The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-26
THE WOMEN OF DEERFIELD.
And the Result of Their Efforts to
Develop Viilnge Life.

model Village Arts and Crafts Society
exists at Deerfield, Mass, the Deer
field of tragic history in the French
and Indian war. and in modern times OF
fine old houses, rare colonial relics. and the
most beautiful of shade trees. Its exhi-
hition last week was a revelation OF The
possibilities in a little village Of a single
street.
The room in which the exhibit was made.
the Martha Goulding Pratt Memorial, was
in itself worth seeing. For twenty-five
years Miss Pratt was the postmistress
at Deerield. Her work and service radi-
ated from behind the pigeonholed mail
boxes to every home in the village and
every farm homestead in the country
roundabout. When she died, in 1897, her
friends and neghboTs. in affectionate ap-
probation Of her noble life, established
village room In her memOIy. The MeECr al
House. built and furnished Tor about
thousan& dollars, is a To- oblong build
ing OF one story, with pretty portico en-
trance. Its one room. besides coatroom,
kitchen, pantry. etc, is a oapaciOus home
like apartment with corner seats, book
shelves loaded winuows, and an old fash
tened fireplace in tasteful colonial simpli-
city. The walls are hung with paper OF
soft green tint which harmonizes eff C i've
" with the white woodwork of dado and
chimneypiece. Cushions of green are in
corner seats and white dimity curtains
drape the pretty windows. In this suitable
setting the attractive industries OF Deer
fields were shown, says a writer 10 the
New York Evening Post"
The walls were hung with handmade
rugs, whose soft artistic colors are the
modern Interpretation of the old-time reg
no dttra nf he
handmade carpets was there united with
the improving touch of an advanced taste.
The prices range from Sc to SO, according
to size. Thirty or forty of these were
shown in shaded and mixed tints of tans,
browns, greens, blues, with occasional ef-
fective dashes of brighter yellow ard scar
let On the wall, too, were several sam
pies of the old-fashioned netted bed test
ers that are finding sale now as valances
to the modern sleeping couch. Handmade
fringes and laces for the dinlity spreads
that were popular with our great-grand-
mothers were also shown.
Spread out upon beautiful old tables of
polished mahogany, loaned for the occasion,
were fully fifty pieces of new and exqui-
site work Of the famous Deerfield Blue and
White Needlework Society. This society
really gave the impetus to the Village Arts
and Crafts Association. Its founders, the
Misses Whiting and Miller. lend their ar
tistic skill to all the village enterprises,
and it is primarily through their efforts
that these exhibitions have been success
fully established. The Blue and White
Society is constantly developing the scope
of its work while conscientiousiy preserv-
ing its unique character.
The latest industry to be developed at
Deerfeld is that OF weaving palm-leaf bas-
kets. The movement was started by city
woman who saw the possibilities. ard
asked everyone interested to come 10 the
village hotel and see what could be done.
Another woman. former resident of the
place. home on a visit, gave few lessons
in the work to those who wished to under
take it. and a club of basket-weaveIs YVES
the result. The first promoters supplied
the link between city buyers and country
workers. and the enterprise has lourished
remarkably. The work is the same in
principle as the old-fashioned palm-leaf
hat-weaving that was a common accom-
plishment in the days when these hats were
legal tender at the country stores. 1t was
not remarkable that In community like
Deerfeld a number OF women were found
to recall their youthful skill. and these.
with Others who are new but quick to
learn the simple art, make up the Deer
field Basket Makers They only began
work for the market last fall, and already
they find difficulty in supplying the de-
fully woven big and little baskets which
they produce. Many fine specimens we're
shown at the exhibition
Mrs. Madeline Yale Wynne, who owns
DeerfieId homestead ard spends her sum-
mers there, exhibited some of her work
in silver. copper, and enamel, together
with a few leather bags with metal trim
mings which she has lately begun to
make. Mrs. Wynne contributed also
Cd in hrnX nd pIra
ing the design being a very odd COM
position of nevis swimming in running
water Miss Annie G. Putnam, of Deer
field. showed an excellent piece of deco
rated leather in the form of country
house mail bag. and a beautiful almond
bowl and spoon IN silver with color in
enamel; also pair of small silver cups
shaped like a flower. A valuable feature
of Deerfeld's growing interest in art is
shown by the fact that the iron hinges
on Mrs. Wynne's box and on a desk
shown by Miss Margaret C. Whiting were
made by the village blacksmith. AL
though quite unacquainted with this sort
of work he has made an interesting dec
orative feature of the hinges, and it is
hoped this may be but beginning OF
more original work in the way of wrought
iron on his part. The Misses Allen, who
have been so successful in portraits char
acter studies as well as scenes from ma
ture, showed a good collection of figure
pieces and landscape compositions of re-
cent production. among them q series OF
illustrations for magazines. Although
their work is done entirely with the cam
era. it assumes the importance OF artis-
tic work. DeerAeld should be proud OF
what it has already developed and prom
ises for the future.