New-York tribune., 1899-12-17
WHAT WOMEN SAY AND DO.
AN ENGLISH TEACHER TELLS HER OWN
EXPERIENCE WITH wOODCARVING.
,uss ,r,,A t,11rIAM. INSTRUCTOR AT READING
COLLEGE THINKS MORE ORIGINALITY
SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED.

SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED
>u 1,,uo william, who Is instructor in "the
crafts" at the college In Reading. England. and
has given most Of her life TO the specific study OF
woodcarving talked entertainingy 10 a tribune
correspondent lately on the field that carving oheIs
for the activities OF women. She says that Woou-
carving has begun attract the attention OF "oH1-
on onlv during the last twenty years. She thinks
this revival OF interest Is partly due TO the raise
idea that the art can be learned in few lessons
but chiefly TO the combined influence Of Mr.. husNh
and William Morris. She declared that no crai'
had been handicapped as woodcarVlhg b5 '"e
heavy hand Of the past.
Miss lillian has many first class certificates on
woodcarving from the school of art, South Ken
sington and elsewhere She furnishes TO The Trb-
une the following interesting article:
WOODCARVING AS AN OCCUPATION
we can hardly give date TO the first ap-
peararce OF woodcarving for in all ages and coun-
tries men were fascinated by this craft as the
women now. In all new countries that nave
been found we generally hear OF the curious way
the natives ornamented their sticks. and war
weapons with nOtches This. ! may say, Is the
root Of carying-;he notch. Taking it now from
the time of the Egyptians, It was handed from
country country. ond changed according TO the
characteristics and religion OF the people. Religion
was then its master. The Greeks were the first to
use figure ornament from the aesthetic point OF
view. Then came the great It9lian period gener-
ally termed Renaissance. the" Ne Gothic work,
which worked its way through and Bel
GUM into England. and Of which Englishmen are
so proud because the style lends itself 10 our
native wood 0he oaO and our climate.
"All this time carving in the hands of men,
Since this latter revival IT has been gradually
working more and more into the hands Of women.
II is owing greatly TO Mr.. Morris and Mr. Ruskin
that the architects and artists have interested
themselves in the crafts much more and have
tried hard TO make the public realize that we
do not want to copy forever and ever the old
work, beautiful as may be; that our lives, our
homes and surroundings have altered. and
therefore tastes also: but we have every ad
vantage Of good schools, cheap travelling. and
what other countries doing
THE principal training institution in London Is
the Technical Art Of Woodcarving School-lately
moved from Exhibition Road. South Kensngton
the Imperial Institute-under the management
OF Miss Eleanor Rowe who has done more for
women In this craft than any else OF the pres
ent day. She has worked up the school. and it was
through her that teachers certificate first
granted to women. Her name will ever stand
first as q great help TO women workers in wood
carving. The Home Arts Society, Albert Hail.
has done much for the revival OF village In
dustries and among helpers are the County
Councils. who have granted money to help viii
layers. The college, at Reading is where 1 have
charge of the section for the crafts. There are
many excellent classes in different parts Of Eng
land.
"A few minutes carvers before we
mention them as teachers There fewer
women carvers than (vice versa with teach
ing). 1t may be the trade is really open 10
women, and It takes some weary years Of waiting
before you can make much money. because as all
know, name is everything in the eyes Of the pub
lie; and so most turn to teaching the way
OF making their living. and often then, sad to say
let their work degenerate A great many
women take up carving pastime-to do as one
so often hears nice little things for the house and
bazaars'-but they are only amateurs, and how we
wish there were only half the number. 1t as IL
they think 1t is craft that can be turned into
money at once, and not worked as an artist
works for the love Of It, As a profession II is
hard work, though interesting, with plenty for the
mind well for the hands to do If there is a
real effort to get perfection as possible A
woman ought to train herself to work six or eight
hours day day after day.
IL believe 1 am right in saying all the large
firms employ men as carvers only A great deal
Of the carving for English churches is stl
done principally In Belgium. though we have in
England plenty of carvers. and women who
can only just manage to make living. and would
be only too glad to do it. Some of our best men
biton of mine to establish in connection with
Reading In re near future depot where simple
done. / believe shall do more good by giving
our time to work in beautiful things rather than
There are two classes OF teachers -philanthropic
women, who teach poor lads with the object Of
giving them something TO interest them and per-
haps make little pocket money. and the County
ont England. Wales. Scotland and Ireland. are
women In this work there are two things TO
bear in mind: First, teaching the craft of carving
Secor d. cultiyating the pupils taste. This latter
TO my mind is much overlooked In the enthusiasm
TO teach the lads and men - carve. To go from
Kindred pupiis Week as did for some 5iT timer nor is
terrible, because IL means always drawing or alter
ing old designs to suit this or that object Many
OF the teachers are excellent. but they be-
come more or less mechanical. doing the same de-
slgn over ard again.
II should like TO give you now a sketch OF the
system trying 10 work at Reading and Eal-
ing. 1t may have many faults, but after many
years working and thinking out what the best
grounds TO work upon have TO his con-
clusion: The first thing IS TO teach the pupils to
tools and show them a simple tr ldiiional cut; and
when they cut II clean show them how 10
develop il into design telling them what IL would
take them into strap work At home they make
design suitable for table or stool OF this strap
ornament being suitable 10 such objects. When
they have advanced enough in this 1 draw sim
pie leaf piece of pine. which they ground
this lacks interest outline is at fault. The great
things TO think Of are First, form; second. out
line; third, continuity, which really comes from
connecting pleasngly the high lights and shadows
1t is with difficulty that ! can get beginners and
AFTER each lesson design has 10 be drawn
bringing in the points OF the former lessons. and as
the pupils advance take them through the differ
ent styles simply for the reason that think they
ought 10 know what has gone before. All stu
dents should model in clay; but do not believe
makes one mechanical to copy a clay model too
much. II is more useful 10 work and think 1t out
Carving is not absolutely necessary to anything
80 il ought TO be looked upon beautiful trim
only. Which too often is done the shape OF the
piece Of furniture must be remembered and drawn
hrst' and then the carving Construction must
too much copying Qf old work. which is beautiful