The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-19
WILLIAM MORRIS WORKSHOPS.

ii would seem to have been a combl-
nation OF artistic business instinct that
led William Morris to choose the de-
caying old building at Merton Abbey
for mandatory. The buildings are
low and weather beaten, built OF wood
Ga material rarely used in England) and
have the picturesqueness that is Of age
and long use. A bit OF Norman wall
which Is all that remains OF the origin
nj structure serves as a dividing line
between a portion OF the abbey lands
and the crowding suburb which has alb
sorbed the greater part Of them. Lon
don has creDt up 90 what was I'm the
days OF It's mOnkFh occupation a most
beautiful part Of Surrey and the occa-
sional visitor who finds his way thither
sees nothing 10 charm the eye until he
Is fairly within the premises.
We entered the grounds from rear
door In the superintendents house.
which opens on a fine old garden. some
what neglected now. with winding
paths that lead 10 the river and the
hills hevond. Coming upon il suddenly
from she noise and glare OF the street.
we were SURPRISED by an unexpected
sense OF beauty and seclusion. says a
writer I'm the Springfield Republic.
The house itself is a plain two-story
brick structure. fronting the high road
and once used by Morris as an occa .
sional lodging. His workroom, looking
much as he left ". occupies all OF the
space 10 the left OF the hall. and We
climbed the staircase with It's plctu-
rescue turns and twists To the upper
room, where ne used TO sleep. II is used
as a small drawing room now. and its
windows are hung with curtains or
Morris velvet I'm soft. rich red. while the
hall Is gay with many-nowered Gre
tonnes i'm his most Characteristic designs.
m whOte MACE sDeaKs or him. al
though there Is little in the workroom
down stairs 20 suggest the ordinary
sanctum OF an artist or man Of letters.
The tools OF his trade were there, with
marks Of constant use upon them Piles
OF drawings few of them tackled upon
the walf but nothing self-conscious or
go indicate that he valued anything
that he had done The table was push
ed against the window. with ats pleas
ant outlook into the garden with the
Wandle glintinR In the distance. but
there was no bric-a -brac or other fur
nishing save OF the barest sort.
Morris took great pride I'm the gar
den. and much OF the beauty still Nm
gers Beyond the jangle Of shrubbery
the eve followed the ghmpses Of tran
uui fields dotted with bufercups and
bordered by blossoming hawthorn. ~
the rivers edge two bows. tall, 1.-the
fellows. were emptying W water out
OF an old punt. preparatory TO launch
on the smooth surface above their
heads the thick. screening foliage met
and arched and on the other >. de Of he
river the red-brown walls Of the mills
made the most fittng Of backgrounds
for AZ picture that could hardly be
matched for peaceful charm in any
ma nufacturi-/ district in England
Through the wide doorwavs we could
see men moving about in "a green
gloom" dipping cloth and yarn into
great stone basins. while through tho
open windows came the sound OF hand
looms and the dull thud OF the hammer
which accents the work OF the cotton
printers The old Jacquard looms
which Morris had gathered from vari-
Gus parts OF the country had a clatter-
ing irregular music Of their own. quite
unlike the rhythmic click of modern
machinery. as &c each separate worker
had a certain touch. a trick of throwing
the shuttle back and forth that be-
trayed his individuality Morris he
Ueved thai all handiCraft that was
worth ANYTHING a man nut something
of himself. ~ nersonal pride and pleas
ure in The doing Of Il. which counted
i'm the finished result and that " was
Impossible 10 secure the unWOrn inter-
est. without which NO artistic produc-
tt0n r. D0SSTD1P- When eve md hand and
ear were wearied with the deadeniug
routine OF machinery. He believed 700,
! that the content and sclf-r'Irect ~ al
raftsmpn involved the welfare ~ the
lesser arts and that the first steps to-
ward art worth having was To- make
| the lie of the worker worth wing An
artist first end Z socialist afterward.
| he himself found oil work cOuCenial
that helped To- nut BEAUTY into tho lfa
about him. and asked nothing 81 his
workmen that he could not do and did
nor enjoy doing himself.
Most of the men now eWulove' ~
! Merton can recall tho early d1vs of - Z
| occupation there. when he wPs ofteu
| seen With slsoips of warn over h'S arm
] ord his bands darklv stained with the
| dye OF the vat. II required constant
| cXuermeutS 80 obtain The dives th1i h
! Nishe,i. rich in cnlor and not fugitive,
| and he succeeded after wears ~ effort
| IN anprovimating "a color seal" fh7f com
! pared wen with that of the Orientals.
/