Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-06
THE COLOR LINE IN ART.
An Industrial Fair Containing Only
Exhibits by ColOred People.
From the Ne1o York Heral,


1t has been frequently remarked that
in no other city are there so many well
dressed and well behaved colored people
a in Washington. Their churches are
large and most of them equal in architec.
tural beauty to those the white denOmi.
nations. st. Augustine's, the colored
Catholic church, is, with one or two ex.
cepu0ns, the finest sacred edifice in
Washington, and boasts of choir equal
10 any in the city. The schools. too, In
c,ude the highest grades. With all Of
these evidences of culture the next step
was TO lnaugurate an industrial
iair, the first OF the kind ever
heid IN this or any other country at which
ohiy me handlwork of the negro race was
10 be exhibited. 1t opened on Friday a :
ternoon at O'Clock with appropriate ex-
ercises, the Commissioners Of the Dis
lilct OF Columbia, and number of promi-
hent cihctals and citizens being among
Inc invited guests. Eyeryth M admitted
10 J"c exhibition is the work OF colOred
People, ana there is a great deal that
SHOWS not only intelligent mastery of the
principles of the trade involved, but also
sA,ll ana taste in the execution.
some OF the work exhibited by the
IduIes would bear comparison with some
vi lhe oest results attained in a decorative
ART scho0l. There are designs worked
on plush and velvet with the needle and
Tue brush that are beautiful in effect,
"uu where they have been upholstered
va cDalTs and cushions fine artistic fur
nlture IL the result. Perhaps step still
!!uTtner IN advance in the decorative arts
10 sGeh IN the plaster figures, which are
well proportioned and very creditabe
a diI Specimens of painting in
o,l anu water colors are also exhibited,
as wei as sketches in crayon. There is
btS ' great Zeal of fancy work ex-
HIolled as well as fine needlework.
ana as nearly all the exhibits in
tne decorative art department are made
Uy women it may he seen that the colored
iolnen are deVoting a good deal OF atJen-
ie 0n W feminine accomplishments. There
49,, wv reason for those interested in the
oo"reu people to feel ashamed OF this
o,"es OF EXHIBITS. The men, however, arc
49, 49, wen represented in the exhibit. d,
ttnicu snow their skill and knowledge in
Sue Narlous trades. For instance. a brick
i,, 'o' way ls being constructed in the build
t.s'anu also brick fireplace, which ia
an,ended to show what excellent work the
Nv ~, go brick masons can do.
WE. zen mere IS the furniture and cabinet
~ eNhlmted, which shows not only a
~" Ieoge OF the trade. but considerable
INGENUITY in making combinations so that
So. piece OF furniture can be made to
Io d., variety OF purposes. The Satur-
no.; lass OF Howard University. which IL
noe Poseu OF boys from the city who are
niooa, uoehts IN the university, have
~ v, on exhibition miniature house,
bnt glazed movable windows and doors
wi ,s can be opened. The roof Is covered
hs su ornamental shingles. As The class
- N"lN DePn under Instructions for a
ga months this achievement will he con-
IT, Sareo worth placing GA exh bition.
stao, are TWO miniature vesscls--one a
1cSanooa GOAT and the other three-masted
rno,uuer. Every detail Of real ship is
AL ied out in these vessels, and the work
sir,,i Iequlres considerable nicely in ma
,u, p'.a'l ION. The exhibition is 10 continue
~, 80 ~ eeks. All the articles intended for
NJ a ,aT nave not Vet arrived. A number
W, trloutions are expected from New
'"'N' Philadelphia and Baltimore.