The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-16
WOMEN ARE PLEASED.
May BellevilIe Brown Tells of Work
at the Fair.

I
| To the Editor of the State Journal:
The women's department of the state
fair goes into history today. For the
first time in the history of both clubs
and fairs SO far as know, has such an
enterprise been placed unreservedly in
the hands of the club women. Whether
we have made all promises and expec-
tations good or not, does not rest with
| US. We can only be sure that none of
the staff of assistants have failed in
| the performance of any duty assigned,
so far as we know, nothing has hap
pened to mar the memories which we
| shall Garry away. Club women have
again demonstrated that they can do
| practical things; that the same brain
which delveS into the mysteries of
| Shakespeare, and Browning, can meet
| business enterprises and dispose of
them.
The training acquired at church fairs
and federation exhibits and club dinners,
stood them in good stead in preparing
for and handling the crowds that came
and went all week through the galleries
| of the women's department. Two
months is not a long time, as the days
| race by, but within it's space this wo-
| mems department has found its exist
ence. It is almost incredible that such
a number and variety of exhibits could
| be secured in that time, and one is apt
to wonder what might be accomplish
| ed in this work if a year were devoted
| to it.
| The meeting of the executive board
/ was held last Wednesday in the par
| lors of the Throop. While considerable
| important business was in hand, the
greatest value of the meeting was in
| the bringing together of the officials of
the federation and establishing COM
plete understanding of aims and pur-
poses among them. Some of them had
met for the first time on the occasion
of their election. This session then
made them friends and established q
unaninity of thought and feeling which
argues well for the future of the ad-
ministration.
We are no sooner through with one
| duty than another stands ready for US.
The fair and the club conference are
over, and the district meetings are al
most upon US. That they will be uni
formly successful will be apparent by
the announcements which will soon
appear in these columns. The work of
club extension will be pushed, and in
terest in club work will be revived and
created wherever possible, during
| these meetings.
Harrington has a new club, of which
we shall hear more later. 1t is or
ganized already, and will federate in
time to assist in entertaining the Fifth
district federation. on Nov. l and 2.
MAY BELLEVILLE BROWN.
The State Fair association has the
power to call forth the display of the
best art work done in the state. We
| have really creditable artists, many of
| their work ought to be drawing at
traction for the fair association
There should be a jury to decide
upon what pictures should be entered,
SO that the mere placing of the pic
lures upon the walls of the art hall
| should be an indication of artistic
merit. The better artists would be
then more inclined to display their
works here.
| Though there has been no such rule
this year, there are several very cred
liable entries by other than profession
al artists. Miss Insurance of Tecum-
sch, and Mrs. Whitcomb of Topeka
| have some very good work Mrs.
Whitcomb secured several of the blue
ribbons. Two portraits in oil and in
crayon by Mrs. Hayes of Topeka are
exceedingly good.
Edith Farrell of Leavenworth re-
ceived prizes for water colors and
tapestry Miss Laurent of Topeka,
who was for two years an art student
at Paris. has remarkable ''still life'
| "a plate of eggs with the empty
| shellS)- Her portrait of her sister re-
ceived a first Drize-nost of her pic
lures carry the blue ribbon. Among
| the most attractive of the pictures by
professional artists are three works by
Adam Emory Albright, a large sun
1 shiny picture of children playing, a
boy with puckered up whistling mouth
and the most popular of all, two coun-
try urchins with bare legs hxin' their
hooks, splitting on the bait perhaps.
In this the whole pose of the boys is
natural and free. The white light on
their bare legs and the reflection of the
trees in the water are excellent.
I The work of Mr.. Stone and Mr.. Reid
is so well known that 1t seems almost
superfluous to do more than to refer
to it, but those who visited the art
! department will doubtless carry with
| them for years the memory of the
! Girl With Poppies" and the Casting
of the Net by Mr.. Stone, and the very
effective portrait of Mr.. Stone drawn
in ink by Albert Reid.
Around the PauIus collection of
sculptures there is continually an ap-
preciative audience.
John Douglas Patrick of -Rosedale
sent i've paintings. OF these the small
head DAY Dreams" is the one most
generally admired.
The display of china, while it is not
officially called the work of the
Ceramic club of Topeka, is in reality
quite representative and most excel
1 lent. It is safe to say that no woman
| passed this exhibit by. OF unusual ex-
cellence was the display in burnt wood
/ and carved wood.
Souders' Venus Vanilla has an extra
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