantage of our free employ
ment bureau, whereby we receive for
them odd jobs and often permanent
positions, and soon enable them to be-
children to come to the office for sup
plies, as it has a demoralizing effect
upon them. On the other hand we edu-
cate the children in the sewing school
on the following lines: Punctuality,
cleanliness, efficiency in sewing, man
ners, and are constantly securing for
them places as nurse girls in good fam
lies where they usually are advanc-
ed as servants Of the better type; so
we send forth from our school girls
that have at least three important
qualifications. First: They are efficient
In sewing; second, they understand the
care of children, and third, they are
good housekeepers.
The Sewing School.
There seems to be some confusion,
even among those acquainted with
your work. as to the date and origin
ators of this department of the society.
What is your statement Of the matter
as well as the present methods Of
work?"
The sewing school Of the Relief So
Getty" answered Mr. Hutchins, was
organized in 1880 under the superin.
tendency of Mrs. H. C. Burbank, as
sisted by Mrs. George L. Farwell. The
handsome brick building now occupied
by the Relief society was a result of
the successful efforts Of the ladies led
on by Mrs. Burbank, as she needed A
place to house the sewing school In
THIS building they have a large hall,
with seating capacity Of 300 cloak and
wash rooms and so forth, and the work
done by the girls is sewing.
THE school, numbering this year 264
Is very interesting one and is now
in the hands Of Mrs. T. L. Blood as SUI
perintendent, and thirty teachers, Miss
a. F. Carpenter acting as secretary
THE material is purchased by the
Relief society, a committee of ladies
cut the garments, each child Is taught
to make her own garment by the teach
er, the article becoming the property
of the child upon the payment Of five
cents.
"a enumeration just taken shows 264
pupils in the school, ranging thus:
30 children between the ages of 10 and IL.
ia between the ages of 10 and -.
q between the ages Of and 10.
IL between the ages of 8 and 8.
Nearly all nationalities are repre-
Eented. Three are orphans, two have
insane fathers; in eighteen cases the
father is dead; in five cases the mother
is dead. Eighty-five new scholors
have been taken in this year. One hum
dred and eleven children have been in
the school from six months to two
years and half, twenty-five have been
here three years, eleven four years, and
six have been with us from six to sew
en- years.
1.-THE majority Of the little girls made
one or two garments last year. a few
made three and the girl who said she
had been coming seven years made four
garments.
During the last quarter the average
attendance has been 210, the lowest be-
ing 169. The work has been very en-
couraging and the interest felt in the
scholars by the teachers has led to the
Accomplishment of much good in
homes Of children outside of the school
work. Three hundred and six will rep
resent the number of garments made
by the children during this years ses-
sion, and in most instances they have
been sadly needed.
Mrs. Blood has had charge for four