Marriage Schools.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 136, 8 December 1897, Page 2

Marriage Schools.

la Germany there are marriage schools, which seem to make for reality in woman's equipment and advancement. There are corresponding institutions iv England, wkere they are called finishing schools, bat these are feeble and flabby affairs in comparison with their German prototypes. In the German marriage school, erery girl, every morning after breakfast, has to make her own bed and dust her room. Beforo they enter the school girls mast know the rudiments of arithmetic, mnst have * fair acquaintance with English and German grammar, and must be abie to write and speak their own language properly. At the commencement of the term the girls are informed by tha mistress that four of them are required every week to take absolute charge of the bonse. They have tc rise early and tee to the preparation of breakfast, when this is finished they make their beds and tidy their rooms, and afterwards go round the house to see that the servants have done their work. Then they are told by the mistress what the midday dinner will consist of, and this they have to prepare, though the cook will supervise what they do in the kitchen, giv* ing hints and preventing waste. Then one of the four girls has to ait at the head of the table and serve the soup, carve the poultry or joint, and help the sweets. This meal over, those on duty have, after a short rest, to arrange afternoon tea, which they lay in the drawingroom, and at which they have to wait upon their companions and any visitors who may happen to call. In the evening there is frequently some mnsio or light recreation, where the font girli have to act as hostesses. They finish up their day's work by arranging supper, but are not allowed to retire for the night nntil they have left the kit cben in perfect order, and have seen that the doors and windows all ovar the house are properly secured. The other girls who have not been so actively engaged in the house are taught sewing and the making and repairing of their own garments. In the morning they haye their studies, and in the afternoon they generally go tot walks. Those who have studied the results say that the value of this training cannot be overestimated. The girls leave school quite competent to undertake the management of a house ; they are good cooks, and are able to tarn their bands to anything without being dependent on servants ; in other words, every girl has been carefully and purposely trained for the important position of the intelligent, capable and competent hoasewife, who is, after all, the true corner-stone of a nations greatness.