The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-01
MRS. FIELp,s pAPER.

Mrs. Field first alluded to the fact
that the arts and crafts movement Is of
so recent inception that II is as yet not
widely known or It's meaning generally
understood
A brief outline OF the rise and progress
OF the movement Included an account OF
the guilds OF the middle ages, which the
speaker named the golden age OF handi-
craft"
Then came the factories with manifold
inventions Of automatic machinery until
the Norkmau's identity was lost In the
machine he tended. Rut this condition
of affairs dill not long continue. The
ecc nomie nc less than the aesthetic value
OF the workers ion and interest IN his
work became evident 10 the few. al least
men like RuSkin. and William Morris. who
led the old world struggle between art
and commercislisfn"
Mrs Field then gave some facts about
the English Arts and Crafts exhibition
society, together with its notable found
ers and leaders aud It's large influence.
The history OF the American movement
along the same lines WAS traced and the
various organizations for the promotion
of the arr crafts mentioned and their re
spectlNt purposes defined. The work or
the general aud state fedora ton uf We
mems clubs Ia encouraging the appilca-
tion of art go handiwork was referred To
aud ln this connection the speaker said:
There must be one standard % iudg-
ment for the worker cognitiou must
be- gained. not because OF sex. or in spite
of a. but because of originality in de-
sign and skill in expression.
''rhis statement would naturally give
rise to the question WHY then H. this eN-
hihit limited 90 the hnudiwork % Rhode
Island women I'm answering this query
the speaker gave several humorous rea-
sons and theu explained mat az the pff
ent time "a limited exhibition Was all that
could be- attempted.
/ Continuing She said "'rhe first mid
winter meeting OF the Rhode island fed-
Grafton of Womsn's clubs. devoted To the
! subject of arts and crafts. with an eN-
l hihit may insugurAte annual exhibitions
| of artistic handiwork open to the world Z
! workers The present occasion may nor
1 express or include all that those most
\ interested may desire. but n Will do some
| thing towards calling public attention 10
the arts and crafts movement ot TO-DAY
/ The speaker alluded 60 The various lines
! of work in which Rhode Island women ~
1 the past and present have made hunored
/ regulations FOR Themselves aud for The
I state and claimed Tor Rhode Island club
women a Ike capariiity for work 90 brain
| or hand.
Mrs. FIELD named a. prerequisites FOR
the revival of arts and crafts recogni-
! ton of the worker Individuality ana also
/ OF his piacc in The human brotherhood
The craftsman must be allowed 20 eN-
| press his Individuality she said and
/ at tho same time h. needs the stimulus
/ 81 association with his fellow workers.
1 Humanity. it, needs and demands en-
| ters into the arts ana crafts movement
az " docs into al the social progress ~
/ tho twentieth century.
Woman is ntted 10 lead. pot ageres-
siveiy. hut actively w ,h~ revival ~ arts
/ ard crafts. ~ On fhr Kindred movement =
~ the Consumer league and civil Ser.
vice reform and ip al orcarized eNori for
the peitermcnt of social civic and com.