The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-24
PRETTY HAND WORK DONE
IN THE RURAL DISTRICTS
. 81 En- :; s ;$ a most : %:

x RI and photography, the inter-
IN esting magazine being most sue
4 4 cessfully edited by Mrs. Wal
ter Howard. presents many interesting
features in this months edition. Among
these is an illustrated article by Mrs Mel
pie Peters Black on the subject. Hand
work by Women Of North Georgia. The
article demonstrates the thrift of many
Of these women despite the disadvantages
Of their labor as Illustrated in the case
of Miss Emily Ferguson. of Gordon coun-
ty. Of whom Mrs. Black writes;
"She Is we'll known in all parts of our
state for her taste in the combination OF
colors for the rag rugs and portieres she
weaves.
MANY and many rag bag has been
sent her and in return she has woven
yards Of cloth that brighten and give
color to many dainty boudoirs.
Miss Emily says she would like to have
well dug near her house sometime. II
she can make money enough to pay for 1t.
but she Is afraid she can't learn now
to draw up the water.
ITO our inquiry about where the water
came from for her cooking and washing,
she said: why. have toted 1t from the
spring yonder fully 400 yards dlstant)
ever since l could walk
'"rhink of this lifetime desire. this I'M
fulfilled ambition. Can We not hear her
feet crunch through the snow of winter
as she goes to and fro with her pucket'
back and forth through the sunshine and
rain waiting for the day when she can
save enough to have a well dug and may
be learn how to draw up a bucket OF wa
ter. 1t Is such blessing to give these
III bpx
pendent and are SO grateful for an oppor-
tunity to fill orders-and the well-earned
money means SO much to them. The in
terest being manifested in hand-work in
northern states makes us more fully alive
to the Importance OF keeping our women
here from laying aside their shuttles and
looms. and we only hope many others
may be encouraged to do the same work.
/ have seen a woman knit gloves from
rabbit fur and cotton, and weave fine
hats of wheat straw. when she was rest
ing from hoeing her corn. Another makes
baskets of sorghum cane peeling and the
seed of cantaloupe melons.
In each of these women the artist
instincts struggle through the environ
ment of cooking. and washing and cutting
wood. The creative fingers made beauty
that was taught only by the birds of the
forest as they Wove bits of bright strings
into their nests, and wild flowers bloom
Ing into glory of color caught the eye
and aWokc the soul to n love of the beau
tiful | have seen these same women
fairly bubble over with gratitude for a
chance to keep the ten fingers busy and
their JOY in doing is only equaled by their
honesty in filing the orders that come to
them. The greatest event that occurs
in the everyday life of such women is
letter bringing an order for their work
1t is more exciting even than the COW
getting in the corn field. or the brown
turkey hen coming off her nest with a
new brood of young ones
IF school of manual training could
be established in every county in Geor-
gia where boys and girls could be taught
to utilize the common everyday products
around them. like shucks. bulrushes
wheat straw, sedge grass, etc, the indus
trial development of our state would be
remarkable 1t is to such practical sub
jects these that Georgia club women
have devoted much time for several years,
and already Floyd, Madison and Barlow
counties have these schools through the
efforts of the club women-the latter, the
Barlow county school, being supported
entirely by money sent here from Mas
sachusetts club women | mention this
fact because we are so glad to see them
showing an interest in the white children
of the south
I'VE only hope other counties may fol-
low suit and thereby bring a new
interest into the monotonous lives Of the
ordinary country people who live AMID
our red hills"