New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-17
TALK on DRAWN RAG RUGS
THE INDUSTRY EXPLAINED AT THE
ETHICAL CULTURE SCHOOL.
MS HELEN ALBEE DISPLAYS DOZEN OR MORE
SPECIMENS OF THE ABNAKEE WORK
TEACHING THE WOMEN.

The possibilities Ct the drawn rag rug which Is
seer IL every New-England farmhouse were demon
srrated by Mrs Helen AIbee al the Ethical Culture
schools AZ No. Zoe West Ftfty-fourth-st., yesterday
afternoon
Mrs. AI5ee had with her dozen or more rugs
sn5 haugi1gs which had been made by the farm
e-s wives Of Pequaket. y H among whom she
hzs established hourishing industry. The condi-
rfau Of rhe people OF the district, whom she de-
scri5ed living with absolute simplicity and
without comforts she said had beer well expressed
by ore Of the neighboring farmers, when he once
said 10 her: We don't know what it is 10 have
money. but we have enough" The idea Of helping
then was suggested 10 her by Douglass VoIk.
We had been talking" she said, about handi-
crafts and William Norris and Ruskin in an ar
fists studio one afternoon, and George De Forest
Brush and Douglass Volk were there. Suddenly
NJ Volk turned 10 and asked:
% Whar you doing for those in New
Hanpshire2 7 replied that I was not doing any
thing: that although relations were pleasant
! found i hard for the same plane
II ToIk said: But what right have you do
nothingT
His question stayed by me- but when put my
services at their command they did not want my
help"
Ms Albee showed rug which she said
tztr sample Of the ones that have been made by
people n rural districts for many years, and said
she held Il up: There are forty years in
that rug. and fl Il lie al the opportunities that
an trying 70 develop" II was made Of old rags
OF al sorts drawn through burlap and across the
centre represented house Mrs Albee said
that she forget when she began TO introduce her
ideas that the New-Englander had traditions. and
she vas constantly confronted with renonstrances
when she showed her designs.
Ny sons wife works houses and cats, and
Aowers that You car almost smell. upon hers q
woman would say " her reoelhOusly when asked TO
make rug with q conventional design The people
she SAID. were actually needing money ana work
Yet only dubious looks and smiles met her when
she suggested 70 them her project She Uas unable
10 understand the situation until she discovered 4
-: - tle e4t-l-a yong county sl5i~ao *
poy bright coIOrs and animals and flowers. Then
Sf1 IA sf i5o ma me 5 gsf3f s-e was s
she theE vent 70 Work and made twelve or If
rails LlaL she had proved 10 her own satisfaction
70 5e most suitable, and had an exhibition IN the
Until horses were tied % every available place
omen brought L1e.r Daaies ana uptoed ABOUT
and talked IN whispers As they looked upon me
even than Sunday. summer guests came, TOO. and
70 1sr great s-TPrlse she found. WIen ne gay Gay
IS caaree az s - md those VINO had been
most a11agonlstc came most readily then 10 ner
home for orders
The men took interest TOO, and made sug-
Eestons tOr stripping The cloth ana improving the
pToFe1 se SAID, Dy one armed boy OF the vicinity
VINO Is one Of the best shots and cieverest fellows
mere nature OLteIl, The speaker Saio, tests
bravery BY imposing obstacles 70 see If We can
The first thing she found it necessary TO teach
llsse women. VINO had been unused 10 meeting
the market and having responsibility was that
-hat her reputation depended upon their work.
-l-s. AIoee said that she could not what effect
The work had mad upon their aesthetic tastes, but
she knew that they growing sceptical Of their
They 60 not yet quite ike ny colors," she said.
DUr I LI.uk they dislike them less than they did.
During the three years since the industry began
twenty women have been trained and hundred
rugs have been made Most Of The women have
children and many q them ole people TO care for.
One woman Who has four children under nine
years q age and al old uncle and husband in
her family earns between 3 and s. a week
The workers are scattered six miles OF terri
tory, ana call for and return the rugs when COM
pie1eC Nrs. AIbees home TWilled ana
zELled 6aErels bought n color and dyed
WIKI sntline dyes are used and are drawn through
sgrlsp-
The patterns are applied by stencil. The back
every rug bears q tag upon which is printed
The ADlAkee Rug and the trademark. which is
81 Indian cipher Of ons OF the chiefs OF the
Aorazee tribe
O -ris city, and has had a long experience in de-
signing silks. book covers, blankets and shawls.