The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-08
400 WAISTS IN TWO WEEKS.
NEW YORK SCHOOLGIRLS TO SAN
FRANCISCO'S AID.
Ply Their Needles Fast n Provide Gar
mcnts for Teachers who Lost All In
the Earthquake Di~saste Forty Shirt
Waist Suits Also Made I'm Q Jihy'

the Earthquake Disastef -FOfty bhaft
Waist Suits Also Made IN Q Jiny.
In a little more than two weeks-the
closing weeks OF the school term-girl
pupils in certain New York public schools,
aided by their teachers. have turned out
about 400 shirt waias and forty shirt waist
suits to be sent to San Francisco. To
accomplish this the efforts Of the pupils
In the periods assigned to needlework have
been concentrated wholly on shirt waists In
the sizes Of 80, SO and 40 inches-fgures, by
the way, which indicate that in the opinion
Of the promoters OF the school shirt waist
industry, the day Of the small schoolmarm
has passed. At any rate 1t Is certain that
should there be among the 200 teachers
whose wardrobes were burned up one In
need OF a 81 inch shirt waist she woa't be able
10 pick a fit from the collection now on Its
way West.
But then, as a practical woman pointed
out, it's a good deal easier to make q garment
smaller than to enlarge it. For, OF course,
the 400 shirt waists are for the needy San
Francisco teachers, 200 Of whom lost their
Positions and half that number all their
worldly goods also,
Some time aft May I, when the petition
for money subscriptions for destitute
teachers reached the New York public by
way of the marlborough council OF teachers
which appointed q committee OF seven
New York principals to take such steps
as they deemed necessary to further the
end in view, Mrs. Katherine Blake, the only
woman on the committee, received O letter
from the supervisor of schools at San Fran
CISCO, asking for clothing for the women
teachers. This letter she answered by
sending out a printed appeal to the public
for donations Of wearing apparel. Then
she hit on a plan to insure at least a new
shirt waist or two to every needy teacher.
Materials were purchased, principals
of other schools were communicated with
and their pupils in turn were confronted
at the very next sewing hour with a pink,
blue, green, yellow, brown or red shirt
waist, newly cut out.
As the story goes, never before did the
girls sew with such energy. never before
show 80 little disposition to shlrk. The
time was short. Only two weeks OF the
school term remained, consequently into
that two weeks must be crowded the max
ing of all the shirt waists their principals
enthusiasm led them to undertake some
times a good many.
1T was a good discipline for some Of the
girls who had ever dreamed Of putting
together a waist for themselves, said q
teacher whose eyes never left the button.
hole she wa making as she talked. why
nc white waists? Well, water is scarce
these days in San Francisco and for practi-
cal purposes Miss Blake thought it better to
confine Our efforts to colored waists.
a1ua ,,ota.iol for o,ab x,oiat 1oato about
30 cents, whereas the waist could not be
purchased made up for less than one dollar.
Besides, it is probable that the clothing
contributed by the public will include
shirt waists and that they will be white
for the good reason that it Is hardly possible
to buy a colored shirt waist anywhere.
Eyes, we have made the waists with Ions
sleeves, thinking that the future owners
could cut them of If they preferred shor,
sleeves"
Pupils Of the Girls Technical High
School, which includes a dressmakinl
department, distinguished themselves by
going the grammar school girls one better
making shirt waist suits, forty Of Their
And I wish we had time to make 200,
q graduate remarked with animation.
1T was only right that the pupils, teacher
and principals Of our schools should give
lift 10 our sisters in trouble" Miss Blak'
said earnestly, Had not the calamity oc
CURED many of the New York public schoo
teachers would nave been entertained by tn
San Francisco teachers this month at tn
meeting of the National Education Associa
ton, which was scheduled to take place l
hat city.
Zone, two and three delegates from ever
New York school expected to be present
which meant that the San Francisco teacher
were ready to dip down deep into thei
rockets in our behalf. Now that we have
chance let us return the compliment.
$50 far the public has contributed neari
si1 900 for the teachers relief and Masnu
Gross, chairman of the committee, starte
West a few days ago taking along 5000
for immediate distribution among tn
teachers most needing help.
Bundles and boxes of clothing are ar
irving at the Board of Education head