The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-05-29
Open House At Kato
knowledge Factory
From Thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
Vast changes that have occurred
i'm the studies followed In high schools
since a generation ago impressed
themselves with great force on the
minds Of hundreds of parents who
attended the open house session OF
the Mankato high school last even.
ing.
The glowing Of the FORCES, the
Changing OF the heated iron and the
hammers against the anvils, the saw
ing and cutting in the woodwork
rooms, the handling of culinary ar
tiCles In the domestic science depart
ment. the buzzing of the sewing ma.
chimes and the microscopic examina-
ton of seeds, were new sights and
of the visitors. When these parents
were themselves struggling for dip
Tomas showing that they had had
something more than common
grade school education, such studies
in n public school were unheard OF.
Some Relies Of the Past.
There were indeed some relics OF
the past I'm the curriculum, as pre-
scented in active operation last even
ing. Several of the classes I'm book
studies we're In session, and II was
indeed an irresistible proof of the
control that the teachers had over
the pupils that they were able to con-
duct recitations with streams OF
people not only passing through the
halls, but moving In and out of the
thnt,ualvno
Miss Margery Savage had her
class in English; Miss Mary Kraft,
one In German; Miss Nina Swear
ingen, a class I'm Algebra, and Miss
Esther Daniels, one in Latin. Those
subjects, familiar for generations
past as part of the high school
course, did not attract nearly the
attention that was aroused by the de-
partments Of more recent introduc.
ton.
There was one Old-time department,
however. that did draw the interest
of the whole body OF visitors, and
that was the class I'm music. This
was conducted by Miss Fanny
Pitcher. who led hundred boys and
girls. while they sang TO the evi.
dent delight OF all who were pres.
ent. The singers were accompanied
at the piano by Miss Dorothy Scott.
Mrs. G. II. Trafton addressed her
lass in botany. explaining the struc.
ture of various objects Of the vege-
liable kingdom that were on display.
Earl w Smith was busted with
'hemistry class, and last evening
there was a special lesson on testing
various patent medicines TO see
they contained alcohol. and
low great a percentage OF this in.
yredient there was.
The Art OF Sewing.
Probably no department attracted
,reater attention than that where
he art Of sewing was taught. Beau. =
iful gowns and dresses OF elaborate
all the work OF the girls
IF the school. wer on display. cover
ng several walls. while a roomfull
Df tables stood piled with various ar
ticels OF feminine apparel all made
by the sewing classes. Miss Carrie
brewster, the teacher, had a class ut
work in an adjoining room, where
several sewing machines were kept
busy, for as quickly as one girl was
with one of the machines,
another was ready to use II. Some
NJ the girls wer hard at work on
their graduation dresses. being eager
to complete them I'm time for that
event of the year.
There was a beautiful array OF
products OF the cooking department.
which is conducted by Miss Gertrude
a. Erickson. There were pies. cakes.
cookies. doughnuts and many other
baked by the students The sight
was indeed fascinating to the eye,
and probably II was only the con.
that the exhibit would be
spoiled that deferred the department
from inviting the guests to partake
and bear witness that the viands
tasted as well as they looked. The
girls we're busted during the greater
part OF the evening at washing
dishes. and they performed the art
with a zest that might have made
some people believe that they real.
ly liked II.
Were at Seed piles.
Professor c. r. Shumway had a
large number OF boys engaged ut
examining little seed piles for specI.
mems that did not belong there. not.
ably ragweed. This was done by
means OF microscopes. Another very
interesting failure OF this department
consisted of the termination tests.
Corn grains were shown sprouting
in large receptacles prepared for the
purpose, where the whole process
OF termination was visible. A hen
mothering twenty-three incubator
chicks was also one of the displays
OF this department. None OF the in
cubators Is In operation now, as
there was not time TO hatch out and
take care OF another brood before
the close OF school. I'm this depart.
ment quite n speciality was made OF
the exhibits OF specimens of corn.
wheat, and other grains raised In
this part OF the country.
Tere was an elaborate array OF
products OF the carpenter and forge
shops. Chairs, benches. tables, UNI
brella racks. towel racks and other
articles that could he handily con.
structed of wood. all made by the
students. were on display. Among
them was the door tnat will be con-
tributed by the Mankato high school
10 the restored dwelling OF General
Sibley at Mendoza. This door will
be presented on Memorial day and
the Grand Army will make quite a
feature OF this part Of the program.