Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-18

their color combinations with an eve
to good taste and utility AS well as
economy Here girls are all making
MILDLY blouses. clothes for the little
folks at home. and in number of
cases dresses and other garments for
themselves. They come to this class
with only the training from the grades
to start with, and are soon stimulated
to make something they can wear.
Along with her coaching in sewing
and millinery. Miss O'Nei1l trains them
to be discriminating in their selections
and to he economical in their pur-
chases Remodeling, using up odds and
ends of ribbon, after steamnc the bits
or old velvet and used materials and
converting them into artistic bows.
flowers and ornaments that mean so
much TO either dress or hat, is also
taught. Besides learning TO cut and
mt their garments the pupils aro
taught to design things. and after they
have worked out the plan. to put IL
on paper. Ten of the girls in his
class made their own Easter hats They
bought rolls of inexpensive braid. hat
frames of the ten-ceut kind, re-ir-
forced and strengthened thorn and
then by skillful turns and twists OF
both old and new material contrived 10
turn out Easter hats the most er-
pensive of which did not exceed 90
cents. BY her blackboard illustration
the teacher carries home to them the
eternal fitness of things. and makes
them see for themselves some of the
absurdities of the prevailing styles.
and then gently encourages them to
have better taste themselves.
Hat frame making is also part of the
work The girls must design the hat on
paper first, frame and trimmings. AND
then work out an estimate TO the cost
and amount of material and show exactly
in their drawing how the frame must lie
covered just where the braid goes. where
the satin. velvet or lace IS TO he sl1irrcd
pleated or put on plain.
In the shops one is at once impressed
with the earnestnesS and happiness of the
youthful workers. Each boy is absorbed
i'll his task. No lack of interest or at
tention is seen.
Here the first thing taught the bows
is the names of tools and tool processes
Then they are given simple drawings
OF articles useful about a house or office.
such as plant stands, knife boxes braclt-
cts. taborets, etc.
They required first to do the work
IF the school, and anything additional
hey wish to make must he done after
ichool hours. They are also allotted a
-ertain amount of material to work with
and when they desire to make something
mainder
The same idea prevails AS is true
with the sewing class. The boys are
encouraged to create something. They
cases. drawing boa rds and cabinets for
the shops. where there are about four
teen boys to each class. In the sixth
and seventh grades two fifths and
three-fifths of the time is given to this
work. These shops are most business
like in appearance. Two turning
lathes an automatic grinder, hand saw
and shoemaker's bench and kit i'm
press upon the visitor the practical
activities of the place.
All about the Smallwood building are
abundant evidences of the high stand
ard of work demanded from the pupils
by Mr.. Woodward Several couches
upholstered in the leatherette could
not be told from factory made articles;
mission tables for the sewing room, 10
match the dark oak of the sewing ma
chimes; sewing chairs, picture frames.
cabinets and bookcases. shelves and
book racks are in evidence at every
turn, and a huge case for tools in the
hall displays splendid workmanship
Not long ago the schools of this div sion
gave a luncheon which netted them five
hundred dollars. half of the amount going
to the Fairgrounds and the other half be-
ing distributed among the different
schools Mr.. Woodward requested five
dollars for kit OF shoemaker's tools and
some leather The boys took TO this in
novation with avdity and now they in
dustriously peg their shoes. doing the
half -soing and heelins with neatness and
dspa tch.
One of the teachers found boy bustly
putting a sole on a girls shoe and dis
covered that he had two pairs to resole
He told the teacher that the shoes were
for girls in the building and the teacher
was later much amused at finding the
two girls. They were sitting contentediy.
on their feet and doing their lessons
while waiting for the youthful cobbler 10
return their shoes in good repair, the
only charge being the leather used
The school at the Smallwood is but
the first attempt at the visualiZing of
the hopes and ideals of the school board
and school officials toward giving to
the masses of the public school chill
dren some definite idea as to how to
support themselves and help the fam
lily at home when the time comes when
they must assume part of the wage
earning.
1t is the hope of all those who have
seen the beneficial effects of this expert
ment upon the little group of pupils that
the same type of school may be started
in all sections OF the city to help other
children find the special place in life for
their activities.