New-York tribune., 1899-05-05
LACE FOR THE EXPOSITION.
HOW THE SIOUX INDIAN WOMEN CAME TO
BE WORKING PEOPLE.

BE WORKING PEOPLE.
The monthly meeting of the Niobrara League
was held yesterday the Church Mission House,
No 2s1 Fourth-ave. At the conclusion OF the
meeting a lace bedspread made by the Sioux Ind
ians Of Birch Coolle Mission, Mimi. and tea
cloth made at Andarko Okla, which to
be sent to the Paris Exposition OF 1900, were
hibited together with some laces for sale made al
different mission schools
The history Of Indian making is best ex-
planned by Mrs. Sibyl Carter of the Mission House.
follows:
Some years ago Lady Aberdeen of England, be-
women OF Ireland that she determined TO open an
industry for them alone. She chose acemaklng.
knowing that industry was almost extinct II LII
Britain, and feeling sure their lace would easily
sell shortly afterward Queen Margherita had ns ner
Italy and she began to revive the almost forgotten
industry Of hand-woyen S or pillow & lace en- as large
pillow cushion. -,- . ,,.
White is'I Earth S' Reservation and was deeply i'm
pressed by the utter idleness of the women. and
3 ths once taf' Began n to- E TO my friends about
trade for the Indian women Many plans were as
Earth. and this time gathered twelve Indian women
OF the Otbway tribe into a log hut, and gave them
week, visit by Bringing back twelve bits OF very
pretty lace, thus proving two tni1gsmnrs1 ,,c Is ~
work for their living. l pressed the matter as
rapidly as l could upon church women and secured
D isso the next in August. 1881 March l. 1892 found
me resident OF White Earth and ! soon round nra
that | could not gather many women at any one
place so / opened lace class a, Red Lake, ~ 10
miles north Of White Earth, and one az Lsecn S,sa
Colby teacher Gradually the work has grown ~
there four groups of Indians IN MnnesO.s eSth h
To saw we have succeeded In the effort is not
half strong enough for these brown-faced women,
Of several tribes have surprised the whoe iahu Dy
their dainty and oftentimes truly wonderfully Dea"-
Shall we fall short Of the effort Of our English
and make this work permanent industry!
ANNUAL SALES OF LACE.
wish 70 Law a plan before the church women.
many Of whom are interested in their Indian Sis
ters and TO ask their steady. year-to-year coop
Grafton. The first step toward permanIence must Na
be to secure the quick sale OF lace. This step mas
been taken by my having % 2F9y9YG an fhhSs
Boston. Cambridge Mass, and Pttsburg while other
cities are asking for sales. and can have them as
rapidly as the lace is made Second l have In
Of committee lace sales. She gathers band OF
helpers about her; the price Of the lace Sad ls al
my committee secures for g an afsr
yes more ali friends Of working wonderland the
money comes in freely. and the pretty lace goes
purity InrH % and beauty two oidtme sayings Indians
are so dirty and Indians are lazy. Inc thiru,
Salaries Of the teachefs with also such Incidental
expenses as fuel and food for teachers and for the
selling for Just about enough 10 pay for materials
and to pay the lace wages; but as this is an age OF
"cheap things" II will not for many years pay the
missionaries salaries. -
These lace teachers are all missionaries, FOR
they all either superiutend Sundayschool or help
in one and all watch over the sick, caring for
them as they can. The salaries were e set py ,ns
advice Of the Bishop OF Minnesota at 900 each' and
board with fuel furnished. - ,,..
The list OF schools is as follows: White Far N n
Mimi Otbway Tribe. Mrs. F. G. Wlsweil,
teacher; Red Lake, Mimi, Otbways MISS $50 sopnie M
X Styles teacher: Ieech Lake. Minn: OjDwtys,
Miss Pauline Colby teacher; Morton. Mimi, s,'qx
Of Birch Cooe village. Miss NJ Whippe and ,; T.
Salisbury. teachers. and Anadarko, Okla'' hlo"a
tribe. Miss Ida A. Rolf teacher