New-York tribune., 1909-02-21
TEACHING THE TRADES
Germany's Lette Verein Sad To BE
WHhOut RiUal an World.

Though Germany has not been saying so much
about the advancement OF women as have some OF
the other nations. the awakening there has p7eh
very rapid and very marked Germany has prac-
ticaI way with her, and the things done py ana
for women In that country have had a refreshinsly
practical turn. For example, Berlin has the Iarg-
est industrial school for women that there Is III
all the world In this school. the Lette Nerein N a
great building containing more than two hundreu
rooms and the most admirable equipment many
hundreds Of young girls learning everything
from photography to fine sewing from French ana
stenography to cooking-everythinE that VIII IT
girls 10 make their way the world
The Latte Verein founded in 1856 by Dr
Adolf I.atse then president of the great central
Union for the benefit Of the working classes III
Prussia. At a meeting of this union IN 1900 feso
luions were adopted setting forth proposition to
found separate union for the purpose OF educ1t-
ing women in the trades and Industries WIN
true German energy these resolutions were acteo
upon almost and the next year the lhuus-
trial school established. Not however III lne
immense building il occupies now. lis hrst hoIhe
vas q modest house in KONG GratZer Strasse' ana
for long time this sufflced after fashion bu'
the school was popular from the first IL was es-
tablished under the patronage OF the tHeh oio"H
Princess afterward Empress Friedrich, and upon
her death the present Empress, Auguste Victoria
became its petrOness-
Nv the beginning Of the present century ii was
very evident that the Lette Nereih mus ia.
larger quarters Ground purchased IN the west
end of the city-the fashionable end. by the way
and a large house erected, and opened IN ISO5- II
q q rectangular building with large court ana
gardens, and one side. too gives a view upo"
charming little park, the Victoria Louise lde%-
M industry that women engage in IS neglect
ed mere and so thorough IS the training that inc
girl who enters Lette Nerein after oelnG 81
nted from high school and remains coup'e u
wears studying her chosen trade has only Het
self 20 blame II she learn 1t and learn II
we'll There are state courses for teachers too In
needlework and many other branches
The commercial course includes. Desdes stenog-
raphv. bookkeeping etc. French. English, German
literature geography and political economy Il COW
ers a period of years and the cost Is only zVO
marks or about so. yearly. Sewing is taught from
its first stage its last-from the threading OF te
needle to the most finished work. Darning, ali
binds-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 il and in the sense French women kno" H. |
IS not done in Germany. The German hausfrau
thinks II foolish to put elaborate work upon thin,
delicate batiste and linen that will not stand the
wear ard tear Of the mangle. In the emorolderlhs
of the stout cloth made by the German manutact- |
1,rers however they excel: the German Empress !
herself Is a goC d needlewOman and seldom comes |
10 the afternoon tea hour without baby blanket !
or slipper she is embrodering for some bazaar
Al this work, cross stitch embroidery. crochet- |
ing etc is taught in department of the Lette |
Verein. From another department hundreds OF !
qualified dressmakers are turned every year !
girls who have learned under excellent teachers |
every detail the fashioaug OF garments (Eisit-
ors to Berlin, though, say II is mystery where |
these dressckers 60 for II is almost impossible TO
get a garment decently cut or put together within
the confines Of the city)
Bookbindng is ii favorite craft with German |
women, and this department has twice been en- |
larged in the Lette Nerein Hardressng is another !
popular course The girls bring friends to practise
upon, and enjoy the lessons immensely. But most !
OF all the departments is the Victoria !
school Connected with this department |
is a pension where about hundred pupils live. |
and they do all the work the house taking turns |
about al sweeping. scrubbing, going TO market. |
baking cooking setting the table. that each |
one learns each detail housekeeping In the Lette
Verein itself less than eight large kitchens. |
and II is an interesting sight when the girls at
work-torty fifty of them gathered around one |
Of the big in the centre Of kitchen in their
trim blue and white gowns big aprons and mob |
caps. The houseIeepn course is the cheapest in |
the school-only 500 marks $3.50 including board !
at the pension-and it the most popular. Most !
German girls have the love Of housekeeping In their
blood The little daughter of the Emperor loves to
play being cook. and kitchen is fitted up Tor
her beneht in the palace at Potsdam. OF all her
lighthouses il IS said she loves this best.
Theoretical instruction is not neglected the
I.ette Verein Lectures the values Of food prod
uets ere given constantly part of the regular
course.
The school is in charge Of women chiefly: in fact
there is only one man director in the institution
t1SIT SChuIls IfeUche al the mead or the photOg- :
raphy department. This by the way is said to
be tho largest and best equipped Photography de-
partnent in the world
Living Is made economical as possible for pu-
pills at the Lette Verein. There are two pensions
in connection with IL, and the rates at these pen-
sions are very moderate. The institution has had
several large bequestS and endowments Of late so
its future is assured. or the work done the yearIv
exhibitions are an earnest The Emprezs na,,ar
fails t. attend these exhibitions