The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-28

4
way, was the hostess of one OF the most
delightful meetings which the Ardirhe-
biah club has hell In many day yes
terday afternoon, and Mrs. Gertrude
Rugg Field was the charming speaker OF
the occasion.
(. The meeting was a delightful surprise
TO the club members. Mrs. Charles A.
Russell, the president Of the club, having
personally secured Mrs. Field to enter
tain the members OF the club, which she
succeeded i'm doing in a degree most un-
usual In the absence OF the president,
however, Mrs. Dan o. King, the vice
president, presided in most graceful
manner. introducing the speaker of the
afternoon.
Mrs. Fields talk was along the lines
OF arts and crafts supplemented by n
most entertaining talk of Ebert Hub
bard and his theories. his community at
East Aurora. New York, the Roycroft
books. etc
Concerning ARTS and Crafts" she spoke
I'm part as follows: Because IL IL of SO
recent inception the meaning OF arts and
crafts is not yet generally understood.
The spirit OF commercialism ruled the
machines, producing manufactures. mar
ketabe wares into whose production the
workers personality, his interest his
pleasure. did not enter. Cheapness and
utility were the watchwords OF the hour
and the maker was not asked or allowed
TO rejoice in his own works. The middle
ages were the golden age of handicraft.
Then were organized those guilds which
gave freedom OF expression to the work
.,f,. ka,, IA oh ho q ha "A
slave i'm actual environment
When the guilds gave place to the
factories. the workman's relation to his
I work changed. With the manifest in
| tentions of automatic machinery. handi'
| craft generally disappeared through thu
| succeeding centuries until the workman
identity was lost I'm the machine he tend
| ed.
But this condition OF affairs was not
| in harmony with the times spirit Mer
began To realize the talk that human
thought expressed I'm skilled handicraft
is ~ necessary factor i'm the worlds pro-
gress. I'm the betterment OF its social con
ditions. The economic, no less than the
esthetic. interest and JOY I'm his work
became evident to those who rightly
interpret the message which the wireless
telegraphy OF the ages transmits from
past to present. from pioneer TO pioneer
att and Burne-Jones. have led In the old
world struggle between art and CONNER
| cialism. have insisted by word and deed
| that art. is a means to a true conception
of life-not a thing apart but beauty ano
| truth In everyday existence, In the salts
| flying OF common, human needs. | like &c
think too, that the morning star or the
| arts and crafts movement shone upon ole
| England when King Alfred whose millen
| ary we have just celebrated sought TO eX
| tend among his subjects n knowledge o
| craftsmanship and who protected, as NJ
| encouraged. the artificers OF his time
| King Alfred proclaimea, with no uncer
| tain note, the rallying cry OF the moderr
! arts and crafts movement, the text o
| Prince Kropotkin's recent article upor
the labor problem: Through the eye ant
| brain to the hand"
| "The English Arts and Crafts Exhibi
! tion society was founded In 1856 by it'
| first president, Walter Crane. Holman
Hunt and others William Morris was ~
|! president from 1891 10 1896 The avowec
| object OF this society is Ito encourage
and promote all kinds OF handiwork, tt
bring the craftsman and his products In
| TO closer touch with the public by means
| OF periodical exhibitions and to amelo
| rate the condition OF all wCrkmen.' Th'
first exhibition OF this society was helt
| In London i'm 1883 and there have been a
| least four subsequent exhibitions held IN
| the great Metropolis.
| art congresses at Glasgow and Liver
pool have. also, been largely successfu
| through the cooperation OF tho EnElisl
Arts and Crafts Exhibition society. Lit
erature has been widely circulated
! through its medium. while numerous
| guilds and associations for the advance
| ment Of decorative art receive inspira
tion from its past achievements, an'
stimulus from its present activities.
"Toynbee hall. the pioneer social settle
| ment i'm Iondon's East End supports
school and guild Of handicraft.
"The underlying principle OF the Art
and Crafts Movement has practical ON
| bodiment In the workshops OF William
Morris AZ Merton Abbey. near London
The high ideals of the poet-crafts re
garding work and the worker come near
est realization IN this quaint old work
shop whose IKE We have not on this con
tiuent though n may be said I'm passing
that. in our own city. We have notabl
examples % manufactures wherein tn
welfare of the worker. as well as hi
| personality Is considered
Almost simultaneously with tho Eng
lish movement the new world began a.
crusade against trade finish as substi
tute for that artistic decoration OF mar
kctable wares which alone gives salts
faction g. producer and purchaser
ARTS aud Crafts societies were formed
exhibitions held IN the larger American
! cities and orga nizcd ofnrt made TO teacl
! tho masses that art is not confined q
the picture on the wall or the statue d
the gallery.
"Hnl house ~ Chicago is an America
social settlement where tho doctrine q
decoration as applied 90 articles IN ever
day use r. given prominence through nj
Arts and Crafts society which fosters th
various hand industries wherein ~
worker may express his indiNidra
thought.
The Roycroft shop az East Aurora.
v. Ebert Hubbards Industrial commu
/ ritv il devoted 10 honest hand labor Il