The Portland daily press., 1897-10-15
FOR GIRL ARTISTS.
DR.. Evans of Philadelphia Plans Home
for Them in That City.

The Lafayette home in Paris, founded
and maintained by DR.. Thomas W.
Evans, the eminent American dentist, for
the aid of girls who desire to perfect
themselves in the liberal arts will at
some time in the future have its duplicate
in this city, should the doctor carry out
his wishes, says the Philadelphia Record.
delphia and this country, just as the
home in Paris is entirely original in its
conception and line of usefulness.
At the present time DR.. Evans is max
ing his headquarters in this city, having
recently brought the body of his wife here
still regards it in a measure as ihis home,
although for many years he has resided
in France. -Four years ago he established
the Lafayette Home in Paris as place
where ambitious young women of limit
ed means might live and pursue their
sculpture. 1t affords them refuge from
the evils to which those who are engaged
in artistic pursuits are SO commonly ex-
posed. Those who can afford it, con-
tribute to their own support while in the
home; others who are poor have all privil-
eyes free. Thirty or 40 of them live at
the home at once and, as m ay be i'm
agined, the institution has cost DIR.
Evans much money. The results, how
ever, have been satisfactory beyond ell ex-
pectations. ID
The late Mrs. Evans was greatly inter-
ested in the work, and it is in her mem
DRY that the doctor proposes to extend it
In the future. He Is now having an adj
dition built to the Lafayette Home that
will double it's size and add greatly to-
its conveniences. When this. is completed@
he will further consider plans for a sina4
lar home in this country. The big lot
that he owns at the northwest corner of
Fortieth and Spruce streets is the pros
pective site. He also owns property in.
New York that would be very suitable
for the purpose should he change his
mind and decide to make his American
experiment in that city.
Still another project that DR.. Evans
has on hand Is to startia colony of French
noble families in the northwestern part
of the United States. He returned few
days ago from Minnesota, where he was
In consultation on the subject with Arch
bishop Ireland and Bishop Whipple. AS
the result of it, colonization movement
of some of the Oldest and best families
| in France may soon be inaugurated near
| the headwaters of the Mississippi, These
people have been SO impoverished by
political changes that life for them under
| the old conditions has become impossible.
Thousands of other families all over
| France, who have just enough to buy a
moderate plot of ground In this country,
are anxious for better opportunities than
are open to them now.
"The French people possess many fine
Qualities said Dr.. Evans yesterday,
land those iminigrating would be an ac-
QUESTION in talent and character to this
country. 1t is characteristic of them
that they like to live together. This is
| the idea in their choosing section of the
country where quite number can settle
under the best conditions. Archbishop
Ireland and Belgian priest, represent
ing the Belgian colony in Western Mime
sofa, went over the ground SO csrefully
with me that am confident the great
success of thesBelgians can be fully dupli-
Gated by a similar colony of the French
people, for whom l naturally feel deep
affection. My part of the work is. Of
course, comparatively simple-the recon-
mending of land to those who wish thus
to seek new fortunes, but under the aus
pices now arranged for success is.
humanity speaking, certain"