The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-10-30

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Cincinnati exhibit Of decorative art, than
which no better has been made by any art
association in the United States. The SUI
periority OF the wood carving, done by Gin
cinnati artists, over foreign exhibits (and
by foreign T mean from outside the United
States, for we spell Nation with big N here
in Ohio, was so marked as to call forth
many expressions of surprise.
The fair hands Of delics tie women had
wrought out many of the beautiful pieces OF
work on exhibition, proving that at least
one more avenue has opened in which wo-
men may labor successfully. The articles
were not confined to trifes, such as might be
finished in day. There were cabinets,
sideboards, tables, picture frames-articles
which required time and skill and patience.
One bookcase, or cabinet, had its walnut
panels carved in dainty trailing vines and
leaves; cabinet showed birds resting upon |
the branch of tree-the birds cut from the |
solid wood; an elegant library table carved
in most delicate and lovely design at
tracted universal attention. And so on
through long list of articles, each admira-
BILE in its way, and showing what patient,
intelligent labor may achieve.
We all remember the shrug Of the shoul-
ders every one gave, a few years ago, at the
mere mention OF the ceramic craze, and we
all were united in the opinion that it would
soon die for want of support. Looking at
the artistic work exhibited by ladies in Gin
cinnati feel like exclaiming, ''bess de Lord
for de ceramic craze" for as s'tall oaks from
little acorns grow so has the commence
ment of great work been made which, per-
haps. owes its life to ceramic madness. But
our ladies have gone beyond the labor OF
FASTING pictures upon pottery or cumming
over gas pipes, and are making their own
pictures from the soft clay, which is found
in such variety of colors in this State. I'm
agine lovely butterfly, poised above reeds
and grasses, all made from soft clay, then
find the colors remaining unchanged by the
heat. 1t requires artistic fingers to mould
the clay, and i required study and patience
to evolve the method. Then, too, other
ladies have experimental until they are
giving US lovely jars and vases, decorated in
the same manner as those exhibited at the
Centennial by the Havilands, from Limoges.
| l have not time to enter upon detail OF this
work, but cannot refrain from saying that
when the ladies of single city can make an
exhibit Of such a variety Of art work as have
the ladies of Cincinnati, art work, too'
which has marketable value-for We will
all have carved tables and decorated china ii
they are brought to reasonable prices-the
time has come to erase from our social stat
ute books the idea that woman can only DO
one Of five things: 'teach school, take in
sewing, take boarders, starve or get mar
ried.n
Ohio women are not only opening new
! fields of industry for their own ssx, but they
are developing branch OF business which
will sooner or later bring to Ohio portion
of the money which Americans now eSpend
in Europe for decorated china, fine wood
carving, Kensington needle work, and other
decorative art-work.
Another exhibit which seemed to interest
every one was the testimonials presented to
Gen. Grant while in Great Britain and Ire
land,-Nos COL to 7I9, inclusive. Among
them are two bronze medals. two gold cas-
kets, an address on parchmentin gold box,
a silver casket, and various addresses, etc.,
elegantly bound.
OF course we had a machinery ball,
crowded as no one ever anticipated it would
be; extensive displays by various silk and
thread companies elegant furniture and all
sorts of furnishing goods pianos, or.
pans nd sewing machines in fact it would
be much easier to say what we did not have
rather than what we did.
One thing was particul arly struck by
The extensive and exhaustive exhibit made
nv the States OF Kansas and Missouri, show
ing what can be raised on their soil. No
better way could be found to attract atten
ton and induce immigration to that section
and the rapid development OF that country
shows that 1t pays to advertise in this man
ner.
} Virginia has just as good soil and bet
ter climate than either Kansas or Missouri
Her IUluGTaI Wttt'Gu CASCOOo oo"o " S-S.>S
} State. She has never suffered severely iron
|, drouth or from grasshoppers. and yet tn
: tide OF emigration is from rather than towar
her borders. The reason therefor is YER
+ plain, and if Virginians desire to see thei
] State 20 forward toward prosperity's hill,
+ will be we'll fer them to do little self-com
: munipp and see if there is a remedy 20
/. found.
Energetic, intelligent people, with mean
! to make home where they choose, are no
q going to emigrate to State where the Gov
u ernor pronounces 'seducation lururu'
: aud intimates it is not desirable to have
!. accessible to all, when they can find home
: in rapidly growing States which pride them
! selves upon their free schools. There al
u certain things which State must guarante
and maintain il she wishes to secure des
e rable addition to her population. One
them is good schools, free to ALL; another
y the right to think and vote as one honestly
o believes to be right.
u "F. j, BIZ in his sRambles in Virginia,
e is giving us much valuable statistical an
. geological information but we want nj
g to 90 a little further, and, il be 'sknows no
Il it is himseli''-as We presume he does
9 tell us If every man, rich or poor, can spes
j, and vote in accordance with his conscienc
v and not suffer social ostracism ii he happel
: to be with the minority.
> We do not suppose there are Chishol
massacres or buctheries like that OF Dixon.
g Mississippi, but il sstriaes are the provend
e of love- so also are they the thorns in T.
: flesh. and some of us might prefer to be so
4 and be done with it.
!, Speaking Of politics reminds me we ha