CLASS IN BEE CULTURE
This department is always well attended, and the course is exceptionally interesting, including, as it does, a study of the routes and growth of commerce, the production centers and markets of the world, the relative value and importance of staple articles and where they are obtained; bookkeeping, including household accounts; business correspondence; penmanship; filing and other clerical work; reporting; stenography. It is intended to meet the demand for more broadly intelligent and more accurate office workers in commercial lines.
On the third floor are the cooking and sewing schools. An electric program clock in the main office automatically calls off the time for changes of classes in the corridors on all the floors.
One of the most thorough departments, and one which opens up new avenues for woman’s work, is that of the Rural Arts. The spring term of the first year is devoted to a study of the principles of fruit, flower and vegetable growing. Each student has a garden for practice, and the care of the products until maturity and their packing for shipment are shown. Bee culture is another branch of this department. The students set up hives, examine bees, select queens and learn how to manipulate swarms and take the honey. Poultry keeping belongs to the list of popular studies. Nearly every woman has a natural interest in the care of chickens. The class has incubators and brooders, and looks after the houses and runs, feeding and improvement of stock and preparation for cooking or market.
In all of the courses literary work has a prominent place. Industrial training is most valuable, but, taken by itself, it is not sufficient. The work at the College of Industrial Arts is arranged in proper proportions for the best, all-round, practical training for life’s work. In the early part of the course the literary feature naturally receives emphasis, connecting with school work previously done by the students, and preparing them for the deeper appreciation of the scientific features of the industrial courses.
Nor are the lighter arts neglected. Vocal music, physical culture, expression and modern languages—all find a place in the curriculum.
The health of the girls is a first consideration. The college physician teaches physiology and hygiene, and renders his services to the sick. With pure water from a deep artesian well and the delicious home products of the school, however, combined with the exercise and regular life of the students, there is a minimum of sickness.
Tennis and basketball seem to be the most popular games. A student Glee Club furnishes a social feature, while there are several literary societies and a flourishing Young Women’s Christian Association.
Who may attend the college? All white girls of good morals who have attained the age of sixteen years, who have a fair knowledge of the common school subjects, who wish to continue their education, including a thorough, practical training, and who come to the college with the clear and earnest purpose of doing their best work.