The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-08-18

almost incouquerable problem Of ink.
The adjustment Of the fow Of ink to the
face OF the type and the surface 80 that
each letter shall show clear and distinct
and shall be of equal blacknees through
out an entire edition, presents a prob
lem OF which few have any conception,
and one which does not enter. with any
degree Of nicely, at least. into ordinary
printing. The steady improvement in
Mrs. Van Vechten's work in this r. gard
shows that she is on the road to success.
1t should be matter Of pride to the
womsn's club folks that one who has
been actively identified with their work
ever since her college days, and who is
distinc lively a club woman, should be
making the progress she is in ore Of the
serious crafts. 1t may yet be to the last
ing honor OF the pine woods OF Wiscon-
sir that it is there that Helen Bruneau
Van Vechten is making beautiful books.
Mrs. Van Vechten has entire charge Of
the mechanical department Of the Phil
osopher press in the little town of Wau-
sau. Wisconsin. She superintends the
setting Of the type, plans the work and
sees that it is executed. She designs the
books. determines the details, such as
type. margins. bindings. and decorations,
and with her own hands, feeds them
though the press. OF course. her hus-
band and his partner by no means go
uncoosulted, but in the division OF work
this falls to her. Thus the books of the
Philosopher press stands as the &C
complishmert OF Wisconsin club wo-
man, who three years ago knew not
hawk from hand saw in the PRINT shop,
ard who has come from the parlor to the
press room, only to add to the dignity Of
the craft the graces Iever disasso-
ciated from true womanhood. Mrs.
Van Vechten is perhaps more notable
among women who are doing something
from the fact that she is demonstrating
each day that concentration in one di-
rection need not produce apathy in all
others. Her club work is maintained in
all it's former vigor, she finds time to
give to public affairs. being one of the
trustees of the Wausau public library
and secretary OF the county travelling
library association. She Is one OF the
official visit ng board OF the Milwaukee
Downer college, her alma mater; was a
member Of tho press committee OF the
biennial. and with all her responsible
ties plays golf and maintains her old
time social duties-and her business life
seems only to add to her capacity for
other duties. She has always been a
dominant force among her associates,
and the fact that the Philosopher prese
exists today is due to her indefatigabls
energy and indomitable persistence as
we'll as to the excellence of her own
work.
One effort of the arts and crafts move.
ment will be to induce merchants to
substitute individual signs. hall marks
or trade marks in artistic forms
and preferably of metal for the monstros-
tiles that now dis6gure the business
buildings Of or cities. Doubtless, it
will sometime arrive that ten foot sign
will be considered as vulgar as ones
'old bald-headed picture" in an adver-
tisement. 1t is hoped that when that
day dswns public sentiment will arise
and abolish the horrors that disgrace
our streets. Then PROFESSIONS of gum
and red, blue and yellow