The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-26
SHOPS OF DESIGNS.

From the NJ y. Tribune.
We suggested the other day the establish
ment of a training school for nurses, as an
effective and speedy mode of helping women
who want livelihood and are willing to work
for it. Another, equally quick and effective,
would be the opening of a workshop of de-
sign. Large numbers of women, of more or
less artistic ability, receive education to fit
them as designers, engravers on wood or
steel, colorists of drawings or photographs;
but after the education is obtained, fail to
find employment. The large majority of
these are young girls of gentle and reserved
home-training, anxious to support them
selves, yet, from old prejudices, with which
the rest of us may or may not sympathize,
not quite prepared to leave the seclusion of
home to open shops, or in any manner force
their way in public. On the other hand,
manufacturers of carpets, wall. papers, gas
fixtures, all handicraftsmen, in fact, by whom
models of form or color are used, are in
daily need of new designs, and willing to pay
well for them. There is, however, so far as
women are concerned, no way in which the
producer and consumer of this kind of work
can be brought into contact.
No workshop, we believe, is now attached
to any Academy of Design in the country.
When some years ago there was one in Phi
ladelphia, women through it supplied with
designs all the principal manufacturers of
that city. Now, men have almost in every
instance supplanted them, simply from the
inability Of the ajority of women to push
themselves into notice. An institution of
the kind we suggest would at once become
self-supporting. Designs for all kinds of
manufactures for which designs are requisite
could be made at home and brought there by
the women; the manufacturers would gladly
embrace the chance of freeing themselves
from the monopoly which few men (mostly
r.. Il 4 =
Most of the large houses for producing car
pets, shawls, iron work, ETC., support de-
signer, with whose work they are obliged to
be satisfied, whether bad or good. In the
mode we propose the best work, as in other
lines of business, would command the best
price. Contracts could be entered into
between the woman artist, as well as the man,
and the manufacturer, if it was thought
most convenient; and the workshop or middle
man thus dispensed with. Such contracts
are held by some women of good artistic
capabilities in New England and Philadel-
phia, and faithfully fulfilled. The expenses
Of the design-shop could be betrayed by q
small percentage from buyer and seller.
Whatever may be the differing opinions of
thoughtful men with regard to woman's suf-
frage, there is not one who is not anxious to
clear every obstacle out of her path which
hinders her from earning her own living if
and who would not, for the sake of his own
wife and daughters, shield her in her new
work as far as he could from contact with
hardship or vulgarity. No kind of work opens
wider door than this, or draws woman
less from the desirable seelusion of home.
There may not be many great artists among
women, but there is a large and generally
diffused amount of artistic taste, or skill, or
nicely of manipulation, which qualities them
to do ordinary work. and ordinary work of
this kind, especially wood engraving, is more
remunerative than sewing or the lower kinds
Of teaching, besides being in as constant
and as large demand.
Unless, however, some establishment such
as we suggest is opened the work rarely
control of it are not likely to stand aside to
make way for weaker, though perhaps as
capable competitors. The mistake made by
women seeking new careers is that they all
| push into the highest intellectual depart
! ments; woman with the capacity and manual
adroiteess which would fit her for her an or
! binary handicraft must be the Caesar Of the
rostrum, or nothing; in her new-hedged am
! bition she forgets how the great majority of
men content themselves with subordinate
employment. One workshop of design will
| accomplish more practical good than dozen
! conventions. In the course OF six months
the competition would relieve manufacturers
of the exceptionally high rates which they
are now compelled to pay, while women now
! unable to find any work would be well paid
as designers, photographers, japanners, and
| wood engravers.
| NON UuTC ONTV RITZ NOPE ATCn