The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-05
THIS MORNINGS GOSSIP
BY ANNIE KENDRlck wALKER.

Of the many distinguished visitors ito the meeting of the Ceremie Society," Of America held in Birmingham, the past week the most striking figure was Mr. Binns the head of the New York state school of clay working and ceremie Designs at Alfred. MT. Binns is an Eng lisman and was in charge of the royal Chicago Rochester exhibit at the worlds s fair in Chicago. When MT. Binns came to New York in 1s97 he promised many vho were interested in clayworking to establish school in which they might wark in clay. In 1900 that promise was redeemed the summer school was open ed and from the first was a pronounced success. The idea of the school was to furnish means by which the possibility of clayworl5ing should be laid open 10 those Interested in pottery generally. The departments of the school cover tho whole range. preparation of the clay, form building, use of the potter's wheel, moulding the composition of glazes. both bright and dull and color; also instruc-f ton in overglaze decoration.
 The staff of teachers comprises such Binns, of the Royal Worchester works. England; MT. Marchal Fry of New York; Miss GastOn, of Columbia college, New York; Mrs. Whitmore, of Memphis, Tenn; Miss Wilmer of Topeka, Kans. Mrs Leonard, of New York. She was a Kentucky girl and is one of the most prominent and successful teachers of New York city. She has long been noted Tor her exquisite paste and jewel work and is now giving her attention to eeremaue. designs and broader forms of conVen- tionaf work She was for some years one of the editors of the Ceremic studio and her designs are much sought taltef
 Besides these well known artists whom MT. Binns has drawn about him at Al fred. many of the prominent artists in the country are members of the several classes and particularly delightful as the summer schol of ceramic art where lne leading china painters study the ereat- ing principles of decoration, whlch nave done away with the copyists Ihrousn MT Binns' work a. keener appreciation or the true principles of decoration mas been awakened, and he is easily one ol 'he leading pottery experts of the Wofld' A Birmingham artist who knows MT Binns personally, was speaking ol HIS busy life at Alfred:
 ..Professor Binns. who is of course ah Fpiscopalian officiated for us every sun dav in the dear little Gothic chapel those neaceful, inspiring services were appreciated by all, especially the mem hers of that church. MT Bnns also lec- fured on pottery two evenings in the week and on two evenings we enjoyed musle bv the band which played In the parh just below us. ,.o i
 Mrs Binns served tea anu eaNe l the studios on Thursday afternoons Wltn true English hospitality and often seemed to forget the day or else there were seV- eral Thursdays in her week.
 Tn snealSing of Alfred and the charm ing life there, she said
 Alfred Is a most picturesque village in western New York, 1900 feet above sea level, in a spur of the Alleghailies' ,nts s little town is unique. Not saloon eXlsts x.,ithin its boundaries and only neftramp baa appeared there in twenty years There Is not poor person to be seen nor a shabby house. Doors are never iochea nieht or day, the milk cans are placed on the doorsteps at night with the money in them and the first robbery has yet to occur. ,
 Tbe place was settled by seventh-day pay,t,sts who left Rhode Island on ac- count of persecution and found lhls op- scure but beautiful spot where they might keep the Jewish Sabbath in peace. If is truly modern Utopia and eharlh- ing summer resort, for mosquito IS an unknown quantity and flies are rare. Good board and rooms can be had TOT from s450 to $500 week
 "The chief attraction of the town IS tha Irriversty of Alfred, one of the oldest ,nstitntions of the state. dating from 1886 The campus is very beautiful with its kelI kept lawns and grand old trees Of every variety. the walks leading to the various buildings and halls are of con crete. The town. too. has paved sidewalks on all the streets extending to such dis tance that walking is always good In all kinds of weather.
 Many students and visitors to the sum me,. school of Ceramic art live in the ladies' hall of the university. The accom- modations there are good the rooms ,leasant and furnished with gas stoves, for many mornings and evenings are so coo, as to make a fire necessary The stu dio building Is across the campus rom the ladies' hall and there the students wended their way every morning at eight