44 
HELEN ABBOTT MICHAEL 
“Orders for underclothing, art work, millinery, washing 
and ironing, lace renovating, etc., are taken from the public, 
and the pay goes to help support the institution. Frau Ree 
said that any industrial school, starting, should always take in 
work from the public; it made the pupils more careful. Fine 
work would only be done by those who were no longer pupils, 
but who had been engaged by the Institution to do this work. 
Room after room is filled with classes. 
“In the basement is the laundry. Young girls come and 
wash for three or four hours once in ten days or so. They all 
learn. Frau Ree said that as soon as a girl became betrothed, 
she came to the school to learn washing, etc., in order that 
she might tell her servant how it should be done, or in case of 
her going to remote country districts and out of reach of 
servants from any cause. It was quite a pretty picture to see 
two young girls of fifteen or sixteen starching collars. In the 
laundry-room the laces were done up equal to new. It was im¬ 
possible to tell the difference. She said that many ladies brought 
their finest laces, knowing that they would not be injured. The 
charges in the laundry were not above the laundries outside 
nor lower. For very fine work, the charges were proportional 
to what was done. They are taught to clear up their shop after 
washing. Frau Ree said that often when some proud girl would 
not condescend to wipe up the floor, she would stoop down and 
clean up her place. The young girl would color, but the second 
time would not leave a wet place. 
“I noticed that strict discipline seemed to be exerted, and 
the pupils were addressed with much firmness. We had a little 
talk on servants, etc. Frau Ree said that the prejudice in Ger¬ 
many against women earning money was still very strong, and 
that her own husband would not have permitted her to take a 
cent for the work she was doing at the school, though she re¬ 
mained there from eight to five. Having no children at home, 
and her husband being engaged in his work, she was free to 
give her fife entirely to her work. She agreed with me that the 
servant was often the product of the mistress, and when a ser¬ 
vant saw that the lady herself did not work, she was apt to im¬ 
pose. It is the spirit of the age, said Frau Ree, that the public 
