The Helena independent., 1893-08-21
IT ATTRACTS ALL EYES.
The Handiwork Of Montana Women
Challenges Admiration at the
Worlds Fair
Most Of the Exhibits In the Wo-
mons Building OCCUPY sCon-
spicuous Places.
work Of Three Helena Women Exhibited
In the ColIsNtion Of tho National
Art League.

oVo0v 0Uu CunuCukO tuo OA ~ss
who sec II. and that 10 the work OF her
women. Two thousand miles away from
the csnters Of art and Learning, sopa' ated
from each other by long distances and sur
rounded by difficulties and discouragemenss
that In eastern states would bs regarded ~
iusurmounsable. they have by their skill.
perseverance, and energy prepared An ex-
hibit that in quantity. variety and excel
lsnce ranks among the finest to be found at
the great exposition. The wiiteH does not
mean TO imply that in quantity It ranks
with suoh states az New York. but that when
the question OF population 10 taken inso
consideration it 10 not only equal but su.
perior TO New York or any Of the dsnsely
populated states. II 10 further
moro a fact that because OF its
superior excellence. a greater per cent. OF
the work offered, was selected for e1hibi-
ton than from the other states. These
statements may seem extravaganza. bus
careful examination of the work from the
vi ious parts Of the country, tho action OF
the committees having tho work In charge.
and the verdict of tho visiting pnblic will
Justify % In everything We have said.
Most of the exhibits arc to be found in
the woman's building. whore they OCCUPY
conspiouous rositions. little TO the lat
OF the north entrance are two large cases
en- t.ely devoted to the display OF Montan.
exhiDite. Tho 1rst contains variety OF
articles made by Indian women, rsvolu-
tionnry relios loaned bv Mrs. Harper.
Dolmon nad Others. besides many other
rare and curious a'ticles. The second case
contains a large number of very beautiful
articles. among which may be mentioned
table linen embroidered by Mrs. McCuns.
ovnhY0idAPad bY Mf0. \. N
Titton and Mrs. A. G. Morae Of tho same
place, while still another lady from
Tho same place. Mrs. T.. y. Bolts. has
several very handsome doilies. A very hne
hem stitched handkerchief e1ouisitsly OF
nementad In silk bears the name OF MRS.
Nj. d, Cooyer. OF BoSeman. Several china
vases painted in beautiful designs bear the
cards of Mary A. Philips. Miss Hammond.
and Miss Hamilton. Mira. b. Brown. Mrs.
Siebens and Mrs. Shultz Other articles
of needle work by Carrie Jacobs. Mrs.
Cooper. Scott, Bond. Tilton and Lamm
Al these piecos above mentioned show not
only great skill In execution, but rare taste
Near by. in the collection Of the national
avt league, are some very finc specimens OF
china painting done BY three Helena ladies'.
One Of them. punch bowl. by MIS- Bot
Kin, is scarcely surpassed by anything In
the collection, while the other pieces. vase
by Mrs. Child and q plato by Miss Rumlev.
mover fall to call forth e1trnv"gens , Hraise'
Helena people will remember Mrs. Mason.
who gave instruction In china painting In
Helena about two years ago. In the same
collection Is q beautiful vase, hex handi-
work.
Ceramic club. located in the gallery Of the
liberal nrts building. two punch bowls oc-
cupy the piacoa Of honor. They are indeed
things Of bsaaty. One Of them was DECOR
ated by Miss Philips, of whose excellent
work We have already spoken. In the
scientifc department. OF the womnn's build
ing are many collections OF botany. Among
these in q conspicuous location is the large
md slepant collection from Montana. The
sreoimens are mounted behind glass In
large wings, which to the number OF fifty
two, are hung to a largo beautiful pillar
inthian capital. These specimens of Mon
tanA plants are finely preserved and
mounted, and each bears card showing
the order. genus. species. common name.
locality and tho name OF the collector.
The latter reveals the fact that the ool!ec'
Muth, Mrs. Kennedy. Mrs. Dolman, Mrs.
Fitch, Miss Ware. Mau and others. On
the wall nenr by is also fine collection by
Mrs. Fitch. while four bound volumes con-
tain tho collection prepared wholly by
Miss Ware.
panels, ono carved by Mrs. Chas. Brown, OF
beaverhend county. the other by some lad '
in Mssouia county. Both riecos are ol
native woods. bearing beautiful designs.
and aro indeed credit to the dcft fingers
of the fair artists On the same floor is q
fine collect on of wood engravings designed
and executed By Miss Shipnan. OF Lewis
town, Fergus county. Those cuts are do
signed as illustrations for books, designs
for title pages. etc. The wtitcr could
hardly believe that they were the work of q
lady living far out on tho plains of Mon
tuna, but such is the case. These pieces
show Miss hhipman to be an artist of rare
ability and for whom tLero is bright
future.
The large stone vase contributed by the
ladies of Great Falls stands Immediately
in front of the west entrance. while within
the censs, of tho spac!ous hall arc the
fountain and the stone settee donated by
the ladies of Lewis and Clarke county.
Not an hour of the day Roes by that inter
ested visitors do not occupy tha sest, Of
stand about tho fountain admirino its
symmetrical outlines and watching tha
plny of sparkling water that gush from
the flower Jets into its silver bowl.
Among othor features of tho exhibit fol
which Montana Is indebted to her enter
prising women nro the large aud vnlnnble
dspa tment made by indian women, the
beautiful flag in the assembly room made
by the Butte ladios. tho banner in tho state
building from the ladies of Anaconda, and
the elegant chair in which Mrs. Potter
Palmor daily prcsidss over tho delibera-
tons of the boa d of lady directors. Thi,
beautiful pioce of furniture is in one solid
piece, having been carved out Of huge
block of red cedar. and is nt the same Tins
the most unique ard beautiful lieoe oi
furniture in tho hall.
Injustice to tho women OF Montana
would be done to close without s.cnk.
iuR of tho efficient services rendered b,
those Indies who have Ind charge of the
women's work in Chicago. and Who hav,
been so faithful IN planning. collecting and
arranging II. None but those eu gagged In
the work will ever know through what toi
md discourapements tho magnificent re-
suits wore attained. In tho face Of adverse
u,iticism on the part Of eoine. inditfere enc,
on tho part of many, md oftentimes with
HohinG heads and tired hands. they hav.
labored on till glorious success has crownst
their effo ia. So long as the history of tn,
great exposition endures. on, bright chap
trr will be devoted to tho work of Montan,
women End in thia chapter honorable men.
on will bo mnde OF tho names and tn,
efficient services OF M .. Richards, Mrs
uowey, Mrs. Meadow and Mrs. Cooper.