The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-10
NEEDLEWORK BY CHILDREN.
A Remarkably Display from All Over
the World.

The Propylaeum now holds one OF the
most interesting exhibits ever within its
walls. 1t needs no superior education in
foreign countries TO understand 1t. The ex-
hibit is one of needlework made by children
Of sewing schools of different countries of
the world, and IL belongs to the New York
Sewing School Association, of which the
Girls Industrial School of this city is a
member. The work is placed on tables of
a convenient height for inspection and there
are members of the Girls Industrial School
present to conduct visitors and explain
what is to be seen. When it is remembered
that this work Is done by children it seems
remarkable, for it would do credit to many
a housewife. Not a few visitors will wish
that they had one of these little experts
in mending and darning. as well as in MAX
ing, in their own homes.
A feature of the work Is the number of
drawings which show the original designs
made by the children Of Japan, England,
France and Switzerland. In this Industrial
branch of education the children are taught
all Of the steps from the simple sewing of a
seam to the finished garment ready to
wear. and from the drafting of a pattern
to Its practical use in the cutting of their
own garments. In the Indianapolis school
1t takes four years TO finish the course and
there is shown from it a finished dress of
cashmere, a dainty apron and several pieces
of quilt patches. The Belgium exhibit has
liza sketches showing designs for dresses.
millinery and underwear and all kinds of
trimmings and decorations for the same.
The Hawaiian exhibit is small, being in a
single portfolio, but the instructor, Miss
Laura Duncan. has been able to place
oamplao ~ patohipo anI Apo,Lrz~ ~.
will rival any in the room. The Japanese
children are taught to make all of their
garments and there is a set in miniature
from the first stitches to the ceremonial
robe. They are also taught to do the ex-
quisite embroidery which is so frequently
seen on the silk and crepe garments and
snaWIs ina are brought from that country.
drawings OF garments and their decorations.
Flowers and birds figure largely and there
is one portfolio that has only wisteria de-
signs. As an art collection these are worth
study for the delicacy and the coloring. The
national characteristics of Sweden are ex-
emplified in the work from that country.
the wearing qualities of the materials will
make them last for years. An idea was
shown In the way a hook was put on,
with a buttonhole stitch, so closely that
none OF the body part of the hook could be
seen. The Swiss exhibit has a feature that
other countries do not show and these are
the demonstration frames. The children
are taught TO do their darning on a large
scale. The scale of stitches is gradually de-
creased until very close darning and weav-
ing is done. The principle and not the prac-
tice seems to be the essential first step.
The missions. public schools and Institute
for the Blind of New York have the most
voluminous exhibit. This work is graduated
so that the visitor may see exactly what
steps are followed, from simple seams 10
shaded, silk embroidery. A neat little piece
of the embroidery was made by a little
girl with only one hand. From the blind in
cfffffa fhare MAS a ornsnO pnandfn0 aufno
and bead work, which is vastly better than
many with sight can do. There Is a large
flag and each of the forty-fve stars was
sewn on by a different blind child. In this
exhibit there are charts showing all of the
steps I'm sewing and one card shows the
grinding OF the stone 10 the finished
strawberry" The exhibit from London is
In cotton, wool and silk materials. In which
knitting. embroidery. and shocking. for
which the children's clothes are famous.
and the making of underwear take the lead.
Considerable attention Is paid To dolls
clothes There are more dolls I'm the Eng
lish display than in any other, but there
are dolls from nearly every country. Nina
ture clothes are more Easily TRANSPORTED
and they show the hard work quite as well
as larger garments. Boys. as a rule, know
nothing about sewing. but the boys from
the Horace Mann School show they are
quite adept in the use Of the needle as the
girls. There Is also work from the teach
ers' college. which shows how thoroughly
the teachers have TO be prepared for their
work. The fibre charts show the different
materials, from the flower Of the fax to
its completion in a biz Of exquisite point
exhibit There are sixty-fye portfolios OF