Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-27
AN ADAMLESS EDEN.
Art Students Join Sisterhood for
Three Years.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, July 27.-Fifty pretty girls, all
Of whom admit that they are as fond of the
attentions Of young men as girls usually
are, yesterday announced that they had
taken vow Of spinsterhood for three
years-for arts sake.
1t Is their knowledge Of their own weak
ness that has caused them to Danish men
from their presence and thoughts and es-
tablish an Adamless Eden, where for three
years art will be their only sweetheart.
Backing the girls in their unique project
are three wealthy women, one Of whom, 1t
Is said, Is Mrs. H. H. Rogers, wife Of the
Standard Oil magnate.
All the girls are art students or full
fledged artists with their living to make
by pencil brush. Many are attendants
at Cooper Union School and have attracted
the attention Of the TEACHERS by their tai
ent.
Recently the girls began to find it diff
cult to pose as the object of some young
mans alteration and be a successful artist
at the same time. 1t was hard to spend
hours at an easel in q hot studio when
there was an outstanding invitation for an
automobile ride. They confided their diff
Guilty in the struggle between Art with
big "a" and Heart with beg III" to some
of their wealthy woman friends with the
result that the women offered to prepare
q perfect paradise for the girl students If
for three years they would agree to forget
man and devote their time to art.
Miss Elizabeth Curtis, with a studio at
226 9th avenue, has been elected president
Of the new organization, and the other off,
GERS are; Miss Bertha Stewart of 2O5 West
1880 street. eeoretaryi Miss Martha Story
Of 80 Euclid avenue. Hackensack, financial
secretary; Miss Eleanor Townsend OF II
sickles avenue. New Rochelle. treasurer.
and Miss Elsa Eakans Of New York and
Miss Ethel Russell Of Fletbush directors.
For the benefit Of the fifty girls of the
organization. the wealthy women interested
have secured two-acre property on Long
Island sound at Northport Manor, known
as The Glades. This will be fitted up by
October with studios and recreation
grounds for the girls, but men will be
absolutely barred, except upon the after
noon of the second Saturday of each month.
Miss Curtis, the president, Is a petite
wnsome girl, who has MADE decided hit
| with her paintings of children. When
seen In her studio yesterday she said:
I'VE are not going to try to live without
men because we do not like men. The girls
| interested in the project are all sincere in
it is Just impossible to mix earnest study
| with young men, SO for a while we are
going to bar the men.
| 80 many of the girls who take up the
| study of art do it simply as a side issue.
| They have no thought of ever earning their
| living by their brush, but simply wish to
| be able to say that they have some accom-
| plishments. They think art is fashionable
Their example is a drawback to real stu
| dents.
| ITO advance in our profession it Is nee
| essary to devote ones self wholly to 1t.
! know we all enjoy the society of the other
| sex, but we are going into our new plan
| with our eyes open"
| One rule Of the new association declares
| that the time. energy and application
! wasted in the case of a silly and fruitless
| filtration would, If diverted into the chan
| mel of study have beneficial effect upor
the professional advancement Of the cir
| student.
| Another rule declares that If the mem
! beers of the association in their leisure
| hours ignore the object of the colony they
| will be liable to suspension.