New-York tribune., 1895-10-20
THE DESIGNERS.
NOTES on A WALL PAPER FACTORY.


81 should like to see the manager, please"
The grlish voice reached the OF that
functonary as he sat at his desk, and pushing
aside his paper, he came forward to greet TIE
visitor.
"Ah You have designs 10 show. Well. l
must you to Mr. L.; he has entire charge
Of that department Abney," turning to clerk
take this young lady to Mr. L.; and in a spacious
upper hall. hung in warm red tones and appro-
priatey decorated. the conference takes place
And you will really buy that one!' the young
designer exclaimed her eyes fairly dancing with
delight I'm awfuly glad OF course, but I thought
that If you took any you would pick out this one"
looking regret3uly at the pink azaleas sprinkled
over white ground, which were evidently her
fawortes.
THAT is pretty but prefer this" said Mr.. L..
smiling inscrutaby. and, the price being named and
agreed upon, the colloquy ended.
Il don't anything particularly new in that
pattern or in the coloring either. said privileged
visitor who was strolling about the rooms ex-
amining things in general and wall paper designs
in particular
you don't! I'm surprised al that. See whore
it's going?' And the lid OF stout wooden box
was lifted and the new purchase showed within It,
The VISITOR elevated his eyebrows. How many
have you got slowed away in there now? he
asked.
About a; hundred or so. This last is almost
fac-simile, except in the shading. of paper We
didn't want any other factory get IL"
Were any other Of the designs she had fair?"
NO; bani-altogether bad. They would not have
passed all had they NOT been colored. The
coorng hides such multitude OF sins.
Il get all out OF patience with these schools that
attempt to teach girls how to design without first
teaching them to draw" observed the artist, as he
sat down before easel and pinned some En-
crusta Walton dragons that were slipping out Of
place firmly TO the background. That Is
the third young woman | have seen this morning
who was trying sell designs. Every day now.
until the end OF May l shall so through the same
experience These girls come TO New-York with
a strong fancy for drawing and maybe some crude
talent. and start in 10 get a livelihood out OF their
slight knowledge OF the business. When one does
anything worth doing, or worth having nhe'y-nihe
go to the wall"
well do the do any better?"
Somewhat. yes; because men as rule are reg
ularly trained FOR what they undertake. Women
are wonderfully bright for catching on They beat
men two TO one at that conplishment but there
are some things that require patience and technical
knowledge as well talent. should regard de-
signing as chief in the list. Practically must be
consulted The width OF the loom. for instance,
the demand for certain kinds OF paper, etc. must
be taken into consideration
Some ladies' to see you. sir" announced the office
boy and IN the artists absence the visitor wan
dered into the factory. where the great rollers were
stamping. printing. coloring and embossing miles |
and miles Of paper, looping 1t and carrying it to
the not end OF the room 20 dry the colors. and |
sending II back receive the cleaning, powdered
gilt that would help to make II thing OF beauty.
People don't worry any more about green wall |
paper being unhealthy he observed to the fore |
man. as he caught sight Of the pools beneath each |
roller
That they don't Paris green and all them |
poisons is too high priced TO use In these days |
when everybody wants something cheap Gay and |
anine dyes are more convenient"
''some more designs offered?' the question. |
when the artist-foreman returned from seeing his |
callers.
no: this time the young woman brought no |
specimens OF her work, but simply came to ascer- |
tain what we wanted. She felt confident Of pleas |
ing II she knew our wants. She accompanied |
by her mother or aunt, don't know which who |
frankly asked my opinion as TO the girls living in |
New York and making original designs as a pro- |
fession ! had chance TO air all my views on the |
subject | told them that out OF four hundred de- |
signs submitted to me bought ten and that eight |
ont os the ten bought simply because they bore |
such strong resemblance to designs using |
in the factory that It would not pay to let other
makers get hold OF them. / don't think that the /
old lady is going 10 let the young woman enter |
the arena since she has heard my Views. The |
girl is fired with ambition, but don't believe. from
what she SAYS that she has advanced very far yet !
in the art Probably she has painted daisy or |
a carnatiOD occasionally.
For a plaque to hang on the wall" suggested !
his listener.
mo. Cor a splasher for a friends washstand or /
something OF that sort Most OF them just starting
but have not got FAR as plaques or china paint
ing.
But I've something beautiful TO show you' done
by a hundredth amateur In Boston, continued |
the artist LOOK al that And he held up 10 view
a square Of mounted paper The design was one |
OF purple feur-de-ls. with curving pe'ais ana |
green bladelike leaves arranged in a formally In |
formal fashion that made charming hgure The +
groundwork just a hint OF green ana the /
hue OF the flower was nature Itself woman's
name was pencilled on the margin
I'VE are not likely TO use this, said the man
ager but told the firm that 1t was so sood we /
ought to own 1t. Here three Others as good
fine original have written this artist that shaii
send her design TO England. where they VIII ma
sale"
But New-York Is wealthy city; people mere |
spend money avishly; they live in handsome /
homes. Why should work Ike that 90 to England ,
to find a market"'
when a manufacturer sets up a certain design |
OF paper on his machines he wants profit out OK !