The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-13
MINNESOTA L|NEN EXPERT
MRS. HENRIETTA NJ. OLBERG, OF
ALBERT LEA, CALLED TO
PARIS EXPOSITION
WANTED AS A JUDGE THERE
Will Represent America in Passing
Upon TextiIe-SeIected by Mrs.
Potter Palmer as Thor
OughIy Experienced.

Mrs. Henrietta M. Olberg, of Albert
Lea, whose appointment as the American
Judge of textiles at the Paris exposition
was announced by cable on Saturday, has
been in the Twin Cities this week arrang-
ing for her passage She leaves Albert
Lea Saturday, and sails on the st. Paul
May 1G Her notification from Commits
sioner Pecks representative in Chic9 go
asked her to be in Paris May 16, but that
was impossible if she had started at an
hours notice, and she is taking the first
fast boat on which she could secure ac-
commodations. She will be ACCOMPANIED
by her daughters, two young: women who
are just completing their education, and
will especially appreciate and benefit by
their opportunities. Mrs. Olberg expects
to remain abroad a year, and will con-
tfnue her special studies in the linen in
dustry in all the important centers of lin
en- manufacture and flax culture in Eu
rope. She is already an expert in linens,
and this trip will greatly increase her
knowledge, and enable her to be of much
assistance to both manufacturers and flax
growers at home.
CAME WITHOUT ASKING.
1t is interesting to know that Mrs. Oh
berg had never applied for appointment
as a judge, and did not even express
willingness or desire to serve until Mis-
her some time in March Mrs. Olberg re-
piled that she would be glad to act on
textile jury, and that was the last she
heard upon that point, the notice of her
appointment being the next thing in or
der. 1t will be seen that the appointment
was based wholly upon merit. Mrs. Palm
er had great confidence in Mrs. Olbergs
powers and fitness, and In an interview
published just before she sailed, giving
her views of women on juries, she re-
viewed the history of the women on the
Worlds Fair juries, and pointed Mrs. Oh
berg out conspicueusly as an example OF
satisfactory work which overcame the
prejudice felt against women when the
appointments were first made Mrs. Palm
er knew Mrs. Olberg only through her
jury work at the fair, but that received
such high cOmmendation from other MEM
berS of the jury and the exhibitors that
she could not fail to be impressed.
The work on the Paris jury does not
begin until June l, and even then is like
ly to be SLOW but it is possible that Mrs.
Palmer wishes to make use of Mrs Oh
berg's experience in planning committee
work and preparing reports. The AmeIi-
can report in the textile department would
naturally fall to her, as she is the only
| American representative on the jury.
| While Mrs. Olberg is chiefly linen ex-
pert, she has also a wide knowledge of
| cottons and woods, gained through hsr
| Worlds Fair and subsequent experience
| At Chicago the women members of b5th
| the cotton and wool groups were ca led
away before completing their work, and
! as Mrs. Olberg had been with them con-
stantly, and knew how the work was go
ing on, she completed their work.
AT WORLDS S FAIR.
! Mrs Olberg's work at the worlds fair
| was an interesting experience to look
| back upon, although rather trying in the
actual experience. She was the only
| American in the linen group, and the for
| eigners resented her presence, the Eng
| lishman complaining bitterly that his vote
| should be neutralized by a woman, and
| he demanded from the head of the depart
ment Mrs. Olberg'S qualifications. He
1 was advised to try the work and find out
| for himself the extent of her knowledge
or her ignorance His experience amazed
| him, for he found she not only knew
about the manufacture, as he did, but
she also knew fax from the seed up His
attitude soon changed, and he became her
stanchest backer. He left Chicago before
all the British exhibits had been finished,
! but told the head of the department that
/ he was perfectly satisfied to leave them
in Mrs. Olberg's hands. He added that
| his experience had opened his eyes to
/ what American women could do, and that
| he. marveled at Mrs. Olberg's knowledge
| of fax and linen. AT the closing banquet
| of the department this was told without
the mention of names by the postmaster
as an illustration of the complete change
| Of attitude toward the women jurors.
Mrs. Olberg was also member of the
| Minnesota commission and chairman of
| the committee on manufactured exhibits
! She spent the entire summer in Omaha
two years ago, in charge of the flax ex-
| hibit and was one of the organizers of
the National Flax, Hemp and Ramie
| Fiber association. which held very sue
cessful convention last fall In Fargo She
Is the association secretary and its most
| active promoter. Her work in the asso-
] citation and In the editorship of the Dis