The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-16

mex in which girls are taught housekeeping.
They are gathered in families of from six
10 ten, under the care Of teacher and all
the work of the house is done by the in
mates At stated times receptions are
held, to which the pupils may invite their
friends, and they alone are responsible for
the entertainment provided. II is said that
these housekeeping schools have proved
remarkably successful among the home
loving Germans.
One result of any such undertaking as
that proposed by the New York dame would
probably be considerable ridicule, but her
idea undoubtedly grew out OF very real
need of the present day. II there is any
one educational axiom which cannot posi-
bly, be disputed it is that pupils should be
taught things which will be useful to them
in their future lives; and it is certainly true
that most girls learn, in the course OF their
education. almost nothing which will be OF
use TO them when they marry and become
responsible for the health and happiness of
their families No amount OF modern i'm
proyements can take away this RESPONSE
cannot, In the vast majority of cases, dele
gate such work to any one else. She may
not do any household labor she may not
have the care OF her own children. she may
employ housekecper; but the fact remains
that she, and no one else must see TO 1t
that things go as they should in her house
And in families where narrow means make
it impossible to employ staff of domestics,
she must know something of homework
and nursing in order TO be equal to the
numerous emergencies which she will be
called upon to face. To expect a young
girl 10 learn all these things after she is
married is TO increase her chances of I'M
happiness, and to cloud with petty cares
and worries years which should be among
the sweetest memories of womsns life.
Too often she never learns her business
thoroughly, and the family suffers for
years from the inefiiciency or ill-healih OF
a mother who is not equal to doing her
work or directing some one else who can
do it. There has come to be a general
understanding of the fact that our present
system of education is defective in this re-
spect, and that some radical reform will
have 10 be made before very long.
The things which the average woman
needs to know are not so many that they
need crowd out OF her life all intellectual
accomplishment. She need not learn to
make her husbands shirts. counting
as her grandmother did, nor need
she spend the long. beautiful summer days
picking and preserving. But certain SIM
pie things she ought to know, and certain
experience she ought to have before she
becomes mistress of house, or even of an
apartment.
She should know enough about cooking |
to prepare the meals for her family for |
week. or cook a dinner for unexpected Wis !
itors if necessary. She should be able 10 |
keep her house in order from attic to cell |
lar. and see that proper sanitary precau-
lions are taken. she should know some |
thing of dressmaking, and great deal
about mending, for in nine cases out of
ten the average woman will need such 1
knowledge desperately at some point in |
her career. She should, IL possible, learn
something about the care of children and |
Of the sick. 1t is possible for a girl of
average ability to understand enough about
all of these businesses TO meet any ordi-
nary emergency, and have thorough
raining in some one trade or profession by
which she can, if necessary. earn her liv-
ng. She may not know any language but
ler own she may not be able to embroider,
or paint, or write anything but letter.
out If she knows enough Of these domestic
rades 10 make her home comfortable and
attractive. and is thoroughly educated %
ar as she is educated at all. she will be an
accomplished woman.