THE RINGSTED HOUSEMEN'S SCHOOL 79 



of these were really charming, especially a couch-chair 

 with finials fashioned in the shape of owls. Although 

 in such excellent taste, all these articles were very 

 inexpensive. 



In what is called the House-mother's School was 

 an exhibition of work made by the women pupils 

 during the past summer. This included dresses, 

 broidered clothes, pillow covers, stockings, under- 

 linen, and so forth. In another room were cooked 

 foods, cream tarts, bottled fruit, peas, rhubarb, plums, 

 gooseberries, raspberries, and beans. Also there were 

 fresh salads of all kinds. In yet another room were 

 many varieties of brushes made by the girl-pupils and 

 specimens of books bound by them. This is work 

 that men only do in winter. On the centre table of 

 this room was honey, both run and in the comb, taken 

 from the school hives. In yet other rooms were 

 samples of the fruit grown in the garden and on the 

 experimental plots, including some excellent apples 

 and pears, magnified drawings of insects that injure 

 vegetables and fruit-trees, and instruments which are 

 used in various experiments. Altogether the ex- 

 hibition was as interesting as it was extensive. 



Before we left, the young women pupils gathered 

 by the front door and sang us some Danish songs 

 that were delightful to hear. This was the finale, and, 

 much edified, we departed amidst cheers. 



I have never heard of any institution in England 

 that at all resembles these schools for small-holders, 

 and if such existed I do not suppose that many of 

 our small-holders, male or female, present or pros- 

 pective, would take advantage of the instruction they 

 offered, even if this were available without cost to 

 themselves 



