New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-03

silk and cretonre. In this line II has intro
duced new industries TO America never known
here before. perfumeTy house hitherto i'm
porting all its boxes from Europe gave the
school order. IL made fourteen hundred OF
these fine fancy boxes and the firm begged Il 70
continue. but all the girls had learned 20 make
the boxes, so the work changed. One Of
the FIRMS own workers was taught the trade at
the firms expense. This department Is not as
popular with the students as the millinery and
dressmakinS departments. This is due 70 the
poor pay in the lower grades OF the industry
and the fact that the girls do not know the pos
sibiHttes Of advance in the skilled grades 20
good salaries and delightful occupations BOX
making has risen % a great industry. Thou
SANDS or articles OF food, clothing and orDa-
ment are now delivered IN boxes which were
not in former years. The higher grade OF these
boxes. the daintiest trjffes OF silk. velvet and
fancy papers. are imported Gum and glue nsy
lead expert girls 10 good pay and comparatively
easy work in this lire. and mere are called for
in IL than be supplied
In thing the school furnishes a model
for all public schools. The eyes OF the pup!'s
are regularly examined. particularly IL the girl
Is doing work requiring eye and nerve strain.
and glasses are provided If necessary Ears and
threats are also watched. and constant instruc-
ton given in the care Of health The result IS
shown in the greatly decreased need Of medical
attendance. In the great gymnasium the girls
have daily games and gymnastics under trained
supervision. 4 splendid new development has
been the night classes. opened last fall These
are continuation classes for women already
ployed. teaching them more expert, difficult and
hlShly paid work. This Is the hrst work OF TINS
kind tor women In New York. though London Is
full Of it, and working girls have fiocSed 20 IL IN
numbers that could not be accommodated. the
classes must be small and special teachers are
required.
The way In which the working girls Of Man
haitian have come 10 the support of this school
Is most interesting There are now forty aUXil-
larry societies of wage earuers, and girls in me
shops and stores OF New York have contributed
over $1,000 20 the school during the last year
The alUmnP have formed association The
first gift to the endowment fund was made by
girl student I'm a fashionable school She col
leCted 81 600 and sent il in the name Of the prtn
cipal of the school There are now about five
hundred pupils in night and day classes. The
school filed Sc 100 worth of orders in 1906 for
the regular trade at regular trade prices This
shows that the work Is not amateur. but pro-
fessOnal. and can compete in the open market
Two hundred certificates have been given 20
students and as these certificates are never
given to girls till they have been employed SOW
eral months satisfactorily to their employer. the
certificate means economic efficiency. The grad
yates are earning from SO 20 a week for begin
ners to SIC q week for some who began two or
three years ago.
The school needs roof garden for summer
exercise. 1t needs baths and swimming pool
an adequate supply of periodicals for its reading
room. II needs a museum of manufacture.
showing manufacturing processes and the nm
ished products Much of this material would
be contributed by manufacturers II the. school
had cases to keep II in. II wants to organize
girls and mothers clubs and give receptions to
students. aIumne and their friends II wants
10 keep the school open every working day ana
night the year round. II needs $4,000 10 pay
mortgage and 100000 year for running eS-
penses. During 1906 40 persons did active. I'M
paid work for the school every week. Tho
prime object of the school is TO seize and to IN
duce other educational institutions TO seize the
two years of the working girls life from four
teen TO sixteen. She is required by law TO re-
main in the public schools till fourteen. At
fourteen she goes 10 work. ignorant, tncompc-
tent. irresponsible and at less than living wage.
Employers unite in saying that the girl IS not
OF much value TO them till she is sixteen These
two years could be employed in making the gil
a skilled workwOman, that she could enter a
trade at a living wage and with chance of an
ambition TO rise Miss Virginia Potter. the presi-
dent and Mrs WoOlman. the director. Of this
school, with their various helpers, are doing. per
haps. the most useful educational work ever
done for American working girls