The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-20
DOMESTIC HALF NO MORE.
MOUNT no ANCIENT sYsTE1r
NOT TO NE CONTINUED.

- NNENAN - NeN NSNNShS ~ w.
Rebuidiug or tire Coiiege Makes Five Fueuse-
helds for the Students 10 Tahe Care or. and
the One Great Coupnon Hall ns Oniy = Menery
SOUTH HADLEY. Mass, Feb. 18.-A general re-
organization In the dormitory system OF Mount
Holyoko College has been the natural result of
the recent fre-a calamity which, instead OF
proving the destruction Of q celebrated institu-
ton, as many feared, has not been without its
blessing. Tho fire not only swept away the
ancient building whose cornerstone WAS laid
by Mary Lyon. but many Of the characteristic
institutions and traditions which that cele-
brated educator 90 highly priced. Even that
most picturesque feature of Mount Holyoke
life. Its domestic work, has undergone many
notifications. The general desire Of the older
graduates for the preservation Of the single
building, with Its large dining room and do
nestle hail." has boon overruled. and In its
place the authorities have taken advantage Of
the cottage systems of Wellesley and Smith.
The fact. therefore, that there are now five
separate households and that the 400 students
are as q consequence divided into five separate
families. each under the supervision OF q faculty
official. has necessarily wrought many changes
in the management of the domestic work. For
the last sixty years Mount Holyoke has been
pretty generally advertised as the educational
institution whose students are trained in the
arts Of general housework-an impression with
q plausible enough foundation, but scarcely
justified by the facts. The idea of Mary
Lyon. in requiring Of the young lad es q
certain amount of domestic work every day,
was not In anticipation of the modern train.
ing school. but merely q provision Of economy
and convenience. In q certain way 1t was her
solution Of the servant.girl problem, which was
as acute in 1887 as at the present time. The
difficulty of procuring efficient servants, and
th1 A-ono, 80. .,nl1 prr-,otad har ,a1ahrofnd
plan of having all tho household work per
formed by the girls themselves, an arrangement
which would not only accomplish her aim. but
prove q valuable adjunct to tho democratic
spirit for which the place has ever been
famed. Tho practicability Of her scheme was
demonstrated Immediately and its wisdom at
tested by the imitation Of several other institu.
tions. Mount Holyoke's system of domestic
work IL still found in a II modified form at Welles-
ley; at Mr.. Moody's school at Northfeld; at
several institutions in Ohio, and has even found
its way into South Africa. Mr.. Moody has been
30 Rratifed at its success in his girls school
that he has adopted it even at Mount Hermon.
where much OF the household work is done by
the boys. Out Of justice to Mount Holyoke. how
over, it cannot be too strenuously emphasized
that this unique feature OF the curriculum
has never been, and is not now, undertsken
and systematized that only a small portion
falls to the lot OF each girl-some thirty minutes
to an hour a day; and everything is done upon
operation. indeed, tho domestic work could
hardly be surpassed. Everything is systematized
single thing to do and the proper time to do it.
and under Intelligent direction the work for g
household Of 400 is accomplished easily by each
membe performing her allotted task.
The beauties OF the old system have naturally
be been sRs o1S Gnmss assf boii and sy yb the sd aotndo of tbs
present cottage plan. II is hardly likely, how
ever. that the idea will ever be given up. Even
the old. building and the erection Of the new.
when the girls, were obliged to board in the vii:
work to occupy the traditional thirty minutes a
day., The new plan has now been in op-
Grafton 4 ion some four months MOI rs but 1t has barely hardly
their college days. The old domestic hall itself,
ing. Is the one conspicuous hiatus in the present
equipment OF the. college. 1t was in this room
were called into play. It was a prosaic sort Of
an affair. with its drab,painted walls and floor,
il. zinc;sovered tables: Its large, old,fashioIed
calm and .pndisturbed.- occasionally emily
cults. golden gingerbread. tempptinsely reposing
in huge drippinEpans- what Holyoks girl
Vulnerable occasions in which she has unlaw.
fully possessed herself, of the same. and the
saySrS %.nf fs dRa iHiis; 5sEHils sniie sppessa Of gp ah M' san.
day dessert. Three times a day, however. the
sedate old hall was animated by tho busy figures
in long cambric or calico aprons. each perform.
ing her special task in preparation for the meal.
OF relaxation; for the miscellaneous code Of
rules for which Mount Holyoke was so we'll
The thirty minutes spent in the domestic hall.
however. were primarily devoted to work, and
to work Of the most systematic and orderly
formed with more intelligence or expedition.
The girls were divided into various squads or
circles. - each attending to its own particular
task with military, precision. Each student
knew exactly what sho was to do and when it
was to be done, and she bad a certain pride. too,
employment In cutting the bread and arranging
1t upon tho plates, whence II was removed by
arranged the butter in n similar way; others
filled the water pitchers. warmed The large
dished out the pickles and preserves. There
was, no interference or hesitation; every girl
the performance Of her own task and with no
apparent interest In the progress OF her friends.
rro@piaiy i've at 1 minutes nae "M befors Is th see meal Ssan wR Mss
served-the hot meats were placed upon
see Riatts sIsc,. previously SnS with Prrn msnv BY Sytb. a
tshiSies of into the hsA dining ms'P room ian''f IN that
rlea oul. At 4 similar the :R RsGlTf"'% beii i hna 9 ssstt s@r:
table" circles appeared upon the scene: An
ing to which the various stages OF tho process
were marked specifically. At, the half" for
example. all the silver must be on the tables;
at the e fifteen the bread, butter, water pitchers.
and the cold dishes were brought from the do
nestle hall; and Mt the i've" the hot dishes
were scrupulously on hand. At the even hour
the whole college filed into The dining hall. and
the meal began.
The tables were always waited upon by the
freshmen. There were three to each table, and
their duties were principally the removal OF
what was systematically, called the first
c~ourse"-therc were generally but two courses
at Mount Holyoke in those days. There was no
more confusion during the progress OF the meal
than during It's preparation, and the Mattresses
found no difficulty in attending to their duties
and their dinner at the same time. At it's con-
Slusion another circle took charge Of affairs;
The tables were cleared eXpeditiously, and
the dishes taken back to the domestic, hall.
wherc still another group took them, In hand.
''dish.scraping " circle-by far the most unpop.
ular and disagreeable of nll-and tho refuse
emptied into huge pans, which were carried In
turn to the historic . blue chariot" low, round
which made trips from tho 'dish'scraping"
circle TO a mysterious goal In the back yard.
The dishes were arranged in IL high pile by tho
"dish.scraping" circle. and then the dish.
- Ill