The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-02-24
BIG OPPORTUNITY
FOR LOCAL Girls
AT TRADE SCHOOL
Training Of Real Value
Those Who Would Earn
Their Own Living.

One of the greatest opportunities
for girls and women in this city and
one of the least known is situated al
As Washington avenue. The oppor-
tunity is found in the State Trade
School for girls. Here under the
guidance of efficient instructors, a
girl who has had little schooling and
no training in any art may fit her
self to become a proficient dressmak-
er, capable of supporting herself by
her needle.
More than any other institution in
Bridgeport the State Trade school
should appeal to girls and women for
| it has greater possibilities Of develop
ment. At present, classes in dress
making are being held during the
day, and dressmaking and millinery
classes during the evening, With a
demand for them, classes in cooking,
wherein the very rudiments of the
art would be taught, classes in house
furnishing, housekeeping and even in
mother craft would soon be created.
1t remains with the women of/Bridge-
port but to ask for these classes and
to patronize them when they are
granted to make the school the in
stitution which it should become.
Age No Barrier
There is but one age limit to the
school. A girl must have attained II
to register in a class. Marriage is
no barrier. A woman may be mar
ried and may be we'll advanced in
years and she will have the same
privileges as though she were but 16.
The daily classes are free Three
dollars. a season, to pay for the
lights and extra instructors are charg-
ed each member of the evening
classes. Glasses may be joined at any
time during the year.
The trade school is a state insti-
tuition, deriving it's support from the
state. Since her coming in October,
Miss Helen r. Clark, the new super
1ntendent, has been working hard to
build it up. Miss Clarke came to
this city with a wealth Of experience
behind her She had just completed
five years as head of the New Britain
State Trade school, and previous to
that time, had for eight years had
charge of the evening work in the
Hartford schools, as well as teaching
at Miss Theodate Pope's school in
Harrington.
Lessen Number OF Dependents.
. think" says Miss Clark, chat if
. there were more trade schools there
would be fewer charitable institutions
Ii more people who are not so well
provided with brains knew how to
work with their hands we would not
nave to support SO many It often
happens that children who are ex-
ceedingly dull in their books, are ex-
eeptionally quick with their fingers.
With women it is particularly so.
There is so much. demand for good
:needlework that the market can never
supply 1t. Many women whose hus-
bands earn small wages or who lose
their husbands could make an excel
lent living in their own homes if they
were proficient with the needle A
woman can hem napkins and rock
the cradle at the same time and ex-
quisitely hemmed napkins command
a good price in any store 5
a A, girl who at IA enters the trade
school not knowing how to hold a
needle properly, If she is of the aver
age ability, when she has completed
her course two years later will be
proficient in every branch Of needle
work-a dressmaker capable Of hav-
ed not only in fashioning gowns, but
in designing them as we'll
More Pupils Needed.
The daily class begins at $3.50 in
the morning, allows an hour for
luncheon and closes at o'clock On
Saturdays, the school closes at noon.
This course IS completed in two full
years.
The evening classes begin at 1880
and last until $3.50. They meet but
twice week, sewing class on
Monday and Thursday evenings, and
classes in millinery and sewing on
Tuesdays and Fridays. The evening
classes meet in terms from October 1
to May l. Beginning the first week
in July, there is a six weeks summer
school for smaller girls, meeting dur
ing the day. Girls from the age of
IL years are accepted for this class,
and instruction in the first principals
Of sewing is provided them.
There are at present but 80 mem
bers Of the day school which is divid-
ed into a beginners and an advanced
class. This is but a proportion Of
the number which Should be receiving
instruction there.
State Buys Materials.
The evening school, which is COM
posed principally Of young married
women and working girls. has IS
members. The instructor in the day
school is Mrs. Anna Sullivan. Miss
Anastasia Beirne, prominent mill
liner, teaches the millinery class.
ALI the materials used at the school
are furnished by the state If a
girl wishes to keep what she has
mIde, it is sold to her for the cost
of the materials. Otherwise the ar
ticles are sold at a reasonable price
in accordance with the workmanship
in them and what money is realized
on them over the cost Of the mater
ials goes toward the support Of the
school.
Hiss Clark is preparing for large
sale soon when articles made by the
pupils Of the school will be offered
to the public. It is always possible,
however, to purchase aprons, bags,
negliges, kimonas, night gowns and
thel ike at the school and many
women who wish we'll made apparel
make it a practice to obtain them
there.
School Fills Orders.
It has not been generally under
stood that the school will take orders
for gowns or outfits and complete
them for stated time. This should
be a boon to women of the city who
find it almost impossible to find dress
makers to fashion their clothes The