The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-03
ABOUT ITALIAN WOMEN.
Do They surpass Us In Practical
Trafnfngs

Hard as IL may be TO admit IL, II seems
as If dolce far niente Italy were ahead Of
us when it comes to the practical train
ing Of womankind. We talk good deal
about public school cooking classes, sew
ing classes and singing classes, and most
often weary listening to plans for ser
wants training schools that never mate
rialize. In points of antiquity and per-
sistent reiteration the story of the ser
wants training school Is almost as IA
nous as the woman's hotel story.
In the mean time our households are In
chaos for want of good domestics and our
nerves in tatters through trying to drill
incompetent help AS for shopgirl
who knows a trade factory hand that
knows any trade but the one she is en-
gagged in at the moment-where can they
be found?
They do things differently in easy
going Italy, says the New York Com
or a business education there is not
theoretical. Things are not taught mere
~. They are learned. smattering of
knowledge among the pupils of the trade
schools is as rare as an ugly girl. The
oldest of these training schools is in
Rome. and was established as long ago
as 1876 1t has 900 attendant scholars and
many more are waiting to join when 1t
moves from the large old palazzo. which
ii overflows, into still larger premises. As
soon as their elementary education Is
age-girls begin to attend these schools
They are mainly the daughters of the
workpeople, poor. but, though there Is
often actual want in the homes, italian
parents are fun of foresight and capable
of making every sacrifice to enable their
girls to stay on at school for three. four,
and even six years, so as to ensure for
them a thoroughly efficient education.
Certain studies are compulsory. At first
one is surprised to find that a certain
technical standard of drawing is included
bfrf . hos haara hat
n Knowledge of drawing quickens the OBJ
servation, trains hand and eye. and re-
fines the individual as no other study
does. Cooking and the less elaborate
kinds of neediework are likewise compul-
sorry.
The truly striking part of these institu
lions is the excellence of the work shown,
and the perfect mastery over their ma
terial acquired by young girls of from
fifteen to seventeen. Such embroideries
as they habitually execute could hardly
be seen in this country out of schools of
art. These school girls are drawing de-
signs, copying ancient brocades in a man.
ner indistinGuishable from the originals,
working bedhangings for royal palace,
or gorgeous vestments in gold and coral
and seed pearl for ecclesiastical digni-
taries. the silks for which are all dyed
on the premises. Drawing is taught for
purposes OF designing with every care to
encourage originality geometrical draw
ing, black and white and fashion drawing
for illustrated journals are also studied,
In the artificial flower room the work
done could hold IT'S own against the finest
productions of French fingers. In an
other room all the old 1aces are repro
duced. The fine passementeries and trim
mings used in the dressmaking depart
ment are made in the schools, silk vests
and stockings are knitted by machinery,
while mending is elevated to the rank of
a fine art, and patches are inserted In
torn garments which are literally iuvisi-
bic.
rla no how c1,+ Cd
certificates in these delicate accomplish
ments will be able to turn out piles of
finely ironed and gauffered garments, can
make exquisite underlinen, cut out and
make a dress efficiently, and will go into
the large kitchen. with its rows of bur
nished copper utensils, and cook good
plain dinner. with knowledge of the
scientific principles involved.
AT the examinations tasks are set to
be done against time, and girl will pass
triumphantly through half dozen tests
in the course of two or three days. A
young woman who has obtained her GER
tificates and who goes thus equipped into
the labor market is at no loss for en-
ployment She is always able to earn
nearly double the wages accepted by the
unframed, often much more. She may
become a teacher in one of the institu-
tons. or lady's maid at high salary;
she may decide to be a florist, an enbroid-
eress or a dressnaker; she may work in
her own home at ironing or fashion draw
ing. or take situation as bookkeeper;
but in any case she knows her own value,
and if one trade is slack she can turn to
another. She and her fellow students
form the aristocracy of labor among the
women of Italy. They keep up prices and
work at the top. where there is, and for
long time will be, plenty of room for
the best. Similar institutions have been
established in Florence, Milan. Turin,
Venice. and Palermo. The smaller towns
are following suit.
The striking efficiency attained young
is due. perhaps, in some measure 70
natural aptitude in the Italian, partly to
the excellence of the teaching and super
vision. the devotion of teachers, stimu-
lated and supported on every hand with
enthusiasm. and, above all. to the unre-
hitting six hours Il day application dur
ing those years when the girl is peculiarly
receptive. but in which, with us. she is
too often sacrificed to the supposed neces-
sity for earning an immediate scanty
wage.