The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-20
LACE MADE BY INDIAN WOMEN.
Some of the Most Delicate Work Now Done
in the Tepeesi in Northern Minnesota.

Some of the Most Delicate Work Now Done
in the Tepees in Northern Minnesota.
ST. PAUL, MINI. Nov. 15.-In 1889 Miss Sibyl
Carter OF New York city opened a school at the
White Earth Reservation in Minnesota to teach
the Chippewa women lacemaklng. pillow and
English point. She gradually extended her
work TO Beaulisu. Leech Lake. Red Lake, and
Birch Coulee. Later she opened schools among
the Shoshones and Piutes. Her desire to give
these women an opportunity to be self-support-
ing led her to make the experiment. and their
ability and skill have justified the effort.
The lacemaking industry. which brings
them q sure and prompt return for their work.
helps them TO foster good habits and lifts them
out of the slough Of aimless dependence. The
women vary in their degree OF cleverness Just
as their more favored white sisters do, but as n
rule are very teachable. The difficulty OF
keeping such delicate materials immaculate
during the tedious process of working out
elaborate designs is the greatest obstacle to
overcome. 1t necessitates cleanliness and
great care. This is in itself a step toward
higher education: then the absolute necessity
OF bringing the work up to 2 certain standard
who learned easily grew careless when the
novelty had worn of. and i took both time and
mmanship was perfect there would be no mar:
ket for the article. Gradually a feeling OF
pride and emulation emulate, ,n Hs to eI Tno snou Wor produce SrsS
among them. and from that time an imperfect
article has been rare; ,,rod hv
thelr sklltpI 'nE21gers; from , v the tiny n , SSdgi m n
yard. Boleros, ichus, collars, cuffs, vest fronts,
tabespreads. jackets. as wei as edgings Of all
w Witt iihs are soy %fd Bat IL fas ne %esrt Rlilnse snd iI tss
cloths. buffet and bureau scarfs and numerous
other articles manufactured an 2 ready sale
The work done on these remote reservations
in tiny log cabins or tepees. by women dark OF
have a" never essayed an English word. and
to whom a book 2 a riddle: Is not surpassed by
h Raye d nsSer f lsit tRsIf na a { yv Ii sn sxeep TG q so
TO the nearest market town to dispose OF Their
berries Saat n ash 9t ssm nHd ,n One Of the of flf fSsn +
o native OF and a dweller on Bear Island. now
famous as the battle-ground where Cpl.
Wien the fiTse. crow more Welcome than tic,
turtle dove, Tor he 3 the herald e sTsTInssll
her last stitch, on this newest Industry and
the lacemaker's headquarters. whore she de-
posits her. work IN the hands OF the sasha
bosfGne da SSHs : w3 y ,c ana sv watches snss
every inch Of the web. An approving nod and
2 cordial "apeeche nesheshahe" very good
nance. as she grasPs the money that is counted
caTeiully into her slim dark palm.
than a light gift would be. A journey Of seven
miles on foot across the lake TO the nearesttown
is only a short walk. and once In the trading
store she ponders long and deeply before she
sugar. tea. and. last but not least. tobacco. for
the women as well as the men-yes. aud even
the ch~ildren-draw deep delight from a pine.
Or. perchancc. she purchases a great brass ket-
tie that holds gallons and gallons Of sap, for
iacemaking Is put aside and the
more, congenial work is taken up with
y yigoI ana a VIM ma has ScarceIy
children are then In their happiest mood. Even
a staid and mature white man finds an April
day In the sugar camps an eXhilarating expert
ence. But this Is but n pleasant episode Ia the
years round OF seasons, and the Income from
the surplus stock OF sugar for family use is
small, 40 they turn again TO the work of lace
making, from which they know the returns to
be sure and reasonable.
Among the patrons OF these lacemaksrs are
the society women Of New iork etty.