Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-30
INDIAN MOTHERS
AND THEIR WORK.

Some wears ago, Lady Aberdeen, or
England, became SO much interested in
the condition Of the poor women OF Ire
land that she determined 10 open am
industry for them alone. She chose
lace making, knowing that industry
WAS almost extinct in Great britain.
and feeling sure their lace would easily
sell Shortly aftcrward, Queen Mar
gucrta had her attention called to the
poor women of Northern Italy. and she
began To revive the almost forgotten IN
duStry of hand woven or pillow-lacc. ~
it is usually called. from its being
woven on q large pillow or cushion.
In 1856 | WAS invited by Bishop Whip
pie to visit White Earth Reservation.
and was deeply impressed by the ut
ter idleness of the women, and by the
fact that they asked me to give then:
work At once / began to talk to my
friends about Il trade for the Indian
women. Many plans were discussed.
Al last. in July. 1880. again visited
White Earth. ana this time gathered:
twelve Indian women OF the Ojibway
Tribe into a log hut. and gave them :,
few lace lessons. | was amply repaid
in n three weeks visit, by bringing
back twelve bits of very pretty lace,
thus proving two things: First, they
could learn: second. they wanted very
much to work for their living. / press
ed the matter as rapidly as ! could up
on Churchwomen, and secured funds
to send out two teachers. one in Oc-
toher. 1880. the next in August, 1891.
March L. 1892. found me a resident OF
White Earth. and | soon found that
] could not gather many women a;
any one place, SO opened n lace class
at Red Lake. 90 miles north of White
Earth. and one at Leech Lake. 80 miles
east from White Earth. Miss Colby.
teacher. Gradually the work has grown
till there are four groups OF Indians in
Minnesota. each with IL mission teach
en-. and one in Oklahoma, with MH:s
Rolf, teacher.
10 say we have succeeded IN the eff
fort is not half strong enough. for
these brown faced women, of sevcral
tribes, have surprised the whole land
by their dainty and oftentimcs truly
wonderfully beautiful work.
Shall VIC fall short Of the effort Of oui
English and Italian friends: or shall
we not emulate them. and make this
work Il permanent industry:
wish to lay a plan before my coun-
try women, many OF whom arc interest
ell in their Indian sisters, and to ASK
their steady. year-to-year cooperation
The first step toward permancncc mus
be TO secure the quick sale of lace. This
step has been taken by my having pro
vded an annual lace sale in the variou:
cities-New York. Philadelphia. Bos-
ton. Cambridge. Mass, Pittsburgh;
while other cities are asking for sales
and can have them as rapidly as the
lace is made. Second, l have. in each
of these cities. a lady who acts as u
sort of Committee on Lace Sales. She
gathers band of helpers about her;
the price of the lace Is all plainly
marked so that IL can be easily han
died; my committee secures a drawing
room for an afternoon meeting and in
vites all friends OF Indians-yes. more,
all friends Of working women, and the
money comes in freely. and the pretty
lace goes into many homes Mainly
contradicting by its purity and beauty.
two old-time sayings: Indians arc so
dirty" Indians arc lazy" The third
and very serious step toward pcrma-
nency. is the salaries Of the teachers.