Evening star., 1895-09-07
BADDECK BAY.

Alexander Graham Bell Of Washington,
D. c.. were making a pleasure tour along
the coast. in company with Mrs. Bells
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner Hubbard,
when the rugged cliffs, the bright skies
and the great pine-clad forests of Bad
deck bay caught their attention. Upon
towering crag overlooking the water, which
here has the thunderous rise and f&ll OF
the Bay of Fundy, they built cottage.
Every summer since has found them IN
residence, and for few years past Mr..
and Mrs. George Eennan have been Of
their neighbors, and have Joined them in
the work they found to their hand
1t was carpets that first interested Mrs.
Bell. When she came to know the women
about her, she found many of them the
wives of fishermen, dependent for bread
and butter on the daily Catch" drawn
from the uncertain sea. In her desire TO
be of use, she praised their brlght-hued
carpets. hand-woven, from gay woods. and
bought so many of them that she and her
friends and her friends friends had more
than they could walk on in two or three
life times To develop this carpet~lnaking
industry, to find market for the products
and thus to supply an occupation that
should keep the older girls at home, in
stead of seeing them driven to the New
England towns for a living. became with
her an absorbing consideration.
One of Mrs. Bells first practical steps
was to start a school for the little ores too
u
Mrs George KEENAN,, classes were formed,
somewhat after the kindergarten model,
and soon Wee tots and their bigger sisters,
the ages running as high as sixteen. We're
trudgiug ten miles barefoot over the ciifS,
in order to attend. AS the school grew in
favor the mothers of the children came
also, whenever their brief leisure would
allow.
remembering the great revival of the lace
industry among the Irish peasantry, Mrs.
Bell determined to introduce the same
thing into her little colony. With this plan
offering salaries from her own purse, as
well as the expenses of the voyage. But
nobody could be found to settle among the
fisherfolk Of Cape Breton.
Still, undaunted, Mrs. Bell got patterns
and teachers from Boston and before long
the class in lace-making was III full swing.
So rapid was the progress Of the Cape
Breton girls that before long the iineness
and beauty of the designs more than
equaled the original samples. Mrs Bells
efforts throughout were ably seconded by
Mrs KEENAN, and the sale OF Cape Breton
lace was pushed until today the supply
more than meets the demand. This was
a not altogether unexpected check, but not
the less discouraging. So long as the duty
remains as at present. there is small pros
pect of lace-making proving profitable as
a means of livelihood.
There is another difficulty to be met also.
During the winter months the education of
the children was at first continued by the
elder scholars, but owing to the impossible
ity of obtaining employment at home these
one by one have gone to lock for places in
the large cities Of the east, and paid teach
erS have been engaged from Boston. The
seeming impossibility of making a living
at home has been Mrs. Bells greatest dis
couragement, as no sooner are the children
trained in lace-making and various kinds
of needlework, with the view of educau ting
the younger ones in their turn, and by de-
in a MARI a -
recessity compels their departure. In this
way each year the number of workers de-
crea ses Boston is the usual objective
point of those who leave home to make
their fortunes, but at least two-thirds of
the wanderers return after a year or SO,
broken in health, many to die of consump-
ton. Accustomed to the free open air Of
the mountain region the Cape Breton folk
are unable to endure a sedentary life in a
climate less suited to their constitutions.
The average attendance at the school is
present five resident teachers, three of
whom are from a distance on a regular
salary. Owing to the rigors of the climate
these are unable to remain during the Win
ter months, when the classes are left 20
the care of but two native born. The
classes have long overfiowed Mrs. Bells
cottage, and a special building, better suit
ed to the increased numbers, has been Sc
cured. Originally used a mission church,
long since dismantled. this structure has
been repaired and fitted up as a school
house with Club rooms ard library. Here
during the summer months the classes hear
lectures from weiI-known men, who visit
the spot from Boston, Washington and
other cities. either guests of MIR. and
Mrs Bell or tourists attracted to the spot
in search of health. Today the community
boasts several classes in literature and a
Current Events CLUB made up of the
daughters of resident merchants of Bad
deck.
In full sympathy with his wife's efforts,
Mr. Bell has instituted the Workingmen's s
Club, among the men in his employ, the
farmers and sheep herders on his immense
ranches at Benin Bhreagh. Gradually it
enlarged its scope until at present its mem
bership is over a hundred. Mr.. Rell pre-
sides at its weekly meetings. Through Mr..
kennan's interest free library has been
established, and during the bitter cold and
fogs that infest the coast at certain sea-
sons, opportunities are afforded for study
Just across from Baddeck, at Benin
Bhreagh," Mr. Bell has purchased an i'm
mense tract Of pine clad forests jutting
out, peninsular like, into the Bras dor
lakes on the north and the Bay of Fundy
on the south. Here he has opened up
stock farms in the higher regions, upon
which he has already lavished a fortune in
improvements. His sheep ranches are Mr.
Bells hobby. Hundreds of fine bred sheep
roam over the stUbble fields and browse
upon the herbage of the rocky SUBMITS,
urdisturbed by fear of slaughter. Every
year Mr.. Bell adds to his herds. just as a
volumes. 1t goes without saying. that
these ranches are run at very consider
able annual expense.