The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-03
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

so fast that I've never 1ound liile oi space to write up the visit I made to the Alabama Girls Technical institute at Montevallo with Miss Mathis. |
 l had been to Montevallo a number of times on hurried visits and it's with shame that I confess l had neglected to look in on the work being done at the great girls school.
 So when the invitation came for me to 1 bring Miss Mathis down for visit, l jumped at the chance and have never re- gretted, but greatly enjoyed the privilege , Of having put in a day at Alabamas truly splendid institution. 1 Today have only space to write about the course in art and manual training | The students begin with brush draw 1 ing to gain freedom in their work and when some appreciation of good lines and spaces is gained, they are instructed in printing, stenciing, posters, modelling bowls, tiles, etc.), illustration, costume, design, pose drawing, book building and | basketry. Besides this instruction, two good ex- hibits, one from the best art schools of winter exhibit in New York and other large cities, are brought to the Alabama Girls Technical institute each year. Some of the students problems are cor related with the work in other depart ments; others, as the posters, fill the needs of the students; others are steps that lead to more difficult problems. The aim cr the course is to train the students to plan and to execute. to appre- ciate the best things of life, not only their result but the spirit in which they were designed, thus making them more efficient in filling their places in the world. It was interesting to go through the de- partment while the girls were busy at their tasks. Some of their work was truly artistic, and much of it will pre- pare them better how to combine utility
  more girls did not take up as a side line or profession some of the things they were doing during their school days.
 In the domestic art department the work falls into two large divisions: clothing and the home. The work out lined below is covered and more ad- vanced problems done in some lines of work Some of the more elementary not given
 Articles made:
 Undergarments.
 Articles used in furnishing a girls room
 Dresser scarf.
 Table runner.
 Kimona. Curtains.
 Guest towels.
 Laundry bag.
 DusteNbag and dust cloths.
 Dresses: Simple school dress.
 Wool dress. t
 Silk dress.
 Afternoon summer dress.
 Evening gown.
 Remodeled dresses
 
 been made out of old dresses at very small cost.
 The dresses are planned from the standpoint of purpose, health, suita- bility; designs are made for the ad- vanced dresses in the costume design class.
 Millinery: Winter hat.
 Spring hat
 Bows.
 Flowers
 Hats have been remodeled and here again attractive hats are frequently made, very little new material being used
 Problems in applied design in which pupils make the design and select the color combinations:
 Table runner.
 Pillow top.
 Lunch set
 Curtains.
 Pongee purse.
 Evening scarf. Hand-woven rugs.
 Hand-woven pillow covers.
 Plans for houses are made, showing a desirable division of the floor area.
 Plans for grounds, showing arrange ment of shrubs and trees and flow CTS. Color schemes for different rooms are made. materials being used. Different methods of finishing wood- work and floors are worked out or small pieces of wood
  In the care and clothing of chill dren materials are studied and styles from the standpoint of health, comfort and beauty. In home management: Accounts are kept. Budgets are made. Daily and weekly schedules are made. Textiles: Simple tests are performed in the study of materials to prepare the students to be an intelligent buyer and user of textile materials. do not see how any girl who ever expects to have home of her own could fail to be interested in the 1 domestic art department I was par 1 ticularly struck with the practical things they were being taught. As went from class room to class room it | was just like being shown into tn, cutting and fitting rooms of a great