Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-02

also. live alone. In consequence. shiver-
ing and chilled. they eat food bought
ready cooked in small quantities, badly
served and without the repose secured
by sitting down TO a properly served meal.
And all the time the brain is being
worked hard when deprived of it's Iuel.
Resides. living alone preys on a girls
spirits. A woman must lave someone TO
love. and since propinduity plays 80 large
a part in love affairs. the nearest maj at
hand finds a point OF attack. And, II
not a man, often undesirable friendships
are formed.
"A girl to be we'll and normal needs the
surroundings Of home life. where her
emotions can have legitimate play and
cider people watch over her living. sleep
Ing and eating. Decidedly I think moth
ers should not send these girls abroad
alone as they do. Psychologically and
physically IT is unwise. Some come at
Is. with the whole responsibility of liv-
ing in a strange land on their shoulders.
Nervousness and an anaemic condition
are the least of the too often conse 1uent
evils"
Are there many American women
physicians sbroadT'
Not many. | think. L, for instance,
all Nv OHlN AHltHltAn NuUldn III II
in Florence. The reason for this Is easy
enough to understand. for foreign doctors
in continental countries are practically
there on sufferance, unless they take the
diplomas of the country. In Germany
they are not allowed the doctors title.
but must put American diplomas on their
signs. Here in Florence the understand
ing is that they do not practice among
Italians"
signora COntI for Charity work.
A third American woman who is promi-
nent in the life of Florence is Signora
CONT wife of DR.. Guido Cont. Before
her marriage she was Miss Florence Liz
ste Healy. daughter of the late stephen
Weston Healy of Brooklyn, a brother of
Augustus Healy. president of the Brook
Ign Institute of Fine Arts. Stephen Healy
entered the Catholic church In Italy. was
made a Cavalier OF st. Gregory the Great
by Pope Leo XIII, and became a member
of the confraternity of the famous
Mfsericordia. a member of the Third Or
der of ST. Francis and a distinguished
worker in the Order of st. Pau. before
his marriage he won fame as a sroat
traveller. ascending Mount Blanc and
Mount Vesuvius and penetrating African
wilds.
When a mere girl-she is not much more
Iltdig bttdult Impressed DN
tales OF hardships of Italian dressmak-
ers' apprentices. While obtaining their
training they are sent to make purchases
in the small shops kept by men OF. too
often, unenviable regulations. The results
have made the Florentine working blIl
somewhat notorious. Miss Healy con-
cluded that II they could obtain their
trainins in a school and start in life As
wage earners their future was likely to
be more promising. She had read Of
American social work and accordingly lald
ner own plans.
school Is Decided Success.
One day she opened her school in a
building on the grounds of her fathers
home. Later she rented a floor of q
house in the Via Pier Cappopi and this
May moved to better quarters in the Via
del Seraglie, a street well known to all
tourists, Recently l called at the school.
Signora- Cont, who loves everything and
everybody American, quickly made me wei:
come and explained her work. saying that
her dream was TO have IL become an en-
dowed work with the name American In
dustrial School for Italian Working
Girls" The rooms were thronged With
bright-eyed little ItaIisns. some busy at
lessons. some sewing hard in the dress.
making rooms. others preparing dinner.
others cleaning halls and arranging pots
and pans, all happy faced and Fmiilns.
Sometimes 1 have had as many a. sixty
four" said Signora Healy-Conti. I'VE are
required by the municipality to furnish
children who come here with the compul.
sorry course OF study, so I teach them my
self. assisted by a teacher whom pay.
We have a dressmaker to instruct the girls
and / hope TO add a millinery department
later. The domestic course includes cook
Ing, cleaning. See" and she opened a door.
COOkiBG Part of Course.
In a large kitchen with stone floor and
huge Italian range with its tiny charcoal
fire were a number OF pretty girls busily
making soup. peeling potatoes. arranging
papers in the cupboard drawers. preparing
meat. cutting bread. One sirla In "A bust
nesslike way. was taking stock OF provis.
ions, giving out and making records.
w give the whole school a daily din
ner'" explained signora Healy-Conti: the
pupils prepare n entirely. They set the
table and clean the building. One girl
Keeps accounts, another has charge Of our
little library. Each pupil. however. must
become experienced in all the depart
ments.'
tn American woman who conducts the
Arts and Crafts' in florence 10 Mrs. Ar
! thur Murray Cobb. who was Miss LttelI
OF the family OF publishing fame.
On the death OF her husband this win
ter. she took entire charge OF the work
which is carried on In Mrs. BrowninE's old
home. Casa ouidi, and includes the ex-
hibition Of the pictures OF artists, OF an
tiaue jewelry, leather work. etc. in fact,
all included in the term. ARTS and Crafts"
EVA MADDEN.
MnpNAu Arrrn aArR 1919,