New-York tribune., 1915-12-18
V. Everit Macy Opens
Farm Course in West
chester Institution.
GIRLS HAVE CLASSES
IN DOMESTIC SCIENCE
Tailoring, Lock Repairing and
Plumbing Also in Growing
Curriculum.


OF the prosperous. is trying out a
scheme which, If successful. will prac-
tically depopulate its almshousc at East
View.
Two years Of study have convinced
V. Everit Macy, millionaire superin-
tendent of the almshouse, that the
county should and can do much more
for its dependent poor than provide
bed and board. As result the institu-
ton is gradually being transformed
into a school which will turn it's gradu-
ates back into the world with the de-
gree Of B. s. R.-bachelor of self-re-
lance.
When Mr.. Macy was elected 20 the
superintendency mis- first move, after
putting the administration OF the aims
house on o business basis, was 20 ask
the dean of Teachers College to recon-
mend man to serve as his assistant.
II. A. Brown, graduate student, got
the Job. He aided Mr. Macy in his
survey. and two weeks ago. their plans
being ready for tryout, another
graduate student in Teachers College.
Forrest 6. Lunt, was made keeper OF
the institution and member Of the
faculty
Already school farm is in opera
tion and nineteen students, men with
many years of good hard work left IN
them, are getting practical training
in the duties OF the farmland, which
within a few months should restore
them TO the ranks of the wage earners
Outside"
Mr.. Macy was led to his decision in
regard to vocational training N the
nlmshouse by the discovery that BY no
means all OF his charges were too ola
and decrepit to work 1t did not take
him long to find out. in fact. that the
average age of the almshouse inmates
was forty-two years. At present half
the men are less than fifty, and fully
n hundred of the 403 putting up at
East View for the winter are on the
business side Of forty. The two young
est are seventeen and twenty-one, re-
spectively. Among the l2I women, al
though on the average they are much
older than the men, are fully dozen
girls between the ages Of seventeen
and twenty-one.
Under the old system the young men
and women might have grown old in
the almshouse, dependents for life. Now
for the first time they have chance
TO attain economic independence.
Mr.. Lunt, who in addition 10 carrying
on his duties as keeper, is continuing
10 teach English in the Horace Mann
School until some one has been found
to take his place, explained the ideas
of Mr.. Macy and his faculty last
night when he returned 70 East view
from the city.
"a great many inmates who are able
and willing to work." he said, are
here because they have been unable 70
find work TO do. Others have come TO
Dependency through illness. and stiil
others through drink. For the most
part, those of the girls who have been
married lost their breadwinners when
they became mothers. -,
"in slack times the almshouses fill
up rapidly with unsklled lab0rers, who.
losing their jobs, find no other opening
into which they can fit. II is our plan
TO give men of this kind sort OF
auxiliary service TO sell. We will not
aim to teach trades in their entirety,
but to show the men how TO hol d on TO
their independence when hard times
come.
"For instance, we can teach them IN
n few months how TO repair locks ana
make keys. how to make brooms. how
TO repair and press clothing, how to
do the rougher kinds of plumbing re-
pair work and how to do general tin
kering.
AT the same time the girls could
be developed into trained house SER
wants, taught how TO sew and how to
cook.
Besides the farm, we now have a
tailoring shop in operation. As rapid
" as we can we shall start the other
departments, in the meantime trying
to add to the curriculum
"Part of the scheme is 70 supply a
different sort of food TO those who
work than is given to those who live in
idleness. For instance, the men on the
farm are now getting roasts OF beef
and lamb twice a week. steak once n
week. pie once a week and pudding once
q week. This, of course, is much
more elaborate had attractive table
t'an is set for the rest OF the inmates,
although all the food is wholesome.
There are two reasons for having
different tables. One is to give the
men who are doing a real days work
sufficient nourishment. The other is
to offer an incentive for working. To-
day, for instance, asked man OF
about thirty. a newcomer. If he wished
to 20 out TO the farm. He demurred
until told him sbou, the change of
diet. Tonight, after three of the farm
meals, he said he never would return
voluntarily to the almshouse.'