The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-06-22
VILLAGE INDUSTRIES.
REVIVAL OF WoMANLY CRAFTS A
NOTABLE MOVEMENT


Interesting Exhibit OF the Prod ucts Re-
GENTLY Held In Minneapolis - Sensation
Caused by Some New Hsmpshire Rugs
-Coserlets from Kentucky Mouutains,
The arts and crafts exhibit recently
held in Minneapolis brought together
from various parts of the country
specimens Of handiwork which are OF
interest and value from a sociological
and ethical standpoint, as well as from
the standpoint OF the artist and the
craftsman.
The establishment Of village indus
tries In various parts Of the country Ia
a notable movement Of the time. BY
means Of these industries, most Of
which have been established and car
ried ON BY women, the people OF the
small villages are given profitable en-
ployment at home, and thus kept from
entering into the competition of the
already overcrowded centres Of trade.
While the exhibition brought to-
gether many beautiful examples Of
craftsmanship from all over the coun-
try, including leather and metal work,
needlework and ceramics, the feature
of broadest interest was that of the
textiles of various sorts which are
the product of the village industries.
Probably the greatest interest cen-
tired in the rugs sent by Mrs. Albee Of
Pequakee, N. H. These rugs are made
by the village women under Mrs. AL
bees direction and according to her
designs. The patterns are adaptations
of Oriental rugs and the effect pro-
duced is remarkably good. The fin
ished rugs ere soft and velvety in ap-
pearance and look much like Axmin-
stcls. One would never suspect their
manner of making except upon the
closest inspection. Rags of uniform
quality are cut in narrow strips and
hooked through heavy foundation of
burlap, leaving very short loop upon
the upper side. The rags are dyed
with vegetable dyes of home manufac-
ture. All are soft and rich in tone,
giving subdued color scheme which
is artistic and pleasing in effect. The
rugs sell for very moderate prices
considering their beauty and inde-
structibility, and a thriving industry
has been established among these vii
lage women.
Another industry carried on along
as homely lines as the one just de-
scribed is the coverlet making of the
women among the mountains of Ken
lucky. The coverlets are of the same
patterns as those 'our grandmothers
used to make" and the work is super
vised and marketed by the managers
of Berea college. This college is a
enterprise, established for
industrial and educational work among
the mountain people of Kentucky.
Home industries. nursing and various
trades are taught the younger gener-
alton, besides the educational train
ing, and among the older women the
art of coverlet making has been re-
vived and encouraged. Some OF the
women had made coverlets "off and
on" since their early girlhood, and
still preserved their spinning wheels
and looms. These were brought out,
and put to regular use. and the "pine
bloom" and the "roseleaf" patterns
were reproduced over and over again.
not for family use only now. but for
he general market, which welcomed |
hem eagerly and found more buyers |
han could be supplied. Most of the
,overlets were in blue and white, with |
few in red. white and yellow, but all |
lave the familiar look of our treasured |
leirlooms, and are as strictly hand |
made as they. The white used is cot.
on, the colors are in wool. This is |
spun and carded by hand and woven
N hand looms, in the various patterns.
They sell for So piece. while an
antique" in good condition brings
rom $50 to SIS.
An industry of the same sort has
.lso been established among the noun
aims of Tennessee. where a favorable
'attern is the Missouri trouble" The
work. here is practically the same as
n Kentucky.
AS has already been told in the Star.
drs. Douglas Volk. wife of the WELL
nown artist. has introduced and is
arrying on rug-making among the
7omen of another New England town,
nut none of her work was shown in
Minneapolis owing to other exhibi-
ions to which they had been sent.
he work is similar to that of Mrs.
-lbee, and is carried on with the same
blect-that of helping the village
'omen to help themselves.
Along still different line of handi-
'ork is the Deerfield industry In Mas
achusetts. The work is carried on
nder the name of the Deerfield Blue
nd White society, and consists of en-
robbery upon linen. embodying the
esigns of early colonial times. Nearly
II the work is done in shades of blue
pom white linen. hence the name of
lie society. Recently red and green
ave been added to the colors used
| order to produce some of the early
esigns as originally carried out. The
men used to embroider upon is hand
oven and the threads used for en-
roidering are dyed with vegetable
yes of their own manufacture, made
,cording to early day rules. and are
'oof against fading. The patterns
'e not original. but are reproductions
early embroideries and OF the de-
gns found upon old plates of the
,lonial period. Some of these bear
lie quaint titles of "the gourd," "the
'ide," Chinese rose" peacock rose"
he Turk" "Lucy's orchid" and the
van." They are all highly conven-
onalized. and the work of the Deer
ed society is entirely distinctive in