Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-12-29

Wv "'S NoiOi GU Inc WHITES Tor tnI
most part are foreigners, who avail
themselves Of the classes in the com
mon branches and Of the classes
full to running over, which teach
English to foreigners.
Americans make up the classes II
manual training, thirty-one in all
OF which those in dress making fol
women, and those in the care OF
boilers and in electricity for men, are
most crowded. There are eight dress
making classes, and the course oil
four lessons week turns out fin.
ished dress-makers in three years.
The cooking classes are full-oi
men as well as women, Here is
taught not only domestic and fancy
cooking, but also institutional and
restaurant cooking.
Much of the present interest in in.
dustrial training is due to the efforts
OF the settlement workers. Green
wich House In Jones street maintains
a handicraft school where girls and
women are instructed in lace making,
| weaving ana allied crafts.
The classes are under the direction
of Miss Katherine Lord and are held
| for the most part In her studio, an
old stable discovered by Miss Lord
In the rear of the settlement house,
and so delightfully."- fitted up as to
tempt one to become lace maker, If
only for the surroundings.
These girls and women, Italian
for the most part, though twenty ma
tionalities are represented in the
block in which the school is located
can make, mend, alter and match
various laces, Irish crochet, Carrick-
macross, Limerick and several kinds
OF pillow laces, and are now being in
structed in Venetian point,
1T has been a surprise to me to
see how readily the girls have learned
the lace work and the interest and
pleasure they take in It," said Miss
Lord. zone of the first who came to
us was a pitiful little hunchback,
who came in preference to going to
an ostrich feather place, where the
work would soon have wrecked such
frail health as she had.
We almost hesitated about TAX
ing her, But you should see her
now. She Is one or our best vvorkers.
neat, quick and with real feeling for
the lace as it grows under her hands.
Her health Is greatly improved,
while her joy in her work and in her
surroundings here in the settlement
is a pleasure to every one who comes
near her"
In old Greenwich Village, too, Is
the Needlecraft School, where twenty
girls, mostly Italians, are learning to
do fine embroidery in colored silks.
This school Is not connected with any
settlement, but is maintained by pri-
vate persons, with an interest in
training the girls to fit them for more
profitable employment than tho in
evltable factory Offers
The largest and most ambitious of
the lace making schools is the one
at Richmond House in Macdougal
street Although in a settlement
building, it is not part of it, and is
maintained by an entirely separate
organization.
This school is closely allied with
those lately established in Italy for
the revival of lace making among
women and girls. Signorina Mari,
who assisted in organizing them, is
at the head of the one here. The
tWenty-four girls in her classes are
taught the Italian laces, and especial
ly the old Italian cut work.
The work Is beautiful, but it Is far
from expensive, and the person who
expects to pick up Christmas presents
at bargain prices here will be disap-
pointed. A small pillow cover or bag
brings from $40 to $50, while bed
spreads, curtains and similar large
pieces run we'll up into the hundreds.
The pupils earn from 81 to So a
week while learning. and as they
gain in proficiency their wages are
steadily raised.
OF the making Of demonstrators
there Is no end. A woman may, If
she chooses, take course in gas
stoves, with good place waiting for
her when she has finished, and is pre-
pared to demonstrate a stoves vir-
tues and correct its vices.
She may receive special instruction
in sewing machines, and forthwith
proceed to earn her living by dissem-
mating her knowledge. She may
learn to be a trained nurse maid or a
mothers helper, lady's maid or a
telephone girl, all at no cost to her
self.
Whenever there Is a strong public
interest In any particular subject,
just as surely will there be chances
to become experts in it. For the past
few years every place that instructs
chauffeurs has been full to running
over, while recently the demand for
competent operators for motor boats
has been so great that a school has
been organized with regular course
of instruction In that subject with
full training In construction and prac-
tical drill in operating under all cir
CumBtanceB,
Some of the railroads have opened
schools for the instruction of their
dining car conductors in department
and conduct, as well as in the COM
missary department of the service.
One of the big retail cigar companies
has a course of two weeks, which all
the clerks are required to take, In
treatment Of customers and the judg-
ing of tobacco,
When 1t comes to special instruc-
ton where fee is involved, the OPP
portunities are as the sands of the
sea, One may study to be a manicure
or an actor, real estate expert or a
barber, a Wall street investor or an
office boy-it is simply a matter of
the price and the time.-New York
! Sun.
The Tiber is Not All Yellow.