The times., 1901-06-09
THE LADY TUTOR.
She Takes the Place of the Obsolete
GOVerness,

For generations the governess has been
firmly established institution in the
homes of the wealthy, both in Great BTi-
tain and America. Now she is fast disap-
pearing and is giving place to the lady
tutor" or the 'tutoress'' Perhaps the
change is only one of rame in many
cases, but in others it is much more, for
the tutoress is required to possess quail
tications greatly superior to those of
which the governess could boast. The
tutOress according to one social authori-
ty, does not expect to entangle the affec-
tions Of the young gentleman of the fam
lily, accept a pittance in exchange for the
instruction she gives or play the part of
mental maid of all work to a crew of
noisy, restless, badly spoiled children.
First and foremost, she is a college grad
uate. with a sheepskin, lot of self-re-
spect, and several specialties. She has
either graduated with a view to making
private instruction, as she calls it, her
life work, or she will take a position as
summer tutor to children whose parents
wish them to be coached in certain lines
and this she does merely to tide over
dull season or accumulate funds for fur
ther intellectual expansion at home or
abroad.
Whether a professional or temporary to-
toreSs she does not pretend to give train
ing in all the arts, sciences, and accom-
pliShments, as her incompetent predeceS-
sor was always willing to guarantee. This
up-tO-date private instructor will conduct
courses in American history and in BIZ
Ology, or higher mathematics and English,
or German literature with music, and the
choice is usually dependent upon what
lines the young lady has followed with
the greatest interest at college. In win
ter and in the city the tutoress prefers to
have her clientele and go from house to
house, giving hours or half hours of in
struction. as do the music teachers.
When the parents, as is usually the case
in summer, want a resident tutOress for
the children, IL would bauch with horror
the cheek of the old-style story book gov
erness TO hear the bold style I'm which the
college-bred tutOreSS speaks up for her
rights. She is, as a rule, willing to take
the children for Instruction just so many
hours every day; her own hours of pri-
vacy and recreation must be respected and
her salary is just about four times as big
as that paid In the days of Jane Eyre and
her sister heiots.
Not often do the parents offer any Sc
rious objections or haggle over terms and
they respect the simply dressed dignihed
clever young women who know their val
ue and their business. A wise parent sets
deal of store by the moral and mental
influence this type of instructress exerts
on the children, and this year a new re-
quirement has creDt into the terms on
which a private inStructresS is engaged.
This is athletics. The tutOresS who can
play golf swim, row. ride, drive has "A
fine wrist for tennis, a good hand on the
tiller, and IS not afraid Of an automobile
can get double the price given her sister
who is all intellectual fire, but lacks in
muscle.
Not only does this muscular tutor get a
higher price for her time and talents but.
as one young woman vyho had a good post
last summer found out, she secures by her
skill and Drawn the particular respect
of her boy scholars. and enjoys a delight
full social value. which without her phys
zeal grace and outdoor accomplishments
would never have fallen to her share.