The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-02-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Art In Austin, and Suggestions
from Jennie June-Descending
TO Politics and then Into
Deep Water, with n Re-
freshing Glimpse at
the Stage.

TO Politics and then Into
Deep Water, with a Re-
freshing Glimpse at
the Stage.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.,
February Is, 1892.
To the Editors of the STATESMAN.
Yonr paper announced few
weeks ago that a praisewOrthy
movement, called the WOman's Art
Exchange has been set on foot i'll
Austin under the auspices of some
OF the most talented and cultivated
women of whom the state can boast.
1t is a great movement, and TO those
ignorant and super-elegant people
III this part of the world, who can
not be convinced that the edge of
civilization extends even to the
nearest corner of the state, il is
proof that there is more culture and
general education and less six
shooter, Bowieknife and snuffstick
there than they could otherwise
have believed. Austin can boast of
preponderance of talented, culti-
waited aud charming women, of
which city twice its size might be
proud. An undertaking under their
fostering care ought to succeed, if
it does not. hope the Texas press
will show generous spirit and lend
the whole weight of its in
fiuence to give the enterprise
the credit, kedulity and the
assistance it erves, by letting
every woman 1.-THE state know OF
its existe1cSl intention and its
are within the vide borders of that
state, buried in the obscurity of
some little village or, mayhap, some
distant ranch, who have many
leisure hours, and to whom an in
centive to employ them in the pro-
ductiOn of some pretty piece OF
wOman's art work would be boon
With climate as bright and beauti-
full as that which fostered art in
Greece and Italy, skies as fair,
scenes as lovely, why should not
Texas, i'll that wonderful future,
swiftly approaching, be, par ercel-
Lence,
THE LAND OF ART AND BEAUTY,
and that, too, through her women {
Yet if the "Art Exchange" hopes
for eventual success, it can only
achieve it slowly, very slowly, in the
face of Indifference and discourage
ment; but let not its leaders retire
wOrsted after few rebuffs, to merit
that reproach which comes with such
truth to the stronger sex in Austin
that any movement set on foot
by them for the welfare of the city,
falls through tor want of persever-
ance, encouragement and interest.
have a letter before me which L
received from Jennie June" Mrs.
David George Croly) last week, in
which she gives, from the riches of
her own WIDE experience and gifted
mind, some suggestions which can
not fail to be of interest and assist
ance. She says: GAS L understand
it, the Texas society is based upon
our New York 'WOman's Exchange
That is wise, because more useful
than the Art Decoration society,"
which is more limited in its opera
tiOns, and addresses itself only to a
trained class of workers, and a
wealthy class of buyers. The wo-
mans exchange is less exacting and
more diversified i'll its character.
Workers are admitted by card from
a member, and everything is
sent in from cake and pre-
served fruits to plaques. The
worker marks the price, and
the society receives ten per cent.
commission on all sales. Were il
possible as an attraction, and also
to create sort of standard, it would
be good thing 10 make few pur-
chases at established schools and
display them in the rooms at the
beginning. Painted pigs, mugs,
milk sets, lunch sets, DOylies, new
tides, embroidered tableclOths, and
toilet sets as well. Originality in
design should be demanded, or, at
least, encouraged, and use should
be combined with beauty. There
are many pretty things to be made
in wood that clever boys can do;
such as small artistic cabinets, book
racks, book-shelyes, brackets and
the like. New specialtles in the
making of lace articles ought to be
stimulated; also the outline en-
brOidery on linen, which is not diff
cult nor expensive, yet is very
effective, and capable OF such
varied application" Another thing
she suggests from the fullness of
her knowledge of woman's tender
ness, whereby charity generally
dominates their business transac-
tions, to detrimental extent. "The
managers ought not to make their
exchange hospital for un-beautl-
full and un-useful things. 1t is
cardinal principle with our New
York exchange that whatever is re-
ceived shall be its own excuse-its
own reason for existence-and shall
give joy by its beauty or excellent
fulfillment of function, or both" L
give these suggestions because of
their un-intrinsic worth, and prac-
teal sense. They come from the
kind but busy pen of one of the
most successful, best known, and
generally beloved of our American
women, and whose business exper-
fence is varied and extensive, whose
artistic knowledge is equal to her
common sense (Which is saying
much) and whose achievements in
Journalism are more brilliant than
those of any other woman l know
of. Suggestions from her, therefore,
have an unusual worth on this SUBJ
ject.
WOMEN AND ART.
If women in the south could only
be brought to understand and APP
preciate the astonishing success
which women in the north have
gained in art work during the last
few years, they too would be up and
doing, instead ofsitting idly bv with
strained patience waiting for the re-
habitation of their. devastated land
and who shall say that the bright
future now dawping on the new
south, rising as it's, so surely in all
its old pride of innate strength and
nobility of soul, from its bitter bap-
tism of blood, may not come all the
sooner and with added lustre be-
cause of wOmen's efforts Some of
the brightest and most gratifying
successes of the present day are at
tached to wOmen's names in the |
north. Among the statues in the |
old hall of representatives at the |
capitol, the most beautiful. both in
execution and conception, Except |
one OTHER only is the work of wo-
mainland that too of q woman who |
took up the chisel at an age when |
most women begin to think their |