The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1903-04-16
INDIAN soUAws
Are Aeepts In Art Of Lace-Making-'
Hare Wealthy Patrons.

Hare Wealthy Patrons.
One Of the many practical memo
rials 10 the late Bishop Whipple, Of
Minnesota, Is the firm establshnet
Of lace-making a. q means Of liyeli-
hood for the Indians among whom be
lsborcd 80 deyoutly for years.
II was his belief, says the Louis
rille Courier-Journal, that II given
proper encouragement North Amer
ics's aboriginal tribes could make an
honest and comfortable living at the
liberal arts. Sharing his belief and
willing to execute his plans was Miss
Sybil Carter, who ten years ago start
ed the industry Of lace-inaking in the
very heart Of the Minnesota pines.
The field Of her first labors was the
Ojibway region set aside for a na-
tional park. Here, by nursing in the
hospital and making herself indis-
pensable TO the Indian women, she
powed the first industrial seeds.
The women we're inclined at first
to view the work with more or less
suspicion, but gradually they saw in
il the opportunity 10 earn the triaing
! pin money which their lordly braves
! we're not inclined 10 allow them from
| The governments bounty, and final
/ ", after several years Of experiment
ing with their indomiiable teacher,
they found themselves in the posi-
tion Of regular breadwinners
Thus encouraged, Miss Carter
moved on from the Oiibway reserya-
tion. and opened schools for lace
making at Leceh Lake. Wild Rice
lake and Red Lake. The fame Of
her work spread into southern Min
nesota and The Sioux Indians petit
toned that a school be established al
Birch Coolie.
| Women Of ell ages now undertake
the work. and often beg for instrue-
tion, for they have learned that il
makes possible many comforts for
their primitive log cabins and birch
bark wigwams.
The lace is not only made, bat de.
signed as well, BY the Indians 1t hai
an individuality so strong and work
manship 50 delicate that il has at
tracted the attention alike Of f0reigl
buyers and women Of wealth LArgl
orders come from dealers in Ney
York, Philadelphia. Pittsburg, Chi
cago. ST. Louis, San Francisco ans
Honolulu. while such women as Mrs
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Mrs j. Pier
pont Morgan and Mrs. Bsysrd Cut
ting are regular patrons At th
Pan-Amerioan exposition the wor
attracted much attention, and man
! of the orders now being received ar
the result II the excellent shown
the schools made al Buffalo
Many 81 the younger lace worker
have the advantage Of an eiucatio
received at an agency. but some {
the finest work Is done by age
squaws who utilize the artistic IN
pulse which once found voice in bca
work. This, in common with 9th,
Indian handicTai,s, j. now nearly q
stinci. a favorite conceit with Il
workers Is conventional designs Of q
noes and teepees, and they appear
all but the narrowest edgings III
Indian love Of symbolism is psriic'
larlrdispiaycd in the manufacture
: choice ccclesiastioal laccs
= Each lace school Is supplied with
: teacher. and the sale Of laccs made ;
4 pupils or apprentices pays al e
= ponscs. At llirch Coolie are made q
, beautiful bcdspresds, OF pillow
bobbin lace, in rare, cid design
which scll a. high as S300apieco III
3 necdiepoini known as Batienburg
the special pride oi the oiibwsy age
3 ey, and al the l.ccch Lake school, u
der Miss Pauline Colby the on
9 white woman living at the agency
< most difficult honiton is made.
One of the first lessons, and p'
hans the most difficult Of an TO m.
ter. Is that Of keeping the lace clea
9 Compared with this, the arrang
: ment ~ hraids and the yario
stitches are as mere ehild's pl.
, What the Indian student ol lace Nc
lacks at definess she keeps up IN ;.
severance. and she keeps at the Nd
with dogged determination q
would pu, many of her white sistN
10 shame When She has served J
apprenticeship she receives Wages
tho rate Of ten cents an hour.
rapid worker can make from SIC
. Sis per wcc6.
- MAny 0f the women, partlcula
. the old squaws, work at home, VI
IA the Thermometer hoyers close TO
W. zero mark these wunen stalk b
and forth through the pine Tor,
y With their work belted safe from
y rayarss 81 storm, Many an ullbs
NJ has hcep knoan 10 walk m