New-York tribune., 1901-09-01
PORTRAITS IN NEEDLEWORK.
EXHIBIT BY A PORTO RICAN WOMAN IN
BUFFALO-HER PICTURE OF PRESI-
DENT MKINLEY.

A portrait in embroidery of President Mckinley
mas just been started by Miss Herminia Davila. of
forto RICO, whose embroidered portraits of Wash
nnstoh and of Andrew Carnegie now on view at
the Fan-American Exposition. have attracted so
Hiuch attention The portrait of President will
pe placed when finished in the permanent exhibit
uon or women's work in Washington.
MISS Davia says she feels it a most appropriate
'nihg 10 have the work Of Porto Rtcan women rep
resented in Washington since tbev now hegin 10
call themselves Americans
1he efect produced by the embroidered por-
'i'S Is almost exactly that of steel engravings.
me Work consists of infnitesmaIly small stitches
"a OIach Unread on a white silk ground 1t is ex-
tFeneiy interesting to watch Miss Davila at work
III her rooms here IN the city where she resides at
PH' 0he SITS before large, high frame upon
~ ~I lne material to be embroidered is tightly
S4e'ched ana wears thmble on each hand,
keeping one hand the under side of the work
20 receive ana return the needle when it is pushed
through from above. The needle she uses is one
~ ~ lIe Hhest ever seen in this country and the
oIack thread almost finer than a hair Is not 70 he
obtained anywhere in New-York although Miss
Davila searched for it diligently when she desired
new supply. II is manufactured in France for
embroidery purposes, and exported to Porto Rico.
where 1t Is used extensively
One would expect to find sucb rvor,, ov.ror,o1
trying to the eyes, but Miss Daytla does NOT find
Il So and says she can work for hours and has
never experienced any difficulty She does not even
80 oO"h close to the work. Sometimes when
tesses she has made genuine hairs serve her pur-
pose thread.
II look about three months Of fairly constant
WORK 10 complete the portrait Of Andrew Carnegie
ana she VIII probably spend fully as much time on
The likeness OF President Mckinley
Miss Davila is q the head OF a school Of en-
oroldery in Ponce, Porto Rico. Needlework is the
chief accomplishment of Porto Rican women who
are thoroughly domestic in their tastes and hab-
It's and who spend much time in this employment
Tor their own arnuse nent. Embroidery is taught
IN the converts and il all private schools Some
OF Miss Davilas pupils are little girls only
years, and girls from ten 70 thirteen do really
qulsite work. The homes the island are filled
with specimens OF the handiwork OF mothers and
daughters Pictures in embroidery are framed and
hung on the wall The chair backs and seats are
heavily embroidered. cushions. mantel scarfs pct-
ure framcs-all Of elaborate needltwork-meet the
visitor at every turn Gold and silver threads vel
vet silk and linen used with equal in diff
ferent varieties Of embroidery and altar cloths and
NeStmentS fayorite subjects for decoration.
Formerly the women embroidered only 20 beau
tfy their homes or for pleasure. but the work IL
now becoming somewhat OF industry. especially
since the American occupation OF the island. for
the Americans glad 10 buy pieces Of
broidery and 70 give orders for specimens which
they may send home. No regular eXpOrt trade has
yet sprung up, but a society Of women in Ponce