The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-07-13
How One Woman Bridged q Gulf.

WHEN our thoughts are born,
Though they be very humble, we should
mind
How they are reared.
1t surely must have been some such
experience, such conScientiousness of
motive, that spurred the youthful Bar
bara Won Elterlein to deeper reflections
and graver musings than usually stir
the hearts of gentle mountain maidens.
Barbara was of a patrician family of
Nuremberg, and was born in 1914. She
was reared under suspicious influences,
and all her surroundings were elevat-
ing. AS was the custom of well-born
ladies of her day, much of the labor of
her hands was devoted to pious uses;
but her enthusiasm for altar decoration,
was not wholly satisfying; strong I'M
der-current of unrest tinged every
thought, overlapping even that great
pleasure.
BY her admirers she has been termed
1.-the good fairy of Erz-gebirge," and
no tribute was ever more fittingly be-
slowed. Living in an age when but
few occupations invited the attention of
women, and noting that large class
stood idle simply because there were
no open doors, this richly-endowed
young maiden gave herself to diligent
study concerning the dainty employ
ment of "bobbin lace-making," seek
ing so to simplify and render available
1.-the pleasant handicraft' as to intro
duce within the homes of pleasant
women business at once lucrative and
agreeable.
This thinking and planning was prin-
cipally accomplished before our heroine
had completed her teens; young, beau
tiful and accomplished, of high social
position, she yet willingly concentrated
every energy upon this single point
occupation and independence for the
women of her district. This touch of
deep womanliness meant much more
than simply filing empty hands; itmeant
peace and plenty for the household; it
meant the cultivation of beauty, both
of form and delicate artistic combina-
ton; and, beyond all this, it meant a
raid against a foe to all prosperity
idleness, gossip and lack of thrift.
A touch of romance comes in prettily
just here, heightening, it may be, her
ClllluSllStn. CllC uCSllcu W VI
fer her betrothed upon her marriage
day gift her own fingers had wrought
"a bit of dainty tleeciness which should
stand as an ensample of her success,
and be to other women the key to hope
fulness and independence. The lace
collar made for him, as worn by gen.
tlemen of that day upon grand and
festive occasions, was, it is recorded,
the first specimen of that style of bob
bin lace made in the district where Bar
bara and her affianced, Christopher
Uttmann, dwelt; and prouder husband
than that prosperous Silesian mine
owner could not be found.
Happily, great problem was solved;
through her ingenuity and diligence a
new and better way of fashioning
the filmy tissue" became an assured
fact, and to Barbara Uttmann is cor
daily accorded the credit of having
been the original inventress of the
German pillow and bobbins."
Thinking and accomplishing do not
always join hands; oftener it chances
that lone soweth and another reap
eth" But even during the lifetime of
our brave pioneer full sheaves bowed
themselves before her; her own and
many other lives received richly the
benediction of fullness and of peace.
Barbara Uttmann enjoyed long and
happy life, and bequeathed to her chill
dren a rare inheritance, for +" for three
centuries hundreds of thousands who
have earned an honest living by bobbin
lace-making have blessed her memory"
After her husbands death, in 1861,
Barbara Uttmann taught in Annaberg
this delicate art, making, it is said,
lucrative business; after her decease
the business became still more popular,
assuming in time the distinction of be-
coming ga municipal monopoly" and
villagers who practiced it were made
to pay tax called "bobbin money!
This was in 1909, and even earlier the
roll of lace-makers had numbered over
10000. In the early part of the seven
teenth century, radiating from this
noted lace-making center, a lace mar
ket was established by some energetic
Scotchmen, who sent in every direction
their travelling statesmen.
BY no age or nation can such a |
pioneer in industrial pursuits be wholly |
claimed. She was wonderful woman,
and the deep reverence with which her
name is spoken tells the story as moth
ing else can.
Her remains rest in Annaberg church