The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-12-30
MRS. CANDAcE WHEELER.

especially efficient work in this direction
are Mrs. Candace Wheeler, Mrs. Flor
ence w. Cory and Mrs. Ellen Dunlap
Hopkins.
Nearly twenty years ago Mrs. Candace
Wheeler organized a society of decora-
tive art which may be regarded as the
well spring of cooperative work among
women workers in the United States.
Mrs. Wheeler was born at Delhi, N. Y,
and was remarkable from her earliest
years for her artistic temperament,
which was supplemented as time went
on by philanthropic spirit and execu-
tive abilities that must find some out
ward expression.
Although reared in easy circum-
stances, married early to o prosperous
business man, Mrs. Wheeler saw in
many instances among her friends the
necessity Of some movement being made
which would enable gentlewomen less
fortunate than herself to turn their tai.
ents and accomplishments to practical
use. To further their interests and
place the fruits of their labor before the
public she formed society that soon
had branches in every state, and it is to
her sympathy and enterprise that her
sisters of kindred tastes are indebted for
the women's exchanges and decorative
art societies that afford them either an
entire source of live sJood or means of
supplenenting limited income.
About dozen years ago, encouraged
by the success that had attended the
initial movement for the benefit of her
sex, Mrs. Wheeler formed the Society
of Associated Artists, an enterprise con-
Quoted on business principles, devoted
to interior decoration, tapestries en-
broidered by n method of her own de-
vising, designing of wall paper and tex
tiles, yet serving a double purpose in
making it the medium of feminine
workers whereby they could Demon
strate their abilities to compete with
men in the field Of technical design, and
afford them also an opportunity of Gre
ating a school of art that should possess
national characteristics.
Many palatial homes of American plu-
tocrats have been decorated by designs
of Mrs. Wheeler, carried out by her corps
of forty sister workers, the rich textiles
employed woven by American manufac-
turers, which stamps her as being not
only of philanthropic but patriotic tend
encies. Mrs. Wheeler is on the sunny
side of fifty, sweet voiced, gentle man
nereu, with a personality combining
strength and sweetness in an unusual
degree.
In 1880 Florence w. Cory, who may
claim the distinction of being the first
woman carpet designer i'll the world,
established her school of industrial art
that now numbers in regular attendants
and correspondence pupils 600 members
The sunny haired, bright faced little
woman has been known to manufactur-
ers as the pioneer feminine worker in
the capacity of q practical designer for
many years. Born in Syracuse and
reared in Oswego, she married when
she was scarcely out of her teens and
became widow early in her twenties.
The necessity of either returning to the
parental roof or formulating some plan
of work which would eventually make
her self supporting was q question which
confronted her, and it was at this period,
when contemplating an ugly carpet in
the house of friend, she received the
inspiration that has evolved itself into
life work, and she determined to become
q designer.
1t was then spring. and the doors Of
Cooper institute, where she expected
to receive the necessary tuition, were