The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-07
SITTING ROOM AND SIDEWALK.
The Doings of Womenfolk in a Varie-
ty of disldS.

artist and head of the Society of Associa-
ted Artists, for a hotel in New York for
self-supporting women which should be
more practical in its management than the
short-lived and illogically conducted
Wonans Hotel put up by the A, t. Stew
art estate now the Park Avenue Hotel,
might be put into immediate operation
this spring; but not enough money has yet
been subscribed to warrant breaking
ground for the substantial building it is
hoped to erect, and every week that goes
by makes it more likely that the project
NAV go over until fall, though the placing
of a large block Of stock may be followed
Mt any time by the sound of the pickaxe
and cellar-digging within a week. Mrs.
Wheeler who is a talented artist and
whose daughter, Miss Dora Wheeler, pos
sesses exceptional power, is a practical
woman as we'll. 1t was she who founded
the tWoman's Exchange the operation of
which proved such an outlet to the home
labor Of women, and which has been fol-
lowed by the establishment of similar ex-
changes in scores of American cities 1t
was she who organized the women artists of
New York into the Society of Decorative
Art, and made a headquarters for artistic
work in the city. 1t was she who formed
the Society of Associated Artists which
has lifted American tapestries and embroid-
of art in the country, and the development
of whose school of embroidery has given re-
munerative work to hundreds of women.
Mrs. Wheeler has done much other public
work and those who are interested in this
her latest but not least beneficent project
feel sanguine that it will be carried through.
It is a proof of the common sense at the
bottom of the enterprise that Mrs.
Wheeler will not suffer it to be spoken of as
a philanthropic scheme. Professional phil
anthropy has killed too many plans for the
help of that most independent of all human
beings, the woman who works for wages.
'This is business PLAN" said Mrs.
Wheeler a day or two since, ''and its stock
holders will hope to make it pay divi-
bends"
A stock company with capital of from
100000 to $500, 600 to erect a hotel for the
accommodation Of fifty or 100 women, be-
tween Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, is
the basis on which it is proposed to start,
the building to be fireproof, every room to
have an open fire and plenty of closet room,
board to cost about So week, and the
hotel to be managed like a big social club,
hy house committees of boarders and
Stockholders, making really an expert
ment in cooperative housekeeping. The
humber Of self supporting women gently
bred and to whom the comforts offered by
such an institution would be bliss, is an i'm
nense one and growing every month. Few
peOple realize how large it is If Mrs.
Wheeler's hotel is started and succeeds, it
will be followed inside of six years by a
dozen more 1t is not an exaggeration to
say that suitable boarding places with
pleasant surroundings at moderate cost are
the one great need. Of self dependent women
in New York, an elysium which they de-
spair of ever attaining. A number of CAPT
tall Is are interested in Mrs. Wheeler's pro-
jet and it bids fair to have fair trial
WOOD CARVING A NEW FEMININE FAD
Brass hammering is going out, wood cary
ing is coming i'll. Instead of punching
plaques women are cutting wood panels.
The passion for carved hall and dining
room furniture and for wood over-mantels
has something to do with starting the craze.
The tools are easily handled Also and re-
iquire little muscular strength, only quick
eye, an artistic feeling and steady hand.
1t is the proper thing to design and carve
the two halves of the bellows for the open
fire, put naked child on them, say, blow
ing the red Goals in a cave of the winds: or
to cut ornaments for the great oak chest
that medieval moderns are reviving to
hold their wardrobes. There are several
classes in wood carving and many ladies
are taking private lessons. There is niece
of Charles Sumner who became quite an
expert, but she has rooms in hotel and
has given up her work because the noise OF
1t disturbed her neighbors A sister-in-law
of Horace Greeley a woman OF 70, is one
ofthe enthusiasts talking it up as Cato did
Greek in her old age. Her favorite piece of
work is a carved settle for her hall, and
she takes great pride in it. Smaller pieces
OF work are the rule, panels and tiles for the
side of the mantel and the like, but carved
desks, Sideboards aud large decorative
pieces are rot beyond the ambition Of the
more aspiring. One of the successful wood
carvers and designers of the city has it in
mind, if possible, to found school for in
struction in wood carving, for the teach
ing CT young women especially, for whom
he believes there is an outlook for paying
work in this line. One of his pupils, in
deed, girl of perseverance and talent,
has supported herself comfortably this
winter by taking pupils herself, and has
developed so much originality and indie
pendent skill that she has obtained good
commission for carvings and interior de-
coratlve woodwork for number of resi-
dences to be built by rich New Workers at
Lenox this summer If the taste for wood
carving continues to Increase it will supply
an occupation in which women who go into it
Tor something more than amusement will
ma. Ii they are artists, one more welcome
resource.
RoSINA voKEs
has taken a fiat in New York and gone to
housekeeping, set up her lares and penates,
over milliner's shop, which makes it
quite perfect, just the thing, you know "
MISS Nokes is a curious instance of an act
Tess who dresses much better off the stage
Than on it. In looking at her over the foot
llghtS one is always lost in perplexity which
10 admire most, the vivacious skill of the
comedlenne or the pertinacity with which
she fishes in the rag bag for her gowns.
IN society, where she is something of a
iavorite, Miss Vokes pays more attention to
her array. At Mrs. John Bigelow's recep-
tion last week she introduced novelty in
the shape of enameled pansies fastened just
as they might have fallen here and there
over the bodice of her black silk gown. Her
h1heneSs and alertness of gesture and
movement is, if possible, more marked in
parlor than on the stage. To see her talk
70 person behind her you would think she
nad whisked her whole body round inside
her dress and left that ON parade facing the
USther way. She has a fair, soft skin, not
IKE the general run of stage compilations
ruined by grease paint, but then she doesn't
make up to any large extent. And for man
ner, she is quick, unconventional, charm
'ng the life of any company.
>. IL there is a kindly woman in New York
~ is eccentric Mrs. John Bigelow, the wifi
Oh the ex-Minister, whose house and heart
are always open to her hosts of girl proteges
que mas always on hand girl who can