The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1908-07-24

To rug, table cover or curtain on
which the maker has expended his ideas and per
sonality is pleasure quite distinct from gazing
al machIe-made article which can be dup-
Gated in any of a dozen stores. And the fas-
cination of fashionng things with the hands
pecially essentials of the household articles
that add refining touch to a commonplace ser
vice, has led many to abandon china
painting and fancy work for the more active work
of the loom.
Though there many amateurs in Massachu-
sets who make no attempt to market their wares
a good many have found weaving an attractive
commercial proposition. Many of these have
rolled themselves in the Arts and Crafts
citation. For them, rag carpet weaving provides
the most direct method of securing remunera-
ton for their work. Rugs of this sort always
in demand. and there is ample for the
ercfse of taste in developing simple patterns and
III the variation Of colors.
Most of the rugs with grayish back
ground For the piazza and the summer home
there are lighter patterns. soft blends which will
absorb the sunshine or brighten up the tedium of
a d1izzly day. For these it is necessary to use
white new rags in the warp and alternating cords
Of pink blue
The simplicity of these floor coverings affects
with strange sense of relief which may be
ine1plicabe at first 1t is the of contrast
with Intricate machine made designs which are
often confusing as the rattle Of the steel ten
tacled machines that made them
Some of these rugs are made in Boston, but
most Of them come from outside towns Deer
field, Marblehead. bingham and Lynn are regular
stations OF supply. In Central square. Cambridge.
the Massachusetts commission for the blind has
an established factory where men weave rugs.
In 1904 the experiment of blind
first tried. They have proved in less than four
years that their work rank with that done by
anyone Without prejudice, buyers agreed
to this and in many they insist that the
work is not only good. but superior Of
the rugs are made under the supervision of see
ing people, who select colors and distribute the
materials.
An expert supervisor with the of his eyes
first teaches the mechanism to the blind pupil,
who memories everything by numerical sys-
tenn After he has mastered all the movements,
he soon can acquire the technicalites of pattern
weaving.
By numerical system" is meant the numbering
Of each thread as well as the arrangement of the
materials the oom so that once the position
is memorized no sight aid is required to locate
any color. From trianges and circles progress is
made to the intricate patterns For some
Of these raised proof of the design is hung above
the LOOM BY touching it with the fingers the
pattern is reproduced on the cloth.
The proficiency shown by the sightless weavers
has eliminated the question of their ability to
execute the work The question remains: Where
shall they market their wares?
This problem is solving itself, for the number
OF people who buy hand wrought articles is rapid
ly increasing. When Charles F. Campbell SUI
perintendent of the industrial department of the
Massachusetts commission for the blind
asked where the department disposed of their
output he turned up the label of the package he
was tying 1t was addressed to Detroit, Mich.
We have shipped stuff to Duluth and San Fran
CISCO" he added; 80 you the folks out west
aren't going to be distanced in this new twist