The Washington times., 1914-01-24
Would You Be a
Mother to 90
Boys?

Copyright 1914 by the Press Publishing Coz
q n OTHER to ninety boys, and
NH more wanted! That's what
Nl Mrs. Frank E. Crary, of Min
neapolis, is. She's like the
Old Lady who lived in a shoe. in the
purnbel of children she %mothers''-but
Mrs. Crary DOES know what to do:
and she's doing 1t so well that the real
mothers of these ninety rollicking.
happy youngsters have come to realize
that when their sons grow to manhood.
they will have ninety as near perfect
husbands as ninety men could wish for.
Mrs. Crary is house mother to the
boys OF the Thomas Arnold public
school
Watching the boys on their way to
schCCI, with their lunch boxes under
their sturdy arms, gave Mrs. Crary her
idea. She thought how much tastier
and more healthful a hot lunch would
he for them. Then she formulated her
plan and took it to the teachers and to
members of the board of education.
Fine; the very thing: begin right
away" was the comment of everyone
she spoke to. Out Of money the boys
gUt through sale OF their work at the
rTanUal training classes, they laid in
supply of provisions and Mrs. Crary
cooked the lunches. From that 1t was
IN easy and logical step to teaching
the boys TO do the cooking themselves
Now hot MONDAY meals are cooked
FCr the boys and the teachers. Some
times the main article is vegetable
soup: sometimes it is nourishing stew;
-Iways there is a dessert pudding TO top
OF with, or baked apples.
SIX boys, selected by themselves, are
IN charge of the cooking each week.
They have come to be mighty proud OF
their accomplishments in the culinary
art, and there is quite a bit of friendly
rivalry over the abilities of these cook
boys. The six who do the cooking also
do the dishwashing. Once a week the
floor is scrubbed and dish towels boiled.
The boys take their regular turns doing
this work. They have come to realize
the value of a good housekeeper, and
they are putting their knowledge into
practice in their homes, much to the
delight of their mothers and sisters.
''Mothering has always been my spe-
cialty," said Mrs Crary. She has four
boys of her own. My ninety boys have
learned quickly, and they will remem-
Der, what they have learned. Some of
manners and cleanliness. Some of them
preferred to sit down at table without
cleaning up This Is all changed now
There is as much rivalry in table man
ners and cleanliness now as there is
over the abilities of each as a cook.
They all call me mother. and / try to
live up to the name. Now that We have
grown dear to each other. they come to
me on Saturdays and after school is out.
They give me their confiderces and I
advise them frequently. Many times,
when difficulties arise they make me
their Judge; sometimes il is hard to de-
cidessa case and settle II =ahsoluteIyI on
its merits. but there has never been an
appeal"
OF course, there are times when the
boys are not angels. On such occasions
Mrs. Crary goes on the theory that
putting your arms around a boy and
loving him does more good than a
whipping" Next summer Mrs Crary
will teach the boys gardening. She is
chairman of the MinneaDolis Improve
ment League. The board of education
there is so pleased with Mother
Crary's work with her ninety boys that
they are considering supplying a new
ranEe and new kitchen utensils for her
kitchen.