The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-06

de Santa Caterina at Monte'eone said, with
no thought or presentiment OF the tragic
manner n which her wish was TO be made
real:
Il would like to see Calabria and Italy
become the California Of Europe"
One of the man lace schools established
by the Countess has thus been described
by a recent visitor:
-One enters a long, low building. A
hundred small chairs line the walls Of the
largo, cool, brick paved room where we
stand. Little girls from 7 years upward
are the pupils. At this time OF the year
many are needed in the fields, but they
can often manage to come for an hour or
an hour and q half q day. Once n poor
little maiden only 4 years old wanted
&, work. but the rules were against taking
any one so young. Nothing daunted. she
begged some pins and bobbtns and per-
suaded the other pupils to give two or
three yards OF their thread to her. And
80 she began. The littlest laborers are OF
course set to work by the teachers at SIM
plest designs, and it Is a pretty sight to
see them at,their tasks out OF doors, which
they prefer to sitting inside
The Countess nodded with appreciation
as she read the description, adding to 1t
the information that the school system
Is thoroughly cooperative
1.-The cooperative sp irit is shown In the
smallest details, she said. "When a little
girl has learned one or two stitches she
must teach them to some one more Ignorant
thar herself before she in turn can advance
a step and take up the next stitch.
ethical qualities are rewarded above
mere proficiency, The first prize awarded
annually ia a golden three leafed clover
On a gold chain and Is given for the three
virtues Of self control, order and truth
fulness.
aThe first craft school started was in tho
district Of Udine, where Is the interesting
old ruin OF the Brazza castle. 1t is In
the most fertile agricultural district. No
worthier location could nave been chosen
for an experiment. The very air breathes
hope, and the school has reached the point
where now 1t only needs outside help to make
1t q complete success.
The cost of construction OF a cooperative
refuge workroom and school OF course de-
ponds upon the size OF the hamlet, village
or town, varying from 81 200 to $4,000.
the latter figure including Fairgrounds,
cooking department and model farm build
ings, which in Calabria are designed to
reestablish the cultivation OF the silk worm.
Then there Ia the cost OF teaching, raw
materials and wages. The most careful
computation shows that after the third
year these places will be self-supporting.
and after that profits on the investment
will follow in steady course
Although there is a general idea that the
Countessrs schools teach lace work only,
l. the work turned out includes embroideries,
7 vellum, coral and fine needlework OF all
kinds. -.
Il am working toward the period, said
she, awhen I hope to see the expectation
OF the. goods, not the woman-that Is my
rri de querre. 1t Is a work that is especially
interesting TO the American, for 1t stri kes
at the very root Of the question that is
agitating the thinking minds that Of
immigration.
1The majority Of the Italian immigrants
come from the districts Of Calabria and
Sicily. The number, already large enough
in the past, has become larger through the
laynR0a oil the recent