The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-07
A HAWAIIAN MISSIONARY
AMONG ARMENIAN WOMEN

In the Persian drawn work the threads
of the fabric are entirely removed, and
are replaced by the lace stitches In
Turkish embroidery they are drawn only
one way.
LIKE COTTAGE INDUSTRIES
From the first the Afntab industry has
been based upon the same methods as
| those employed in the establishment IF
the Irish cottage industries under Lady
Aberdeen Every woman worker teaches
five apprentices, making her own terms
with them. AS each of her pupils in
turn becomes slsilful she joins the ranks
of independent workers and instructors.
The work is done in the homes and
brought, when finished, to Mrs. Shepherd
or her representative for inspection. Ac-
curacy and neatneSs are absolute essen
tials Among the Armenian poor it has
always been an accepted principle that
the men shall furnish the family backs
and the women the thrOats"-that IS,
that the masculine portion of the family
shall provide clothing and shelter while
the women procure the food. During the
troublous times-which, for one reason or
another are bound to be the life portion
of the Armenian women-these industries
have kept starvation from the doo- of
many home, the workers, by the means.
day-a fair living wage in Turkey.
LOVERS OF SIMPLICITY.
In order to reform the Oriental extrav-
agances attending betrothals and mar
! rages of even the poor, Mrs. Shepherd
started a number of years ago society
called Bayzaceratz covers of simplicity,
and each of her workers was obliged to
join it. Each member signs a pledge
prohibiting her from going beyond a GER
tain expense in betrothal presents to the
future bridegroom and his family No
gold embroidery or useless gift may be
made by her. Her trousseau must be
limited to five suits The old customs of
hanging her trousseau about the recep-
ton room and changing her gown every
five minutes on the wedding day are also
abolished, Mrs. Shepherds aim in estab-
fishing the organization was to wipe out
the custom which has crippled Oriental
families from time immemorial and made
the advent of an infant daughter a mis-
fortune, because of the expense which
will be attached to her departure from
the family circle in later years.
The need of help for Armenian women,
says Mrs. Shepherd, has in no way d.
minshed since the massacres. A re-
cent conservative estimate of the orphan
ed children in Turkey places the number
at forty thousand uncared for waits and
sixty-five hundred in orphanages ana
homes. The needs of India, South Ag-
RIGA and China have drawn from the
support of such institutions in Turkey
large contributions from Europe and
America upon which they formerly de-
pended.
This year the Oorfa region is sorely
stricken, because of the locusts which
have destroyed the crops. The English
organization known as the Friends of
Armenia, and the Armenian Relief Asso-
citation of this country, have in no way
abated their work. Both societies are
united in pushing the work of the relief
industries in Aintab, Marash and Oorfa,
as we'll as those established in other
parts of Turkey.
Aintab city of cotton weavings,
which were used throughout Asia Minor,
has suffered from the decimating of the
villages. Added to this the Importation
of European weavings and the high
prices of wheat and other products, have
reduced its citizens to want girls
seminary in the city, supported by the
American Board, has thirty boarders and
fifty day scholars. Miss Lucille Foreman
of Philadelphia is its principal.
Mrs. Shepherds father was mission
airy under the American Board to Ha-
waii, and she was born in one of those
Islands, spending her girlhood there. She
was graduated from Mount Holyoke and
from the Medical College of Michigan
University She is a botanist, and at one
time made a study of the flora of Asia
Minor and Syria. Her work, aside from
her industries. includes the superintenG-
ence of the Sunday School, the direction
of mothers meetings, children's bands
and visiting among the sick and desti-
tute Two daughters remain in this
country to complete their education at
Mortified. a little son is in school IN
East Orange, N J.