New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-14
WORK REALLY COMPLETED.
THE TURKISH COMPASSIONATE FUND
HAS SATISFACTORILY ACCOM-.
PLISHED ITS PURPOSE.

SIR FRANCIS wINroN AND MRS ARTHUR HANSON
CLOSE THE AFFAIRS or THE Asso-
CITATION. WHOSE CHIEF WAS THE
BARONESS BURDETT-co
Tho Turkish Compassionate Fund. the most Il.
gantic relief industry for women and children ever
started. has accomplished It's purpose and when
the last piece OF work now completed Is sold its
work will be finished. and IT Will exist only in
memory.
The affairs OF the fund being wound UP by
Sir Francis Winton the African explorer and
Mrs. Arthur Hanson, who has since It's start In
1873 been the superintendent and manager Many
beautiful pieces OF work still remain I'm the New
York rooms OF the society," at No East Thir-
tieth-st
The ill-heath Of Mrs Hanson and her enforced
removal to England have made necessary the clos
Ing OF this work which has given great help 10 so
many persons. Mrs Hanson says:
The Baroness Burdett- Coutts who was our chief.
has long urged me 70 do this. but while could do
any work. and there any work to do. ! loved
to go with what has been since ls7s the great
est interest OF my life. At time had two
thousand women workng-at the time OF your
Worlds Fair in Chicago-but now few workers re-
main. They are no longer refugees but have set
tied homes OF their own. and many OF them have
means OF subsistence; The doctors viii not hear
OF my returning TO Turkey, 50 ! am % settle In
England. with my only unmarried daughter"
Henry
ish Ambassador to Constantinople and his wife
the interest OF Baroness Burdetl-Couus was en-
listed and the fund was established by her IN '
h7s. and commissioned by Sir Francis Winton and
Ashmead Burdett-Coutts. But 10 Mrs. Hanson.
who occupies a high social position. Is due tho
credit of discovering the remarkable needlework
talent Of the Turkish women. and adapting IL TO
tho markets OF England and America
After the TurcO- Russian war in ls77-'7s great
numbers OF refugees fed 70 Constantinople for
safety. The story of this flight, fraught with SUI
fering and horror and death TO great numbers,
has often been told. The women. many or them
beautiful and reared In and luxury but desti-
tute Of everything, begged for work. not charity.
OF the finest. and beautifully made and ombroiderei
Their skirts, hanging in tatters, were frequently
trimmed TO the waist with drawn ana lace work.
Some had been able 10 save from thelr WIeekel
homes pieces Of exquisite work which had been
handed down from mother to daughter for gen,
erations. From these Mrs Hanson obtained me
idea the formulation OF which has made the Turk
ism Compassionate Fund synonymous with artistic
embroidery Of a character not tound elsewhere.
Thousands OF dainty white dOylies, embroidered in
gold. and alike on both sides have been made by
the children.
The fund Ike everything else has had Us ups
and downs. Bad times and capricious customers.
who complained that the designs were monotonous.
nearly wrecked the industry. At this time Nine.
Zacaron. a noble French woman. lntroduced tns
work to the best decorative artists IN Paris, VINO
sble by those whose eyes could count threads IN A
cobweb and whose fingers could Work goa N a
butterfys wing"
Hanson, with her remarkable ability. carried OUT
in color and design, new impetus was given 10
the fund One firm In Paris ordered ball dresses
Of the finest ard thinnest OF textures. and these
were covered with the most exquisite emhroderies.
chiefly in floral designs. Soon the work OF the So
from the lingerie TO cloaks and bonnets. To Mne.
ZacaroF due the credit OF introducing tho
Mrs Hanson has lived for many years in Cam
della, the Asiatic coast Of the Bosporus ana
to the many she has helped. and 10 whom she has
been so stanch a friend for years