The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-02-06
AR|STOCRATS SAVE
LIVES EACH YEAR
About 700 Babes Rescued
From Chinese Rivers.
ARE REARED IN INDUSTRY
Good Work Done by Sisters of the
Maison de Jesu Enfant-Make
EmbroideIies and Broeades.
ARE REARED IN INDUSTRY

LONDON, Feb 6-Mr. Playfair, act
ing consul general at Hankow, has call
ed public attention to the Practical
Mission" work that is being done by
the Ningpo School of Embroidery in
China.
At Ningpo the Sisters OF the Maison
de Jesu E3nfant have for twelve years
been most active in the Westernizing OF
the Asiatic mind their work beginning
at the earliest stage of Chinese infancy,
when they rescue annually from the
grave some 700 girl children. who would
otherwise be thrown into the river soon
after birth. Those infants that are
saved are taken to live IN the convent
with the nuns, and as they grow up are
taught useful handicrafts by the Sisters
and when cid enough are married TO
suitable men, who have also been taught
how to earn their living under civilized
conditions.
Not only do these ceaseless working
Sisters rescue the infant girls. but they
have also provided an asylum for the
very old women. which is managed UNI
der the same Outstanding influences.
and here also are found cripples, imbe-
ciles-in short, all the despised fiotsam
and jets3Tn Of Chinese humanity. No
human life, however impotent. is left
unaided by these charitable women.
It's Influence Good.
The Nfnepo school of Embroidery, of
which Mr.. P1ayfair speaks as having
such good influence on the young people
of China was started by Sister Xavier
Berkeley, niece of the eighth Coun-
tess of DenbIgh and q member of q
distinguished county family the Berke-
leys of Spetchley. a year SO ago she
was joined by Sister Magdalen Fielding,
the Earl of Denbign's sister, who is
starting branch of the same industry
Starting m0Gestly with a few enbroid-
erers. the Ningpo school developed be-
You'd ali expectation, and now weaves
its own satin and silks ready for the
embroidererS.
The needlework is very beautiful and
the Chinese are the most wonderful
and accurate copyists, the sisters have
sent to all the centers of the world IA
nous in the cult of nacdleWork TO Sc
cure all their finest and most intricate
designs for reproduction, with the re-
suit that today at Ningpo the Chinese
needlewomen execute most elaborate
and exquisite pieces of Italian, Flem-
ish, Hungarian. old Byzantine. or Eng
lsh design.
Aided by Queen,
Queen Victoria accepted as a jubilee
gift freFn the Ningpo schools a he'd
spread of great art beauty, and the
friiicess Oh WaieS. WHICH DucheSs ol
York, was also good enough to help
the cause OF baby rescue by wearing
a richly worked train of Ningpo en-
broidery at palace drawing room,
which created some sensation, it was SO
very beautiful.
The establishment and conduct of the
NinSpo school rely entirely the sales
of its emDrOiderieS and ETocadeS, and
SO earnest in their endeavors are the
two cousins. the Sisters Berkeley and
Fielding, that they have enrolled Lady
Mary Howard-the Duke of Norfolk s
sister-Lady Denbigh. Lady Winifred
Cary ELVES. and Miss Maud Berkeley,
of Great Malvern. as active cO-WOrkers
in England. where they hope 20 find a
market for the Ningpo conSignments of
lovely bedspreads, court gowns, tea
gowns, baby robes and cushions: which
are sent home from time to time by
the Sisters OF Charity working at Ming
TO. The embroideries are as cheap as
they are artistic and effective.