New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-10-21
A FINISHING SCHOOL.
Where Little Waits Are Trained
to Enter Refined Homes.

Finishing schools are as old as the hills. but the
Temporary Home for Younger Children maintained
b the Children's Aid Society, at No. 442 West go
street, is certainly a kind OF finishing school.
Finishing schools are popularity supposed 10 exist
for the cultivation Of those social graces which
commonly distinguish persons Of the favored
Classes from the rank and file Of humanity. But
TIE Chldreu's Aid Society's school is intended for
tie cultivation % those graces among the poor and
o1tcast the little neglected boys and girls who
would have neither home nor friends # il were not
tor the society. The school prepares these small
oaroaTians 70 20 into the best homes IN the land
as naturally and easily as If they had been used
70 such surroundings all their lives and il IS Won
oeTtUl what can be accomplished in a few months
HiiAougn there is no foundation TO build On as in
ne ordinary finishing school. and the home has to
1- Is o P9fR the beginning and the end.
ff1j en5 -, - ne IpIlllatlye period Of child
Iaey 50 into families IN All paris ~ ,b
= 5 1sie are never enough children 10 satisfy
LAe curriculum is entirely an informal one and
erer hight. With music g sg5 5SlTrc'oTs party
e1lei features OF the course Of study This IS IN
1aents Of the arrivals hut il Trete- r,Clrg =,
i-s - ls efo us purpose Is instruction for no one
oles who mas been al the home long enough 10 BE-
Cc--e proaclent- Unconscious grace and freedom
6S The air they breathe
f6s s5-- ~ P-IcS me cIe4 ~ ,haTmony with
g. u - lJ---lLss 1'ictl Will later De theirs.
soon become accustomed 10 better things All OF
tae clothes are Of good quality and no attempt is
SE--dTen 70 wear cheap shoes SAYS Mrs. j. j..
So-Tl-e, the mother of tho flock we are making
lttle ladies and gentlemen out Of them. and cor
tl-n!y ladies' and gentlemen would not be expected
Play is Ire order Of the day. and with twenty or
thine there few dull moments. OF course. the
81 is "a 1a-1e- ~ - 80 - The rif,5r 49, -
HgIT ~ H.4rg hey
- no. badly off a big, spacious FIRE escape runs
VINO Hig enough 10 walk use il in preference 10
tae stairs. This IS encouraged because ii takes
tAe children into the fresh air ana Is also per
petual FIRE drill.
lessons which have been lhoughressly learned dur
lfg the CAV moulded into conscious rules Of
III Of the ii-te cea:rs are dr.. Wn 1Ip in circle
enc M ColVIle starts the discussion By saying
end cannot JOIN sc.ivey in al Of n. fun of the
has been joyfully beating time with his feet. ana
eTes IS Hardly G6expected Next comes Nude
Fsdde 80 - ST. No. liHr he1+ i,5H
egenly the children have Installed them 50 fire.
sre known by no other names than Fadder and
g. - ~ -cqeT cay Ioo, Eas been lIel"9del,
IL room while Fadder has read the newspaper;
before she confdes that she has been cross and
i5sl she has not had good day she = soTIE,
one Mrs. Colville once remarked that she could
nave gotten HLI on the FlRnt SlfE OF the bs'l
tees pulled out from the wall. The sides thus
have remained for each succeeding occupant ever
tAce And 50 il goes around the circle, all anayz-
.g 10 The best Of their ability the causes which
!!sEe made the day pleasant or dark, and al Of
YEN resolving that tomorrow Will be the best day
q. There couple II songs after this. and be
3fe NE last one rs finished the whole party
nc refrain Good night. good night" gradually
oylng away IN the hall below.
~ this way hundreds 81 children prepared for
bitcr things. one little girl lives with her adopted
Parents IN Fifth avenue and every day rolls up
Die while her Summers spent in the family
country home in The Adirondacks. \ l!tte boy is
other little girl is an heiress Or course. for each
- nhese there arc hundreds Of others ID ordinary
tuntiee
sHpTt Is made 10 learn al about their antecedentF
T.. me Information Of those who VIII take men
81 NE case Of one little four sold boy IN
eH l.s instance his new family were dellgntcd, pc
&c nc. said he would have b" history NO.
Z, q spite OF the fact that these children are
4.aeea On exhibition before prospective parents
- indeed SAYS Mrs.. CoiVilIc they never dream,
IT. and when, after talking with the people, ]
1la aEs Ip my mind as 20 what sort Of chhd me.
sS1.l, MAKE my selection. Thus the constant
minds" '-' " No.
Some morning Mrs colvllle asks one Of the Httle
go u Le does not want 10 go away with her the
.+s.tI fel3y ls never slow 10 follow. and 50 II -
5nsae from the temporary home 10 the permanent
y never seems 81 al strange TO the chiditn
=, ~, come 70 see them. This she does frequently.
fhe 49, ssfe l5ai they are n good hands ana also.
eealfeg out II hey life Visiting in this Is
49,, ~ ne most prominent features of the Chill
Entails hundreds Of miles of rallroadng and OF
-.s4.s oyer country roads.