INDUSTRIAL WORK AT MEMPHIS.
BY MISS ELLA HAMILTON.
Two years ago, through the kindness of friends in the North, two rooms were fitted up in our building, at Memphis, for use in the industrial work among the girls. Will you visit these rooms with me this morning and see what is being done there? As we enter, we find ourselves in the midst of a dozen girls between the ages of 12 and 16, whose eyes and fingers are busy with their work, while their tongues are making sweet music as they sing some simple Sabbath-school hymn. Let us walk about among them, and see what it is that so engrosses their attention. Here, at our side, is a bright-eyed, pretty girl, who is patiently working on the long over-and-over seam, which, it may be, was quite as great a bug-bear to some of us in our childhood days as it is to this little one. Near her is another, busy with a child’s apron, destined, perhaps, for her own little sister. Another still is darning a stocking, while here, at the long table, stands a girl who is taking her first lessons in cutting. There is very little rest for the pleasant-faced teacher during this hour. She must straighten the gathered seams, show the awkward fingers how to take the tiny stitches, give the word of advice or encouragement where it is needed, and see that each one of these active girls is busy upon the task assigned her, and doing that task just as it ought to be done. This work has its place in the course and upon the programme of the school, just as any other school work. The class receives instruction forty minutes each day, for at least one school term. They are taught how to do plain cutting and sewing, and usually become quite expert with the needle. The materials for work have been obtained for the most part from the boxes sent our lady missionary. I had word, however, just before I left home, that these supplies were exhausted, and that they were very much in need of calicoes, needles and threads. Perhaps there are those who can help them in this need.
Adjoining the sewing-room is a kitchen, furnished with a range, a sink, a table and such other articles as are needed by the young ladies who are being initiated into the mysteries of cooking. This class meets four days of the week, two of which are used by the teachers in familiar talks on various subjects, such as the nature of the different foods, their adaptation to the wants of the body, the choice of meats, vegetables, etc. The other two days are used by the girls in actual experiments in the preparation of foods, of course under the supervision of the teachers. They learn how to prepare soups, to cook meats and vegetables, and to make bread, cakes and pies. Better still, they learn how to do this work neatly and economically. Whenever any cooking has to be done, the two girls who have had that in charge are expected to wash the dishes, sweep, dust and air the rooms, and have everything in order for the next day. Sometimes the class gives lunches at noon to their schoolmates or supper in the evening, inviting in their friends. In this way they have raised money enough to pay for all materials used. At one of these entertainments they gave us sandwiches, coffee, chicken salad, cake and strawberries. The bread made by one of the girls was as light and sweet as any I ever ate. To make such bread is an accomplishment of which any one might be proud. Besides the cooking and sewing, we teach our girls how to care for the sick. They have books, and prepare their lessons in this subject as in any other. They learn how to care for the room, and person of their patient, how to prepare such light foods as may be used without harm, the simple home remedies to be administered for ordinary diseases, and the preventatives for such diseases. About all this industrial work the girls themselves are very enthusiastic, seeming to enjoy it quite as well as any other school work. The mothers, too, are very glad that their daughters are having an opportunity to learn how to do these necessary things which they have not the time, or ability, to teach them. In the homes of their parents the girls try to put into practice that which they learn in the school, and as they come to have homes of their own we are sure that they will be better in many ways than they could have been, but for the work they are doing now.
No people can be made very much better except as we reach that center of power and influence, the home. The schools can do something in this direction, and we believe that out from the homes, touched by our A. M. A. schools, will go an influence which will elevate and purify to some extent this whole mass of society.