New Britain herald., 1918-02-21

given through hymns, prayers, stores and bible verses, in addition to the sewing; and this year, patriotic songs and stories and Red Cross work have been introduced, so that the girls may join the ranks of those who are serV- ing their country.
 The two house keeping classes which were started early in Decem- Der. meet Tuesday and Thursday after moons in the City Mission office; and although our quarters are very cir cumscTlbed and we scarcely know from one week to another where the necessary equipment is coming from we have faith to believe that all our needs for this important work will be supplied. Some special gifts for this purpose have been received and used TOT the materials needed thus far. sometimes the lessons deal with methods and utensils that are beyond the reach Of the girls in their pres ent environment, but We believe in preparing them for the better hom es Whch we trust they will some day establish for themselves, and it may be, to help the distracted housewives whose domestic troubles are so diff ficult Of solution So when they say to us as a little girl did one day, My mother has nine children and we don't set the table like that, We try to show them that we are looking forward to a time when they will be glad that they know how to set the table like that
 The Italian Sunday school which is ln the charge of the City Mission workers gives ample opportunity for investments of the most fruitful kind. Here we have the great joy of train ing the children and young people who attend in the religious teaching that they so greatly need and are receiving in no other way It is in connection with the Sunday school that we do our principal work with boys, as our force of workers is not sufficient to permit a much weekday work, with them though Miss Camp bell meets with the boys of her junior class one evening during the week We are striving to make the most of these limited opportunities for gain ing the friendship of the boys, for as has been remarked, When someone said, Boys will be boys he forgot to add Boys will be men''' . and we want to help them to a true manhood. It is always a source of satisfaction when ehey come to us for help in their everyday difficulties, as Rocco did one busy morning at the office, inquiring if I had any time to print plays, as they were to have a Thanksgiving play in school, all dressed up like Pilgrims and every thing and the teacher had given him the book from which to copy his part as he had told her that he knew a lady who might typewrite it for him. Who could resist such an appeal to help transform a native of Sicily into a Pilgrim Father? And all other work was set aside while Rocco's request was granted. It in VolVed more than at first appeared, as I was informed that it would be ne cessary for me to copy all the other parts too. so he would know when to come in; but the smile on ROcco's face when the work was done, fully compensated for any effort expended.
 The older girls of the Sunday school and a group of working girls of different natiOnalities are gathered together in clubs under Miss Bre hovsky's care and are given instruc- ton that will help them in their homes present and future and in their everyday lives in the factory
  ing special teaching in cooking and food conservation under Miss Metcalf. agent of Home Demonstration for the government. In connection with our work for the girls, a quotation from the matron of a refOrmatOry for girls may give some idea of it's importance. Speaking first of the work of her own institution, she adds: Of this l am increasingly sure; nothing that we can do here begins to be worth as much as what can be done more easily before a girl comes here. Edu cation is expensive. Religion is eX- pensive. All good things are eXpen- sive. But it costs much less to train a girl than to try to save a girl Constructive work is cheaper and more effective.' Believing this to be true we feel that no effort is too great to put forth to help our girls upward and give them the training that their homes are unfitted to pro- vide.
 "Our duty to the people of our city is not done when we have cared for the boys and girls in Sunday school, sewing school, and housekeep- ing classes and general clubs; for the parents also need our help, not only in these agitated war-times but at all seasons, they have had so little chance to learn right ways of living
 The adults are reached through home visitation, Mothers meetings and the Italian services at the South church. The visiting is divided, for the most part. according to nation ality, Miss Brehovsky taking the Slavic people with whose puzzling consanants she is fitted to contend
 and Miss Campbell, the Italians with whom she is able to converse in their own language; while the superntend- ent finds her chief opportunity for personal work with those who como to her at the office, though sho eager ly seizes upon all the time that can