The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-09
COOKING SCHOOLS D
NEW FORM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
FOR GERMAN WOMEN.

FOR GERMAN WOMEN.
It IL Proposed to Better the Nation by
~InstructinE Them in tho Science of the
Household Training In Housekeeping
Given in switzerland and England.
The problem Of higher education for women
is being agitated In Germany In rather a sur
prlsinE form. The German madchen doesn't
know much about higher mathematics and
Chaldaic as a rule, but she has a ID wide
reputation for domestic virtues: and II Is be-
wiiderinR to find the lawmakers OF her land
crying out for compulsory courses OF culinary
instruction. Alaw recently proposed requires
every woman. on attaining her twentieth year.
to produce q certificate hat she has satisfac-
torily completed a severe course In cooking.
One cannot help wondering about the domestic
experience OF the man who put forward the
proposition. Perhaps he has suffered keenly
from tho lack Of such q law, and has a philan-
thropic interest In the gastronomic salvation Of
coming generations.
The obligatory culinary instruction for wo-
men would probably do more for the welfare
and happiness OF the nation. than the obligatory
military service for men and no one OF the
social reformers who have raised their voices in
advocacy OF radical schemes for lettering the
condition Of society. has struck 30 simple and
practical a plan for bringing about individual
comfort. with resultant domestic tranquility
and national prosperity. Seriously considered,
the idea 10 q good one. and Germany is not
alone In recognizing the need Of more domestic
knowledge for girls, Foryears there have been
schools Of housewifery In Germany and SWitzer-
land: and, from all parts Of the continent. and
from England. as well. girls have been sent to
these schools. Now, a number Of such schools
have been established In England, and are we'll
patronized. These schools are Of different
grades. and vary as to the expense OF tuition
and board. In some. the pupils are from fam
lilies OF wealth and position. The parents want
their daughters to be comfortable and happy ;
but they also want them fitted for the life
which is natural to woman. and for the duties
which will fall upon her shoulders. whatever
her station may be. The girls are not made to
work hard. but they are thoroughly trained In
cooking. and are instructed in the elements Of
fine laundry work, and Of general household
economy and domestic management. When
they leave the school they are capable Of man
aging a household i~ntelliRently.
Cheaper schools of housewifery make less
provision for the comfort Of pupils, and exact
harder work; but are we'll patronized by
families with small incomes. Then there are
private families by the score which take three
or four girls and agree to initiate them into
the secrets Of marketing, cooking, and all
TO Americans who-save for the faint light
darkness It would seem that the domestic
well provided for; but evidently the ed1ca,
tional authorities over there do not think so.
GG Ger nst1y T. FFeH1Ching sn out for mere shoEoqfEh
movement Is still further advanced. The public
sSh ~ OF Berns.or A. least The large new
adapted for tuition In laundry. cooking. mar
ketlng. management q stores, 20. Every girl
course In this department. TheO ofter SWISS
towns are rapidly following this exatnple and
the experiment.
and Of The bourgeolsle are. usually. famous
in other Department. OF, domestic economy
their knowledge ls painfully parliamentary, and
Spair: Among persons Of HIGHER social stand
The Ii t TT ! 9f their Gefry a]ne asto soP The ch hsae1
sIiiII; and EqHRrdsd t6eIr RECIPES more 1ssiS5
than her letters. Nine. ReoSmieF's sauces were
m nS ra~s sauce Is in nsa fsddufbs S a s4 Fre rls hGou fasT Who iSo
swoEe that he could even serve his mother.in-
The Empress s. J es s erepa Hed creole S'eeie Dishes dhISa;
SO wonderfully thst, II Napoleon had been q
to divorce her. But the modern French demoi-
selle is as ignorant Of culinary matters as the
s sysrsS|s 4 tRSn5 Ian ego i5lls, a. and s,,5 Pothtns more
The English girls. too. need training in do
there are recognizing the need. Departments
Of, cookery and domestic, economy have been
introduced 90 extra ,subjeets In some of the
London public schools. and there is some talk
OF an adoption OF the Swiss plan,
United States during the last few years. Com
parattvely few girls receive any systematic
training IN household matters. either in their
Of smiling ,cheerfully over tho fact that their
daughters don't know any moro about house
themselves are proud Of their Inability to make
coffee. or anything more substantial than
Welsh. rabbit and peanut taffy.. 1t Is true that
the girl will learn by experience, but the
knowledge will come hard. and, the chances are
her. house we'll. She may never need to do
cooking, but nine-tenths of the. trouble with
~servants 10 due to the fact that the mistress is
not capable OF teaching or directing q servant.