The Washington times., 1902-07-27
Keeps Oh ldren From the
Streets and Affords
Lasting Benefits.
A MOST EFFECTIVE WORK
Daily Sessions at Which Various Prac-
tical Trades Are Taught Students of
All Classes-Better Chance Thus Of
fe-ed to Earn a Livelihood.

The question of providing properly
for poor children in summer has been
partially solved. at least. In the WORK
Of the vacation school in this city. Max
ing 4 play ground of the street, and
wandering into mischief at distance
from the home is not a promising field
for the devclopement of character
Moreover, the hot surroundings of the
house in the alley or among the low
rental tenements afford small comfort
for restless boy or girl, and freQuentl!
the first steps in a career of vice arf
taken in the effort of the child of the
poor to obtain relief from the hard lot
in which his life is cast.
Police records show that Incidence Is
the mother of crime for boys and girls
In the formative period OF their lives,
ahd what to do with the children of the
poor during the long vacation has been
an unsoived problem in charity circles
for years.
The vacation school plan, worked out
SO successfully by MIR. Raymond Rior-
don, has become ar effective charity,
since it aims to form rather than re-
form the character of poor children.
Thesc are cordially welcomed into the
schools and are brought under the
influence of refined teachers to be
instructed along many lines OF
handicraft for six weeks during the
summer Industrial work is preferred
because of its novelty and usefulness,
for that in the grades during the regu-
lar term is of an academic character.
Keeping Children From Mischief.
The work at Stevens vacation schcul
is of this direct, practical character,
and the verbal and written messages OF
grateful appreciation received by Mr..
F. L. Cardozo, jr., would seem to indi-
cate that some measure of success had
and planned to carry out the mission
ary and other purposes of the scheme.
In the vicinity are many alleys and
courts, which, as a result of the work
of Christian people, pour forth their
child population to be kept out of mis-
chief for three hours of each day. 1t
has become more popular, however,
than intended, for children are cunning
not only from the places mentioned,
but from distances so remote as Tenley
town, Rosslyn and Brightwood
Daily sessions are held from 9 to Il
O'Clock The program for the fifth to
the eighth grades is so arranged that
each class is divided into three sec
tions. and each of the latter takes
three subjects every day. Experience
hot &c
feasible, especially for advancement. In
the seventh grade. by way of illustra-
tion, from 9 to 10 o'clock daily a sec
tion works at dressmaking, another at
embroidery, and a third at cooking: at
10 O'Clock a shift is made. and from that
hour TO IL O'Clock the foregoing Sec
tions will work, respectively, at type
writing, drawing. and Venetian iron
work: and finally, from II to II o'clock
at millinery, carpentry, or cooking.
Studies That Are Taught.
Mrs. Alice R. Dunbar has made short
hand and typewriting SO popular that
not only pupils from the grades, but
many from the manual training, high,
and normal schools have been attracted
to her classes. Much ground has been
covered, and such enthusiastic interest
awakened that her pupils will probably
find means to continue after the ses-
sion is over.
Mrs. Mccoy, of the Indian Office, Wis
tied the school recently, and was so de-
lighted with the novel idea of convert
ing tin cans and old scraps OF tin into
useful kitchen and household articles
that She accepted one as souvenir,
and later sent the lad who made IL %
cents. MIR. Baltimore, much amused.
stated afterward that his boys and
girls had earnestly besought him to
have more of such articles made imme-
diatcly.
The exhibition in the millinery and
basketry department is both interesting
and suggestive. Miss Beatrice Lewis,
herself an expert. had on hand at the
beginning several models OF hats,
baskets, etc, and since then her pupils
have been taught how TO make hat
frames, cut, sew, and braid strips of
tissue paper, and then to form, trim, and
finish the hat. so that there are already
for inspection over fifteen hats made by
the pupils themselves. Each girl will
have hat to wear for the rest of the
summer at least. Baskets. mats, doll
baby hats, etc, etc, are also On hand
in great prcfusion.
Teaching Girls Trade.
The girls were not slow In seeing the
practical value Of dressIaaking as taught
by Mrs. Mile G. Lewis and Miss Sallie
Comes. and have advanced rapidly in
the work, so that having gone through
the mysteries OF drafting, pattern
making. and machine stitching, some
have now finished several garments,
which together with other articles are
hung about the room.
Having had drawing during the regu
lar term. some pupils at first seemed in
clined 10 neglect It for other branches.
but Mr. Boynton Dodson Immediately
proceeded 20 shew them that vacation
school drawing was very fascinating
business. A pyrograph, or burnt wood
outfit was purchased. and some very
clever devices in cardboard construction,
and lettering were introduced, with the
result that much pleasure ard profit
have been secured fro:l the work in the
drawing room.
Discipline Practically Unknown.
Discipline is unknown in the school.
for vacation order is the rule. and un-'
less some little chap gets too boisterous
no restraint is exercised. "Whistling or
singing az ones task makes time pass
more rapidly ard less tediously. Work
eheerfully done Is better done"
Especially pleasing features to the
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