The broad ax., 1925-09-19
A VISIT TO GENEVA STATE
SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
BY Rev. Theodore Stephens
Member Negro Research Society Of
New York

II was the beautiful morning Of the
2lst day 81 August Friday. Friday
i deemed "unlucly" to the supersti-
tious Vi ali classes. 10 Columbus,
who was fred with the ambition Of
maritime discoveries. Friday notwitb-
standing the ignorance Of his time,
proved lucky day. Was i not on
Friday morning, October 18th. 1902,
after a tedious and almost intermi-
nable voyage. that the Genoese navi-
gator beheid the New Worldf'
To the committee Of the Circle Of
Kings Daughters and Sons, the day
proved rather delightful and the
chronicles Of the party, although he
sought for signs with Argus eyes
and the tunneled car Of a Dionysius.
could register not a single omen.
Time was when men wore charms
and amulets as preservatives against
the evil eyes evil spirits, "unlucISy
days" inopportune hours etc.
knowledge. however. has increased,
and light has been thrown on the sup
posed evils, and except for the
comparatively few, the schamhamphc
ras, the Pentagram, and the Clavicles
Of solomon, are relics Of barbarous
and superstitious age.
AT 1890 a. m., the bus Of the Chris
tian Endeavor Society Of the Metro
politan Community Center, with about
dozen persons, members Of the
Golden Circle Of Kings Daughters
and Sons, OF which Mrs. Webb, 1923
South Parkway, is President, Rev.
Schomberger Of South Park NJ. E.
Church, Mrs. Schomberger and few
others who were with the Rev. and his
wife in their car, started on the two
hour motor trip to Geneva Geneva,
Ill, not Geneva. SwitzerlandD, where
we arrived after forty-two miles of
road, at l2:45.
We entered "Hope Cottage" where
we were received with the well-known
cordiality Of the matron-hostess, Mrs.
Cordelia H. Mercer.
General Description Of the School
AS is well-lnown, Geneva is a
Training School for Girls, maintained
BY the State Of Illinois. The grounds
cover an area Of about hfty-hve acres,
including the buildings, twenty in num-
Der. Seventeen Of these buildings are
for the girls, the other three include
Church, School, Matron Hall, Elec-
iris Light and Power Plant, and Gym
nasium.
There are 49S girls on the premises;
Of that number rs are colored. This
per centum basis shows IS per cent
white inmates and Is per cent colored.
The colored girls occupy slope Cot
tage" and Willow Cottage" the for
mer with 50 girls and 2 matrons.
(Mrs. Bishop, managing matron Of
Willow Cottage)
The School Curriculum
School year is an all-the-year-round
affair at Geneva. Vacation days at
this school are Of short duration. be-
ing only thirty in number. The class
hours are from 9 a. m. to 4 3. m. All
intermediate grades are taught, includ-
ing domestic science, commercial and
industrial training. Domestic Science,
j., however, especially featured, and
deal Of attention is given to the
art Of fruit canning, in which the girls
show marked interest. Each matron
has to report the preparation BY her
girls Of 50 many jars Of preserved fruit.
There IS special domestic training
room for this special branch Of the
schools activities.
Cost Of Maintenance to the State
The cost to the State for the main
tenanee Of one girl, per annum, is,
maximum cost, $3.50; minimum cost,
$3.50.
The school owns and operates its
own farm, from which is recoIted a
variety Of fruit, vegetables and fodder
for $50 Holstein and which give 90
gallons Of rich milk daily.
The Menu
The food is carefully supervised. and
a week in advance the succeeding
weeks bill-of-fare i prepared by !
food specialist, and handed over to the
matron Of each cottage who ~ das;r-