Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-14
GEO, v. CABLES CLUB
Bringing Happiness and Refine
ment to the Wage-Earner.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE HOME
instruction on Practical Subjects by
Lectures and Lessons.
PRIZES FOR BEST GARDENS
Girls From Smith College Co-Operat-
ing in the Culture Movement
in Northampton.
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald
NORTH A MPT0N Mass


September 5, 1907.
George W. Cable author Of the charming
stories OF creole life in Louisiana, which
we have all read with so much interest. has
been living for and working for several
years in Northampton. He has chosen this
city for his home because of the climate.
the beautiful natural surroundings. the So
cial attractions and other reasons. and Is
the favorite as well as favored citizen
In the community. Mr.. Cable does not con-
fine his labors to literature. however He
spends a great deal of his time In the
management of Home Culture Club"
Of which he is president. and which he in
vented to bring more happiness. refinement
and comfort into the homes OF the wage
earners Of Northampton and promote
friendly relations between the various ele-
ments OF society. which other activities
such as commerce, the industries. educa-
tional training and social selection-tend
too much to put apart and estrange. An
other object Is the improvement Of the home
itself to convince the wage earning men,
bers of the population Of the value Of neat
ness, decoration. gentle manners and other
refining influences. Mr.. Gable believes In
what he calls 1.-The large public value of the
private home in shaping the conduct and
character of the individual He believes
that more culture can be accomplished by
personal contact and friendship. than by
books or lectures or other forms of In
struction
With the financial assistance of Mr.. Car
negia three buildings have been erected In
the rear of the First Congregational
Church, just little off the main street Of
northampton. which contains central hall
for amuSements, lectures, dancing, amateur
theatricals and other assemblies, which can
accommodate about 1900 people; and Is
thoroughly equipped with theatrical seen
cry and properties. Another building Is
ot1I Iy- NI~or rlpb
nasium, bathrooms and amusements rooms.
while the third is divided into forty class
rooms. where instruction Is given In all
kinds Of subjects by paid teachers and vol
unteers from the students at Smith COL
lege Mr. Gable tells me that last year
275 Smith girls participated In the work
and especially were very useful In carry
ing on the social features. They mingled
with the young men and women from the
factories and the shops on level, and
made friends with many of them. partici-
pating in their amusements, their studies
and their work. The effect upon them
was quite important, upon their pro-
teges. The experience gave them broader
and more accurate view of the daily life of
the wage-earners, promoted q democratic
spirit and an interest In human nature.
About Six Hundred Members.
1.-THE membership this year, as always.
has represented many sorts Of people
studying many different subjects" said Mr..
Cable. 1--WE have about 600 members, 800
teachers and about 400 people OF all ages
who use the clubhouse regularly for other
purposes than study. OF those coming for
study 426 received instruction In the
academic branches, 143 in cooking and
waitress work, 206 In dressmaking MILL
merry and sewing. lat in music, "a in draw
ing and embroidery. 14S In physical Gull
ture and 315 in dancing and department:
Many Of our members have taken several
Of the courses. Those who apply for
Of foreign birth who wish to acquire the
English language or make up for the de-
fective education Of their youth. num-
Der of young people are studying French,
German and Spanish. The most of them
are clerks, stenographers and others who
want to acquire accomplishments, but sew
eral Of them are of foreign birth and can
speak their parents language but cannot
read or write 1t, and want to write to their
old home In their old language. We had
seventeen different nationalities represent
ed among our members last year.
"Others seek instruction to qualify them
selves for better employment than they are
holding; they want to be promoted to posi-
tons from which they are debarred by edu-
cational disqualif1cationS; but the larger
part are foreigners who want to learn Eng
fish. We have several boys preparing for
college and earning their living at the same
time.
.The domestic science department in
cludes all classes Of society-women Of
leisure, Smith College students. wives and
daughters Of workingmen, cooks, wal
tresses and maids In domestic service and
operatives in the mills who are anxious to
learn scientific cooking and the proper
preparation of foods. The dressmaking de-
partment is attended by some of the same
classes but chiefly by operatives from the
mills who want to make their own gar
ments or are anxious to get out of that life
and find more agreeable and profitable en-
ployment These people are divided into
classes of from two or three to twenty or
thirty, and meet their teachers In rooms
set apart for them after the work hours of
the day are over, and spend an hour or
two in practical study. We have seven ex-
pert teachers who are paid salaries and
have charge Of the different departments.
They are assisted by volunteer teachers
who show great enthusiasm and in many
cases. unusual tact and ability.
Where the Members Come From.
ut is interesting to know the different
classes from which our students come.
said Mr.. Cable as he handed me the fol-
lowing statement:
From factories mills and shops ........... 2S3
Children Of school age. l39
Housewives chiefly OF mechanics families. AZ
Persons In domestic service .................. 62
rron, stores and offices ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 81
Skilled mechanics. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. -
Railroad men and farmers. Observation-Disclosures. 16
Small tradesmen. ...................- -