The age-herald., 1900-09-12
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where negro girls will be taught the art of cooking and the serving of meals is a practical movement in which Birmingham women will be at once interested, since the methods to be employed will be a move in the right direction in solving the servant girl question. Mrs. J. R. England, who is a strong leader here among the best element of negroes, announces that she will soon open classes in cooking and will give not only instruction in the preparation of foods, but in the proper serving of meals. The school is located at No. 4O5 North Nineteenth street. She opened there years ago in this city a school of dress making, having had experience of twenty-five years. She has been quite suc- cessful her classes numbering from fifteen to twenty pupils. With the success of her school for dressmakng she feels encour- aged to broaden her work, and will open September 19 an industrial school for negro girls, where they will be taught laundry work, cooking and have practical demon- strations in the art of serving meals. The school will also include q department where domestcs will be Instructed ill the proper methods of house cleaning. The proper care of d room is something of which a majority of servant girls are in ignorance, and a movement, however small, that looks to the training of domestics is one that will be far-reaching in its results and which touches very closely the lives of the American housekeeper. This venture on the part Of Mrs. England should meet with the instant approval of Birmingham wo- men, to whom the domestic problem is continual bete nor. The general incom- potency of servants is a question that is really no longer a sectional one, and the South is not alone in it's domestic problem. That Southern women prefer in many cases the services of the negro somewhat simplifes the servant girl question in this section, but it in nowise solves it. The do- mestc training to be found in industrial schools is the most practical solution, and it's result will be a boon to both mistress and maid.
 That these schools will send out servant girls who understand the art of sweeping and airing house, who know the proper way of making up beds and cleaning a room is not an idle dream for these house. keepers who are now at the mercy of ig- norant, untrained domestics. Indeed the incompetency of servants is a
 
 ate, and it grows more perpexing year after year. The establishing of training schools will go to the very core of the problem, but the greatest obstacle to their success is the servant girl herself. The type who knows everything and is unwilling to be taught is a problem with which the train ing school must deal, but it is better equipped for this work than the busy Amer {oop yh1 s1,o to congratulate herself upon the improve ment in her maid, is surprised at the lat ter's sudden departure, and begins the training of a raw recruit. This state of af- fairs is common to many Birmingham homes. It is an old story that is frequently told, and will continue to be repeated until the schools for cooking and household work are established in the city.
 At this industrial school not only will cooking and the serving of simple meals be taught, but plain and fancy serving will continue to receive attention, and mending and laundry work will also be included in the plan of work. The principal of the school is the State superintendent of the w. c. T. U., and this organization will place number of negro girls in the school, who not able to Day tHe lullloL, pul WHO are dHAAouS u pe- come trained cooks and to have practical knowledge of house cleaning.
 Special attention will be sven to the care o1 the kitchen, and indeed the plan of work is most practical one, and the school should meet with the encouragement that it deserves.
 The object of the school is briefly outlined in the following announcement:
 "The object of the Home School is to vantage of millinery and artistic dress making, giving them thorough business course. Those wishing to become experts in the line of dressmaking and millinery can take thorough course in cutting and fitting, and they can get employment in the school under the careful training of Mrs. England, who has had twenty-five years experience in this department. There will be an experienced teacher in the lit take advantage of this opportunity and fit and prepare herself for the practical needs of the age. With the growth of Birming- ham we must have better schools. Keep your girls off the streets and send them to this school. Girls can work their way through in this school and get work at home. By actual practice they soon be- come experts. Artistic dressmaking, mill linery, fancy work, underwear cooking and laundry work. All will be trained in these useful arts"
 Meeting of Birmingham Women