The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-06-12
Womans' Club.

The Woman's Club held It's last
meeting OF the club year Saturday
afternoon at the home of Mrs. A. M.
Bentley.
The meeting was delightful one
and fitting close to successful years
work. In the short business meeting
preceding the papers, Mrs. j. ]. Davis
was appointed recording secretary for
the ensuing year In place of Miss
Kanagy, who will not be In Owosso
next year. The delegates appointed
for the State Federation OF Woman's
Clubs to be held at Grand Rapids
October IA and Is were Miss Densmore
and Mrs. S. e. Parkill, with Miss.Tut-
hill and Miss Jones as alternates.
Miss Webster then gave an interest.
ing paper on "The Development of
the Human Hand and the Earliest Use
Of Tools" She proved that there will
never be any higher creature on earth
than man. Nature can go no farther
and one Of the most perfect pieces of
mechanism with which she has endow-
ed him and which joins in harmonious
action with the highest attribute-the
minds the hand. She then began
with the lowest order of creation-the
jelly fish, footless, armless, and head.
less who has to create hand when
necessity demands. She then took the
animals as they advance In order of
creation until we come to the African
monkey which has the three jointed
arm with a hand almost like the
human hand, but without a thumb
which has more practical usefulness
than all the other fingers put together,
hence the ultimate hand has appeared
in man and there will never be a more
perfectly handed animal than man.
There came time when man s hand
could not do all the things which it's
owner wished accomplished, and then
tools were discovered. Now IL any
thing new arises to be done it is not a
better hand that is made but better
tool-an external hand; and so with
all the wonderful inventions there
seems to be no need OF more perfect.
ly developed hand.
Following this was an instructive
paper by Mrs. S. e. Parkill on rugs"
To add interest to the subject Mrs.
Parkill had great variety OF rare and
costly oriental rugs, some secured by
herself while abroad, some. by Mrs.
Marden, and others from various
sources. She also showed pictures Of
historic rugs.
In her paper she told why an orien-
tai rug is expensive. She first describ-
ed the looms, then the way the warp
was separated and knots made. The
more knots to the square inch to be
found In rug, the more valuable 1t is.
Some rugs have as many assix hundred
knots. Color Is the orient's secret and
glory. The dyer never imparts the
secret. He can produce any shade de-
sired and unlike the analine dyes OF
oday the colors are fast.
The designs also add to the value.
Rugs are written pages. In their
maze OF design is symbol language,
every color used has its meaning and
the design whether NEUROLOGICAL or
natural, human, bestial or floral, has
It's hidden meaning. Even the repre-
sensations of men hunting wild beasts
have their special indications. So
have the natural flowers of Persia
their symbolism wherever they are in
PRODUCED generally following that of
their colors. And colors were not
chosen haphazard but each color had
symbolic meaning and each deity and
sacred amin had adominant trait.
The very Irregularities in drawing
or coloring are not accidental, the
usual intent being to avert the evil
eye and bring good luck"
Rug weaving to the Orient is their
religion and nearly every process is
done with prayer. Other countries
borrowing the tricks of their trade
have tried to weave rugs equal to the
Orients, hut have failed and indeed
will fail until they can make it their
religion.
Following the papers an enjoyable
social hour was spent during which the
hostess served dainty refreshments.
Many invited guests were present and
the afternoon was one long to be re-
membered.