The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-04

neapoliS arts and crafts eXhf-
biton this year was held by
the wonderful Isl collection of :
work in wood. leather and met
ais bNAsharles Frederick Eaton :
$H of Santa. Barbara. Cal. Every
scrap of information in regard to the man
responsible for this novel. ana exquisite
work thatrssatshed every requirement Of
art, craftsmanship and utility was eagerly
listened to. This week at the regular
monthly meeting of the Arts and Crafts
society the members enjoyed a treat in
the reading of a letter from one Of Mr.
Eaton s. associates to Miss Alice Van
Anda. giving q description. Of his home
and surroundings and of his workshop.
MIR! Eaton lives on a lafee country place
four miles from Santa Barbara and his
home is regarded, as the most beautiful
and artistic III California. amidst a hun
dred live oaks is a tropical garden with
5000 rare palms and other plants. From
the oaks depend waving strands of Eng
lishs1vy and the ground iszcovered with
1t. Through the garden winds an artificial
stream so eharmingly conceived that it.
seems perfectly natural. This stream
flows into a small reservoir in the Italian
style, surrounded by a stone WALL broad
stone steps lead up to a platform. where a
small houseboat is floating, with seats for
about fourteen. This boats affords a de-
lightful place to write read to take
afternoon tea or to rest and enjoy the
views In the lake grows the papyrus of
the Nile and bloom TIE creamy ZanZibar
lilies and the pink lotus. " In front of the
house is "a large soping lawn of about two
acres with oaks. palms and a variety of
trees. "A magnificent view of the blue
Pacific is commanded from the lawn and
the house. ~ t-'
The house is. picturesque. with low,
spreading roofs, the first story of stone
, the rest of stained shingles. 1t contains
many antique carvings fine arras tapes
tries and other objects of art collected by
MI, Eaton in a residence Of seventeen
years abroad,
Mr. Eaton has great love for the
beautiful and an earnest desire to see sub
stantial handiworl Of merit and distinctive
artistic design gain place in this coun-
try When a young man he studied paint
ing for three years in Bonnat's studio in
Paris; later he took up woodcarving and
landscape architecture. He designed his
own place and others in California. Mr.
Eaton's workshop is unique place in the
top of his carriage house, being open on
all sides:
The work is done without hurry or fric-
tien and each worker knows from the
beginning the full plan and purpose Of the
design.
Mr.. aton began his handicraft work
without any thought of its attaining it's
present growth and only through the seek
ing Of lovers Of artistic work has it
been brought to the attention of the
public in the exhibitions Of this year. His
work was first exhibited al the Bookbind-
ers Guild of San Francisco and then at
the Art Institute in Chicago in December.
1t is Mr.. Eaton's idea to plan inexpensive
homes. as well as those of greater scope.
OF course, good hapdiwork, where work
ers get good living wages, can never be
really cheap in a commercial sense, but
it can be simple and good, and cheap in
the sense that 1t will always last and not
be subject to the changes of meretricious
fashions.
Everything in this interesting Cali
fornia workshop is made there The only
thing that comes in is material; even
the nail heads are made the stones cut
and polished, the metal fooled and the
carpenter work fashioned.