50 HELEN ABBOTT MICHAEL 



me over the house explained that in Berlin the girls had not the 

 time to come all day, and some had even other occupations 

 which made an all-day attendance impossible. On an average, 

 three hours was all that was expected of them. The classes 

 held two sessions per day. The second began about four o'clock 

 p. M., but with different scholars. The attendant told me they 

 took all girls of respectability who applied, but as some pay 

 was required, the very poorest could not come. She said they 

 did not care much for the lower classes. 



"The institution had none of the earnest atmosphere of the 

 Hamburg school, and the spirit of Frau Ree was absent. The 

 art work was quite beautifully done. I saw none so beautifully 

 done as the Hamburg samples. In the Kunst-Gewerbe Mu- 

 seum one thing pleased me, and that was the photographs of 

 the different pieces of work. Professor Ewald thought that it 

 was very important to get a general idea of the effect of any 

 work. The cooking department of the Lette-Verein smelt of 

 grease and fat. I was there after hours, and the kitchen had 

 not yet been cleaned up. The washing- rooms were steamy and 

 presided over by two very rough washerwomen. 



" The scholars themselves very seldom do the washing, but 

 learn from observation. The ironing is done especially well, 

 and the Institution takes it in. The charges are high, the lady 

 said, in accordance with the good work done. The house is 

 under the especial patronage of the crown princess. Contribu- 

 tions have been given, and the scholars pay. But the lady com- 

 plained of every one in Prussia being poor." 



Her experiences in Berlin led her to make the following ob- 

 servations : 



"The position of German women, I think, is unenviable. 

 The broader avenues are shut to even the few who could claim 

 them. The domestic training of the women to become good 

 housekeepers and economical is excellent, and might well be 

 copied more by us. The thoroughness, too, of what education 

 they have is also where they seem ahead of our women, but in 

 comparing only the more highly cultivated here and our own 

 highly cultivated, the American of to-day is doubly ahead in 

 many ways. We do things, perhaps, too quickly, and it may 



