The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-02

| ers. Master Claire Menninger and DR.
and Mrs. Ernest.
The following excerpt from a New
York letter in n Kansas City paper
refers to a former Topeka girl who was
in the public library:
A Kansas woman who has found in
terror decoration as a profession for
women full of fascination is Miss
Lucene Nation. She has climbed to
the top of the ladder and she says there
is plenty of room there for others. Miss
Lucene NATION ten years ago was as
sistant librarian in the public library
at Topeka. Now she has a charming
studio in Gramercy Park and superin-
tends the furnishing of many wealthy
homes in and around New York, as
we'll undertaking similar commits
sions in distant cities
Miss NATION was a pupil of George
NJ Stone and George E. Hopkins in To-
peka, and her work invariably Received
fiattering attention at the local art ex-
hibitions
But it was always my idea, even
then, to apply my art in a decorative
way" she said. II was not satisfied
just to paint a picture to hang on the
wall 1t seemed infinitely better to me
to be able to treat a wall so that 1t
would have no need for pictures"
Miss MattOon's dream of coming to
New York to make a study of interior
decoration came true when she was Of
fered a position as manager of the Art
Workers club. This was something
tangible and helped to solve the finan-
cial problem without interfering with
her study. But the best way to learn
is the practical way, and it was not
long before she was really doing things
instead of reading about how they
ought to be done.
She was fortunate in being connected
with several successful decorators, and
was for several years with Mr.. Albert
Herter and Miss Alice Neale. While
with the Herter Looms she assisted in
the decoration of the E. H. Hartman
home at Arden and the John D. Rookie
felIer Jr., home at Pocantico Hills.
After nearly nine years of valuable ex-
perience she has proven herself quite
capable of walking alone, and a large
and wealthy clientage has given her a
conspicuous place on the list of artists
in her chosen branch. She works often
in collaboration with Albert Steiner, the
well known decorative painter, and the
furnishing Of a large clubhouse is one
of the important commissions which
they are soon to do together. Two
beautiful houses which she has lately
finished in Chicago are the Avery Coon
leys and the Russell Tyson's- Her
work even extends to Detroit and Ra-
cine Wis, and as far west as Portland |
Ore. Some of her most interesting |
work is shown in the bachelor apart |
ments furnished recently for some Of |
the younger Standard Oil men. Here |
an authentic Jacobean dining room is
an achievement of which she is very /
proud. for these old oak pieces are /
much more difficult to find than the
Miss Nation is a member of the |
Woman's Cosmopolitan club, to which |
only women belong who have risen
above mediocrity in art, music or lit
arature The club has luxurious quart
srs in the Gibson Studio building
Great opportunities for the girl of ar
tistic ability and taste lie in the field |
IF interior decoration. Miss Nation
thinks. A thorough art education is a
asset. but is by no means nee
essary Equipped with talent brains. a
of art knowledge, if she can
secure a place as apprentice to a work
ing decorator her way is clear. In New
York on every hand is a chance to
earn-in the public school lecture
course. in the libraries. in the art gall
cries. even in the shops-without
spending a lot of money. One of the
best art schools has course in ap-l
olied Observation-Disclosures you might caH
(which covers in three months the