Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-18

~ -N''''i-N' Wv, ~ - thi bif -
In addition 10 making the laws OF The
nation. Washington has gone in for
social pedagogy There are more
young ladies seminaIles and finishing
schools here than in any other city In
the United States. You hnd them
crowding every section OF the city. pos
sessinS an austere exterior 10 the in
auisitive male. but overlooking with
frivolous femn!nity from all over the
country. Carefree maidenH block your
progress on the sidewalk. giggle IN
your ear at the symphony concert and
occupy youJ favorite pew in church
Incidentally, they cause the Washing
ton retailer - do a dOurishing buri-
, ness in hlouses ana nrckwear and ice
cream sodas
While New England and The North
cru states have been Increasing and
building ua their women's collvg g
turning out more and more lawyers.
chemists and electrical engineers, the
south and the Middle States have en-.
cOuraGed institutions which teach their
| daughters how TO shake hands and en-
terrain q drawing room. In Washing
ton, which is situated between the two
sections, the seminary has found an
ideal background. The government de-
al education In themselves without the
tedious application OF Textbooks, and
there a. certain social advantages in
the national capita! which are ava la ble
nowhere else.
The National Museum for example
affords many sided classroom COW
ering wide range Of subjects all the
way from geology and natural history
TO chemistry and taxldermy. There are
also the Corcoran Ar, Gallery. pos
sessing tremendous advantages for The
art student, AMI the Library of Con-
RrGss. containing the third largest col
lection Of books in the world. Most
Of the seininsries have special DAYS
which they devote 10 sic III; seeing and
almost any afternoon YOU are apt to
come across q group Of girls chatterinp
~ what are supposed TO be hushed
voices on their way through some pub
lie building.
visit All Points or Iatcrcx,.
In the warmer weather they 60 10
Arlington ana Mount Vernon on.
seminary keeps Il record bearing the
name or each girl. and the long list
OF government institutions and places
10 be seen. As she vslts each one IL
is crossed OF the list and tho date
recorded, thus enabling the teachers 70
keep track of each pupil BY the end
OF the wear she is supposed 10 have
covered everything worth seeing in the
capital
Congressional debates are USUALLY
we'll attended by seminary girls They
fill the galleries with a noise and cia,-
ter lily suppressed by the chaperons
until they are seated; instantly, then,
there is hush and they lean over the
rail with Interested faces. The girl
from home never altogether loses her
awe Of tho United States Senate. Many
OF the Senators she afterwards meets
their wives ions ~ htr no,
have curiously changed and unim-
rreSs!vn appearance. At close range
she finds that the august presence is
just like pa and all he othc, men back
home.
The young ladies seminary is an in.
stitution all its own. 1t differs from
other schools In that It's courses are
expanded or shortened TO 1T the needs
of the individual pupil. whereas at pub
lie schools and colleges the pupil must
adapt herself 10 III the courses. If a
young woman lis nervous and unable
10 concentrate, the seminary prescribes
exercises and sees that she goes
through them daily. II she complains
OF a tired feeling and looks anaemic il
does not Insist that she get her algc-
bra or ancient history, but inahrs her
Sit still every morning and take sun
baths and eggs and milk. often she
receives better medical care than she
would in her own home.
Womnn's Destiny Is Marriage.
The seminary is still OF the opinion
that the destiny 81 the majority Of
Young women is marriage. All the
PHILOSOPHERS Of Norway and the care
fully prepared articles on the econo-
mic independence OF woman have lett
the Summaries unperi urbcd with their
waiting lists increasing. They are so
ing upon the assunptiun that womans
nj &c NJ and "a Sla Shnl Al
| be taught how to take care Of IL and
understand the social graces which
constitute the customs CT the country
II Il girl displays talent for art or music
they develop il as far as they can. but
| they also take enua, pa ms TO develop
| her social poisc AMI o)mmard Of a
situation.
The scminares have afternoons at
| home. in which guests are invited to
their drawing rooms and under the in
| structipn and guidance Of the chaper-
| ons the students are gwen sugSes-
! lions in welcoming and entertaining
| them. Every once in n while there is a
| dance, at which some uf the girls wear
| plain shirtWaists and weird masculine
! ties and pretend they are men. Some
| times young men are invited. but this
| does not occur often in Washingto on,
| whore the supply Of unattached young
| men is negligible.
one White House reception q year is
| always given 10 the seminary girls
and receptions given by congressional
| women to the girls Of their States.
In the development of social poise
! there is nothing quite so useful as
/ dramatic art. One OF the largo semi