The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-03
Work John Noble, Kansas Artist,
Accepted by French.
"Middle West School Exhibit
Is Feature of Salon.
SHE HELPS THE BLIND
Daughter of SunfOwer State
Engaged in Great Work.
Hitchcock to Start Crusade
Against Obscene Matter.

Washington, May 3.-John Noble OF
Wichita, the we'll known artist, is con-
spicuously advertising the Sunf1ower
state over in the old continent by his
superb productions on display at the
twentieth .nnuaI salon of the Societe
Nationale des Beaux Arts at Paris.
The feature of the annual salon, ac-
cording to a cable advice received in
Washington, is the strong showing of
what Frenchmen call "the Middle West
school" of American painters.
Gable dispatches state that beyond
doubt first honors go to such well
known artists as John Noble of Wich
ita, Kan, and F. K. F'rieske of Michi
gan The two remarkable pictures of
Point Croix.'' painted by Mr Noble,
are the features of the sixth hall of the
salon.
Miss Grace Ravlin of Illinois, has
sought inspiration for her salon picture
at Concarneau; Julius Rolshaven of
Detroit has an admirable portrait of
young woman. Then there is Edward
Garnet of San Antonio, Tex. who has
had two pictures accepted for this
salon.
There are, of course, many sensa-
tional pictures, but critics. painters,
and art lovers are pretty well agreed
that the palm for real merit goes TO
this middle west school F'rieske has
four pictures, two of which are master
pieces. Other pictures that seem to be
ranked highest by connoisseurs are Mr..
Mobiles Point Croix'' and "COncarneau
In Rain"
Kansas Woman in Library.
Miss Eta Josselyn Giff1n, of Kansas,
niece of Jack Harris of Ottawa, Kan,
who is in charge of the room set aside
for the blind in the national library of
congress, has an Obliging manner and
her willingness to explain the objects
and aims of her department cause
visitors to realize that here in Wash
ington is to be found one of the most
philanthropic works in the country.
The room over which Miss Giffin pre-
sides as friend, librarian. and teach
er to and for the blind contains / 300
books, printed in raised letters, known
as Braille, New York points, line type.
and the Moon system. The doors are
open from 9 o'clock in the morning un-
til 4:30 O'Clock in the afternoon.
Miss Giff1n meets each blind person
at the entrance, takes him by the hand
and somehow he Immediately seems to
feel less lonely, less desolate. These
sightless people take great pride and
pleasure in their very own ROOM and
not only read the books, but copy many
of them, to be passed on to others.
As the seeing visitor enters the door
his attention is attracted by a glass
case filled with fancy work, such as
knitted hoods, slippers. purses, beaded
belts. etc, done entirely by the blind
This work is kept in the library simply
for inspection. There is a bureau Of
exchange for the blind, the crystallized
thought of Miss Giffin, at 112 East
Capitol street. near the Congressional
library. where articles like these from
all parts of the United States can be
bought over the door of this room is
written the word "Tif1iofiIo' (friend of
the blind). and as if to make the word
good. the lady who has charge here
gives her services free.
II is matter of rejoicing that many
of the nOn-seeinE class since coming
in contact with Miss Giffin and Mr.
Putnam. the librarian of congress-
have learned to earn their own living
In fact, teaching the blind the way to
independence is the chief thought of
the leaders in this department
Miss Giffin does much work outside
of the library routine without money
and without price. She answers let
ters from many parts of the world in
regard to her department and weekly
arrangeS for lectures, readings and
musicales for the blind These are
freely given by the best talent of the
country
In 1902 Miss Gifin attended the in
ternational congress on the blind at
Brussels. at Edinburgh in 1906 and
Manchester in 1908. She will also visit
Vienna and Brussels this year in the
interest of her chosen work.
Miss Giffin's appointment was OBJ
tanned in 1897 through the influence of
Cyrus Leland. then national commit
teeman for Kansas, and her uncle,
Jack Harris, defeated Republican
nominee for congress from the Second
Kansas district.
To Clean Out the Mails.
Postmaster General Hitchcock is de-
termined to break up the practice of
sending obscene matter through the
mails This method of convenience
mas been made use of particularly by
dealers in the large cities of the United |
states and certain European countries
10 have included within our future |
treaties with foreign countries provi- |
slons for the eXtradition of persons
guilty of using our mails to send OBJ |
scene matter. All sorts of secretive
schemes are resorted to by these deal |
ers TO reach the young people in the
remoteSt corners of this country Much |
mas been done lately by the postofice |
inspectors in the way of running down |
perpetrators and as a result the post
master general has ordered that a |
special effort be made to s+amp ont the |
practice absolutely.
sometime during the present month |
al al International conference will con-
Fene IN Paris to discuss the question Of |
suppressing the international traffic In |
obscene literature. With MANY of the
european nations. this country will he |
represented at the conference Mr.
Arthur Ballly-Blanchord. secretary of |
the American embassy at Paris. has
United States
The traffic as now carried on is mn
deniably harmful DarticularII- 70