The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-15
RUG INDUSTRY
In old CORNISH
ARTIST INTRODUCED AND EOS.
TERED TT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Wives and Daughters Of the Villagers
Make Good Money, Besides Having
Delightful Social Gatherings Rugs
Are Sold in Arts and Craft Shops.
Boston Globe.

to the wealth and attractiYeness Of the
region, and will instance as proof Of |
their belief in these immigrants-from-
the-great-city the fact that Winston [
Churchill now represents the district in
the New Hampshire legislature.
AS for the women folks" they go
t say rug hsy alone tel you hoy g
fostered by Mrs. w. G. Houston Of Boss
ton has meant to them. Our wives and
daughters make good money and have
a first rate time into the bargain sew
ing on those rugs! -
Mrs. Houston, whose summer home is
n Gerq a4 IS well knoT gn II this eity
at 81 Plnckney street. Her art training
under Lefevre and Boulanger at Paris
was OF the best, and as long ago as 1900
she won honorable mention at the Paris
salon exhibitions. She was just the
person., therefore, to turn into the best
channels the energy Of her Cornish
summer neighbors who wished to- make
rugs.
ton, the Mothers and Daughters club,
which embraces soj0urners from the
city as well as country women, is the
center of the rug industry. The club
was started about eight years ago in
order that the interests Of Cornish
Nv pA1At w Ny Oil WOu1Cu WHO 1OVG
the beautiful place, and that helpful
At first the program was that COM
mon to the beginnings Of all women's
clubs. There were meetings at each
others houses. discussions Of DOMESTIC
t s2iPles, ~ some literary study and cor,
I'D We'll enough, but It Vas neither II
very startling nor very stimulating.
Cornish needed better kind Of club
han this.
Then the idea Of purchasing library.
took possession of tho members and
soon the desire for home where the
library might be stored came tumbling
after. To meet this last need a sepa-
stocked With games which the young
people might play and enjoy. =
Artistic Work and Extra Money.
For the older people of the club,
the spare hours of the afternoons and
bring in a little extra money was a
prime necessity. The idea Of organic
ing some such work gradually grew
up. But it was hoped that whatever in
! dustry should be determined upon
might add to the social and artistic de-
velopment of the women interested as
| we'll as bring in money.
Just here Mrs. Houston came in. The
making of rag carpets had been de-
cided upon, but she suggested that in.
/ stead Of turning out the historic ar
ticle of the type which we associate
with the stuffy Hsetting rooms'' Of a
generation ago, really pretty rugs har-
monlous IN color and attractive in de
sign should be created. s. !:
The first twenty, made for sale IN
Cornish, sold at once, and, other orders
came in rapidly. It soon became clear
that the newly-established industry
was to be a profitable venture, and that
after the materials and work had beer
left with which to supply books and
| furnishings for the clubhouse.
At first there was only one loom, bu,
soon a Swedish hand machine was pur
chased and lessons taken in weaving
curtains, bedquilts and table covers
| thereon, Both conventional and old
time patterns were studied, and from
the first the designs were very pretty
Now half dozen looms are kept busy
- weavers Make Good Wages. Z,
The manager Of the industry gives ou
the carpet strips in quantities and col
ors necessary, together with the patter1
Of the rug wanted. The weaver, whe1
she works all day at horne,- makes $3.50
Taste in the matching and arrangement
OF the cOl0rs is necessary at this stage
of course, for the Individuality Of til,
weaver can be seen in the work .evel
/ when the design has been Indicated
g The sewers work is. more simple, AM
because this can be taken up and pu
r down readily, it is almost all done at TIN
: homes of club members The task o
: the fnishers follows that Of the weavers
!: It is their duty to look the rugs owe
carefully, attend to any loose thread
fbe fpna ana and h sa az Is tbe
After that the rugs are packed off eithe
4 to people who, have already purchase
/; them or to arts and craft shops in tn
: large cities.
!; The social idea has by no means bee
!, lost sight of, however, in the success
: which has attended this venture. On
0 Of the looms is kept in the clubhouse
and often a pleasant as we'll as profit
: able rainly afternoon is passed ther
. over the sewing, finishing and weavin
of the rugs.
+ The patterns employed have charm
ing names, Primrose "Daffoail,
= stSweet Pea. In these are repro
:, duced in dainty colors flowers an
|: leaves delightfully."- reminiscent Of gal
; den-lined Cornish.
j., In some cases whole rooms in summe
> cottages have been furnished with tn
rugs and with bedquilts and curtains t
; match, which have been made on the lit
. tie tWine-weaving Swedish loom. Thes
d later products closely resemble thos
= woven many years ago by our gran6
); mothers and have served to make fo
the industry a name to rank with tina
;; Of the Deerfeld crafts.