Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-04-09
THE COLUMBIAN ART LOAN.

AhO hio oAHiuit SiVcu ny Tue COl-
umbian club Thursday and Friday of
last week was one of the most enjoy
able and successful entertainments
that the club has ever given to the
people of Audubon.
The idea of an art exhibit was uni.
que, at least in Audubon, and its ex-
cellence was q surprise to all who at
tended. Pictures, fancy work, rare
chinas and relics of.days gone by, were
the principal objects of interest. The
pictures, a collection large enough to
occupy one whole side of the room.
were mostly the work of Audubon
ladies. Many of them too, were beau
tiful to look upon, and showed that
Audubon has some very clever ametuer
artists.
The fancy work showed great taste,
and much cunning work with the
needle, and formed department Of
great interest to the ladies.
The chinaware, much of it hand
decorated was of great interest and
rare beauty.
Among the relics, and no one ever
supposed that so many articles of
other years could be found in COM
paratively new prairie town, were
many things OF great interest. There
were to be found, furniture dating
back to colonial times, books, many
of them more than a century old, and
a number of articles of later date, but
OF equal interest. In one case was
sword Of COLONIAL times, belonging to
J. II. Chandler, the uniform and sword
worn by the late Capt. Charles Stuart,
IN the civil war, and a pair Of much
furnished epauletts worn by the Con-
federate General Ashby. Newspapers
of war times, containing articles of
historical value, were in the collection.
An English land lease of some Gfty
years ago, between landlord and a
tenant, covering two great sheets OF
parchment, was something fearful and
wonderful to compare with the COM
mon farm lease now in use in this
country. A collection of Indian relics
belonging to w. w. Smith and "a fine
collection of coins and currency, the
property of John A. Nash, were of
special interest. The article of the
greatest age, was a cup and saucer be-
longing to Thos. Walker. This cup
and saucer goes back for several gen
erations in Mr.. Walkers family and is
known to be three hundred years old.
i During the evenings on which the
exhibit was held the ladies served
light refreshments and this together
with the small admittance fee neted
the club u neat sum, which will be
used for the benefit Of the library.
In this connection it may not be out
OF place to say a word about the
library. 1t is an institution which,
after the schools and churches, is OF
the greatest power for good in the
community. In the library rooms, in
the Commercial bank building, is q
place where old and young may spend
spare moments, which would other
wise be spent on the streets, or in
more questionable places of resort.
Books, of the best authors, selected by
competent judges are there awaiting
the seeker afterknowledge or pleasure.
The rooms are cozily and handsomely
furnished and are open to one and all,
who may wish to avail themselves Of
the privileges, and it is all free.
The library is kept up, not by annual
dues, or by any endowment, but by the
interest and hard work of the ladies Of
the Columbian Club, and by such
friends of the enterprise as have seen
fit to help by voluntary contributions.
Only rev weeks ago the ladies
issued circular, in which the library
work in the past was fully set forth,
asking for contributions to assist in
keeping up the institution. How sue.
cessful they were in this effort we do
not know, but we are sure that 50 good
an object as the public library will not
be allowed to languish for lack of
funds with which to carry it Oh.
The best way to judge of the library
1 and the work it is doing is to pay it a
visit. The rooms are open afternoon
and evening. Go and see for yourself