The evening times., 1895-12-02
w Woman'ssEuture
In Old England
MRS. DUNLAP HOPKINS WORK
BEARS rRGlr ABROAD.
Fair American 10 . Open a Great
Industrial Institution in
London.

| nattering tributes ever paid TO America
or an American has just eliminated in
| the erection of the new School OF Applied
Design for Women, In London, under the
patronage Of her royal Aighness, Helena,
| the Princess Christian OF Schles wig-Hol-
| stein.
| And all because Of the practical wisdom,
| intelligence and foresight Of brilliant,
handsome and charming American woman.
| Mrs. Dunlap Hopkins, the originator and
| founder of TIE New York School OF pplied
| Design for women.
BEGINNINGS OF THE AMERICAN
SCHOOL.
! A few years ago this clever lady turned
| her attention to a careful study Of the
| future of women in America. She quickly
perceived that the scli-supporting woman
| was on the increase owing to various
| new conditions, and that lie was beoom-
| ing a serious question to her. Mrs. Hopkins
| forth with set herself to the bettering OF
| the status of feminine wage.earners. She
| examined into the different branches Of
employment: opened to them and after
! thorough investigation came to the con-
| clusion that a new and untred field lay
| before women in practical desi gning
| for the various branches of decorative art,
beginning with good draughtsmanship,
thence to the different styles of arcli-
lecture to which all decorative art is more
or less related, and continuing through
the whole ganiut.
No sooner had Mrs. Hopkins arrived at
this conclusion, than with the greatest
energy and dispatch she founded school
where the country's young women filled
with talent and eMbition, but entirely un-
trained, could be taught to practically
apply their gifts.
And prestoI On September 1 8. I S92, the
institution opened with fifty pupils. mostly
ignorant but enth usiastic, who entered upon
the various branches of instruction offered.
THE SCHEME AND ITS SUCCESS.
These included the application of de-
sign to wall pa pers, silk tapestries, needle
work. Chintzes. frescoes, paycnien's, mo-
saics. rugs, carpets, linoleunls, metal work,
ornamentalplasterw work and modelling, glas S
painting furniture neefilework, book Illus
trations book covers and architectural
work. especially interior house decorations
and fittings.
News OF the novel scheme quickly spread
over the country. Pupils came from all
parts The school became self support
ing. and was able to pa offits debt Grad
ually floor after floor in the building at No.
200 West Twent v third street was added.
and finally an adjoining house taken. A
valuable art library collected. the choicest
models and plaster casts brought from
abroad, and every IA ciiity offered for furth-
eripc the work even to the Introduction of
a lunch room on the top floor. to satisfy
the material cravings OF the inner woman.
wHATHAs BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
The professors and teachers were either
artists of Acknowledged superiority or
men of practical common sense. in the
employ of the finest manufacturing houses
In the country. who taught the students how
TO apply their theoretical knowledge to the
practicalneeds of theday
The schools success along all lines is
phenomenal. 1t is ,fan to overflowing
with scholars. has 4 sound financial basis,
and its worth Acknowledged on all Sides
Its graduates are in demand as teachers.
designers and architects. They and the
undergraduates as well are beset with or
dcrs from the highest art firms. and new
era has really begun for women with art
proclivitics.
The students have designed public build
ings and private houses. The San Francisco
saIitarium is a fair example OF their
work and they are at present busy on a fine
stone mansion in P Poughseepsie TWO young
students. Misses Mary Nevan Cannon and
Alice ]. Hands. have lately been appointed
supervising architects of Twilight Park,
In the Catskills-
The school has had exhibits at the Worlds
Fair in Chicago and at the California expo
sition. at both of which 4 quantity of medals
were awarded. 1t has exhibited at the New
York food show. and is now ma king beau
tiful display at the Atlanta exposition.
From there the exhibit Will go to London to
show our British cousins bow alert Is the
American girl worker, as well as the but
terfly Yankee maid.
MRS. HOPKINS WORK
But all this nourishing condition OF at
fairs has not come about of itself. 1t is
greatly due to brains. and the devotion OF
the young Institutions fair founder. once a
nlt U ~
to the advancement and welfare OF her pet
enterprise.
Day after day is she to be found seated In
her office at the school. Immersed In busi-
ness documents. giving orders, or directing
work. respected and beloved because or
her entire unselfish effacement. She mas
dispenscd with her luxuries-goEe ARE her
carriage and horses. She now travels afoot
that the extra expenditure may be laid out
In a scholarship for this impecunious STU
dent, board bill for that, or material for a
third.
ON FOREIGN SOIL
But the best of 1t all is that this little SEED
sown in New York has not only borne sucn
instantaneous fruit on this side. but great
harvest is beginning to be reaped abroad.
A little less than two years ago MIS-
Hopkins, wearied With her labors here,
ran over to London for a temporary rest.
perfect freedom from all thought of re-
sponsibility than she was approached by
ENJOYS frum the Princess Christian, beg
ging that the noted American would consent
to lend her aid in founding just such Il school
of applied design for women in Great Brit
aims capital, as the fame of the American
institution had already spread abroad.
Her royal highness' was at the time
president of the Royal School or Art
Needlework in South KeDsignt"n, which
had been organized through her own ef-
forts, and, being anxious tn enlarge Its
scope, the idea of merging it with a
school of applied design was seized upon
with avidity.
listed in Europe. Mrs. Hopkins, always
glad to advance the cause of her sex, con-
sented to give England the benefit of her
knowledge and experience, and agreed To
speak before an audience in the Imperial
Institute, that great industrial palace.
Accordingly, under the acgis nf royalty
and in the presence of a titled company
which crowded the great council chamber,
this brilliant daughter of Brother iona
than told the stnry OF the New York school
and simply, but with complete under
standing of her subject, exp"unded the
advantages of such an enterprise not only
for wumankind, but FOR civilization in gem
eral
WITH PRINCESS CHRISTIAN.
So enthusiastically was the address re-
ceived and such deep impression did it
make on her royal highness and all present
that the princess begged Mrs. Hopkins to
again speak on the subject, this time at
the Mansion House, the home of the lord
mayor, to place before the citizens details