Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-20
m TEACHING THE TRADES
GERMANY'S LETTE VEREIH
SAID TO BE WITHOUT RIVAL.
No Industry That Women Can En-
gage in Is Neglected-Course
Covers Two Years.

From the New York Tribune.
Though Germany has rot been saNra
so much about the advancement Of WON
en- as have some OF the other nations.
the awakening there has been very rapid
and very marked. Germany has rrac-
teal way with her. and the things done
by and for women in that country have
had a refreshingiy practical turn. Fox
example, Berlin has the largest Industrial
school for women that there Is in Al
the world In this school, the l.etie
Verein. in a great building containing
more than 3co rooms and the most ad-
mirable equipment, many hundreds "
young girls are learning everything froiu
photography to fine sewing, from French
and stenography 10 cooking everyihins
that will At girls 10 make their way IA
the world.
The Lette Nerein was founded IN ls6e
by DR. AGolf Lette then president %. the
great central union for the benent o.
the working classes OF Prussia At a
meeting OF this union IN 1853 resolutions
were adopted setting forth proposition
TO found q separate union for tile purPosa-
of educating women in the traces AMI
Industries
Founded by Royalty.
With true German energy these resoiu-
tfons were acted upon almost at once.
and the next year the industrial school
was established. Not. however. in the inn
mense building II occupies now. Its flrst
home vas modest house in koenS
Graetzer strasse. and fer a long time
this sufficed alter a fashion. But the
school was popular from the first. d. VAS
esta blished under the PATRONAGE Of the
then crown princess. atterward Empress
Friedrich, and upon her death the present
empress, Auguste Victoria. became its
patroness.
BY the beginning OF the present century
1t was very evident that the Lette Nerein
must nave larger quarters. Ground was
purchased in the west end OF the city
the fashionable end. by the way-and
larger house erected. and opened in 1905.
II is a rectangular building with a large
court and gardens. and one Size. too.
gives view upon a charming little park.
the Victoria Louise platz.
No industry that women can engage III
is neglected here. and so thorough is the
training that the girl who enters the
Lette Nerein after being graduated from
high school and remains couple OF years
studying for her chosen trade has ony
herself to blame II she does not learn Il
and learn 1t well. There are state courses
for teachers, too I'm neediework and
many other branches.
The commercial course includes, besides
stenograpny, bookkeeping. etc. French.
English German literature, geography
ana political economy. II covers a perisd
of two years. and the cost is Only >
marks. or about $50, yearly. Sewing IL
taught from its first stage 10 its last
from the threading of the needle 10 the
most finished work. Darning, all kinds
the darning OF the finest fabrics and OF
the coarsest carpets and tapestries-is
made real art.
Fine hand sewing. in the sense our
grandmothers knew it and in the sense
French women know st. is not done in
Germany. The German hausfrau thinks
II foolish to put elaborate work upon thin.
delicate batlste and linen that will not
stand the wear and tear OF the manele-
In the embroidering OF the stout cloth
made by the German manufacturers.
however. they excel; the German empress
herself is q good needlewoman, and sell
dom comes to the afternoon tea hour
without baby blanket or slipper she is
embroidering for some bazaar. All this
work. cross stitch" embroidery, crochet
ing, etc, In taught in one department 'or
the Lette Verein. From another depart
ment hundreds Of qualified dressmakers
are turned out every year-girls who
have learned under excellent teachers
every detail Of the fashioning of gar
ments. Visitors to Berlin, though. say
1t is a mystery where these dressmakers
80, for 1t is almost impossible TO get
garment decently cut or put together
within the confines of the city,
The Love Of Housekeeping.
Bookbinding is a favorite craft with
German women and this department has
twice been enlarged in the Lette Verein.
Hairdressing is another popular course.
The girls bring friends 10 practice upon
and enjoy the lessons immensely But
most interesting of all the departments is
the Victoria household school. Connected
with this department is a pension where
about 100 pupils live and they do all the
work of the house taking turns about