The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-18

am tempted to express myself as dld the
old woman whose son was about TO pc
hanged. and who said she hoped 1t would
be a lesson to him. 1t certainly Will pc a
lesson to any woman architect, ana .
hard lesson, indeed, unless she IS pos
sessed of executive and constructive abil-
fty, quick perceptions and a thorough
knowledge of the principles and the his
tory and the progress Of those arts which
are closely allied to architecture" So
spoke Elise. Mercur Wagner, a clever
woman architect of New York, to a re-
porter yesterday.
"To find a subject, by the way, net
closely allied to architecture" she con-
tinued, would prove to be a search like
INTO that of seeking a needle in a hay
stack.
Having entered the field myself more
or less u~nprepared for the cont1ict,tI re-
alize doubly the innumerable difficulties
and d-iscouragements sure to follow unless
the previous training has been thorough
and comprehensive. That I have sur
yived the ordeal, and. like the prize hgh-
ter, though somewhat dilapidated. am
still in The ring l attribute solely to a
logged determination to surmount obsta-
cles-a trait inherited from some stubborn
ancestor.
Probably no profession. open to women
offers the same inducements regarding re-
muneration, independence and enduring
fame as this of architecture, but new
ertheless, from what 1 learn, few remain
in the race until their efforts are crowned
with success. From persona obserya-
tons and experience in my office work
1 attribute this largely TO the fact that
they lack a thorough office training. A
good, practical business knowledge, in
addition to a theoretical training, is one
of the essentials to. success. l could cite
a number of instances where a lack of
this has proven fatal to architect, client
and contractor.
However, despite the many difficulties
to be surmounted, l am convinced that
women are particularly well adapted ~.
this profession, and that the prize is well
worth the struggle in the satisfaction it
gives to every artist who has builded
better than he knew, in the independence
it gives, in the generous recognition of
brother architects, and last, but not
least, in the all-around knowledge it
gives of human nature.
IA trfiing obstacle, and yet one abb
surdly u~ppermost in the minds of many
is often presented to me, and it is this
Can a woman climb a ladder? Can she
properly superintend the work?' Accord
ing to Darwin, both male and female
members of the profession are equally
descended from a race of climbers, and
1 assure my dear sisters that. if properly
clad in boomers and bicycle skirt, going
up or down a ladder and watching for
loose boards when walking joists soon
becomes aNmere matter of habit. Work
men become accustomed to the novel
sight, being gifted with a large share
of common sense, and soon learn not
to slight the somewhat sungetatable'
places.
f'When they understand you have en-
tered the field shoulder to shoulder with
man. have obliterated the question of sex
entirely in your business relations, and
that your work. as well as their own,
must stand on its merit alone, they will
treat you with unfailing courtesy and
consideration.
Another point of great Importance,
and which will make or.mar most of the
future relations with client or contractor,
is to be able to write the specifications
in a clear, concise and all-embracing
form. The most Encouraging aspect met
with, however, when work assumes such
proportions that Office rent is assured,
will be the many Interruptions from con-
tractors, agents, clients, etc, which swal-
low up time, leaving the architect at the
mercy of the draughtsmen, as far as
planning and designing are concerned.
One must be systematic, indeed, to plan
ones time 50 that a fair average OF at
tention can be devoted to the study, de-
signing and reading, which are essential
to progress.
Like a guide post at the crossing of
several roads, 1 nave tried'in a feeble way
to point out the one which | know,
if persevered in, will lead to success,
and, while many smoother, easier paths
are in sight, nome will repay a woman
in a more generous measure for the time
and attention spent in traversing il"
The -possessor of even the smallest bit
of choice lace should regard it as a treas
ure and keep it among her other precious
things, says "Harper's Bazar.n Lace,
though so fragile, is nevertheless among
those inperishable articles which, hanue
down in families, go from mother to
daughter, and are as useful to the third
generation as they were to the first. A
1 ccTtdll Hit ScItillCiil SlAiiSo = II ldSC
which has been used at weddings and
chrlstenings, which has formed part of
the grandmother's trousseau, and long
after she has done with it adorns the
wardrobe Of some youthful BRIDE, who re-
peats in her features the charms of her
ancestress.
There are limitations of lace made to-
day which almost counterfeit the real
in the fneness of their threads, the beau
ty of their designs, and the intricacy ul
their meshes; nevertheless, no machine
made imitation ever completes in true
value with a bit of lace patiently wrought
by hand, perhaps in some quiet convent,
where the nuns work hour by hour, stop
ping only to count the beads on their
rosaries or chant their songs of praise;
or made by a peasant woman in the in
tervals of her busy day, that she may
thus earn her children's bread. Poverty
and pathos are interviewer in the filmy
cloud of lace which completes the toilet
of the bride, and In the delicate edge of
the same on the cap of the aged matron,
or the gossamer handkerchief which fin
ishes the costume of the great lady.
The plain gown fashioned without re-
gard to reigning styles takes on an air
of its own If &. bit of lace be worn at the
neck and sleeves. Lace is seldom out of
vogue, though there are seasons like the