Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Visit To The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
The atmosphere on this somewhat sultry day was , in these rooms , deliciously cool . In winter the dormitories are heated , when necessary , by fires . The lower portion of the house is warmed by pipes . A small room for small children , and several of the governesses' rooms , separate these two large dormitories . From the ladies' rooms there
are windows opening into the pupils' apartments . In each room there are head girls , termed prefects , Avho , like the monitors at boys' public schools , are responsible for order , & c . A list of regulations in frames are hung up in every bedroom , from it I learned that in summer the children rise at six , and in winter at seven o ' clock .
The lavatories and bath-room formed the subject of interest next . Here again order reigns supreme . Every girl has her own towel marked , and other toilet requisites , that no mistake or ¦ confusion can be made . The bath-room I saw was small , but there are others , and tAVO new ones are also being fitted . Once a
Aveek , at least , every individual has a bath , but not like many boys ' schools , of cold water . It will be a great acquisition to the establishment Avhen the swimming bath is completed . I shall refer to this later . Once more coming- down stairs , and noticing on the landing a statuette of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , —for is she not the chief patroness of the foundation , and only lately gave a special
extra subscription ?—we arrived at a larg-e room corresponding m size to the dormitory above it . Here the hungry mouths are satisfied three times a day . Dinner was over . It had consisted of cold beef and rhubarb tarts ; to the latter I have not a doubt that ample justice was done . As a rule , the dinner is hot , and , as the governess informed me ,
no stated time is made for the meal , that all must get as much as they want . The tea is plain , but substantial , and what better for young persons ? It was out . The cups are flat and without handles , a very Avise thing ; on each cup and plate is a picture of the School itself . But the chief attraction in this room , and what at once caught
my eye , is the oil painting , by Pierce , of Miss Jarwood , the matron , herself an old pupil , and Avho has been there over sixty years . I have never had the pleasure of seeing her , nor yet of any of the mistresses , until this day , but I shall hope at some future time to have this honour . I was told it had been subscribed for by supporters of the
Institution , and that many of the old girls—I ought to say ladies now , and who once were there—contributed to it . This at once sent up the School in my estimation ; for it is a sad , but often true story , that those who have been fed , clothed , housed , and educated in such establishments , have afterwards turned round and denounced their old School , to which they owe all in the world , because they have become ashamed of having been brought up at a charity school .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Visit To The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
The atmosphere on this somewhat sultry day was , in these rooms , deliciously cool . In winter the dormitories are heated , when necessary , by fires . The lower portion of the house is warmed by pipes . A small room for small children , and several of the governesses' rooms , separate these two large dormitories . From the ladies' rooms there
are windows opening into the pupils' apartments . In each room there are head girls , termed prefects , Avho , like the monitors at boys' public schools , are responsible for order , & c . A list of regulations in frames are hung up in every bedroom , from it I learned that in summer the children rise at six , and in winter at seven o ' clock .
The lavatories and bath-room formed the subject of interest next . Here again order reigns supreme . Every girl has her own towel marked , and other toilet requisites , that no mistake or ¦ confusion can be made . The bath-room I saw was small , but there are others , and tAVO new ones are also being fitted . Once a
Aveek , at least , every individual has a bath , but not like many boys ' schools , of cold water . It will be a great acquisition to the establishment Avhen the swimming bath is completed . I shall refer to this later . Once more coming- down stairs , and noticing on the landing a statuette of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , —for is she not the chief patroness of the foundation , and only lately gave a special
extra subscription ?—we arrived at a larg-e room corresponding m size to the dormitory above it . Here the hungry mouths are satisfied three times a day . Dinner was over . It had consisted of cold beef and rhubarb tarts ; to the latter I have not a doubt that ample justice was done . As a rule , the dinner is hot , and , as the governess informed me ,
no stated time is made for the meal , that all must get as much as they want . The tea is plain , but substantial , and what better for young persons ? It was out . The cups are flat and without handles , a very Avise thing ; on each cup and plate is a picture of the School itself . But the chief attraction in this room , and what at once caught
my eye , is the oil painting , by Pierce , of Miss Jarwood , the matron , herself an old pupil , and Avho has been there over sixty years . I have never had the pleasure of seeing her , nor yet of any of the mistresses , until this day , but I shall hope at some future time to have this honour . I was told it had been subscribed for by supporters of the
Institution , and that many of the old girls—I ought to say ladies now , and who once were there—contributed to it . This at once sent up the School in my estimation ; for it is a sad , but often true story , that those who have been fed , clothed , housed , and educated in such establishments , have afterwards turned round and denounced their old School , to which they owe all in the world , because they have become ashamed of having been brought up at a charity school .