Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-30

ly from the uncounted generations OF
lacemakers before them. The strong,
supple and delicately slender brown fin
gers are steady as iron. The clear dark
eyes are not tired by the intricate. tedi
Gus patterns which would mean utter
wreck of nerves and vision OF women
less patient and tranQuii-minded.
Lacemaking and embroidery were not
introduced by American teachers. but we're
brought 10 the islands centuries ago by
the Spaniards- According TO Medina's
History. neediecraft was taught in the
convent schools as early as 1880 and
Retana IN the early eighteenth century
wrote that ''the girls easily initiate the
laces and embroidery OF Europe" and
that they perform ''such work fairly
well In a little time"
The foundation being laid. it was an
opportunity quickly siesed by the Ameri-
can teachers. and while the instruction
under convent teaching necessarily was
restricted to a comparatively small num-
Der, Il IL the hope OF the instructors OF
these days that neediecraft speedily
shall become of universal knowledge
among Filipino women. Also IL is hoped
that through their aptness for embroidery
and iacemaking there may be opened up
for them a steadily remunerative occu-
patton.
The United states annually imports
from Europe s4Ooo0.0oo worth of en-
broidery upon which duties varying from
30 20 80 per cent are paid. AS laces and
enbroideries brought from the islands
would not be dutiable. the commercial
possibilities OF the neediework of tho
women instantly are evident. With this
idea In mind. graduates from the schools
are being sent into the remetest parts OF
the islands and very shortly the needle
work output from the Philippines will bs
enormous.
In the nurses training work also the
idea has been to provide the young
women with remunerative work. but the
beginnings In that line were In the face
of stubborn prejudice and opposition.
The natives were extremely suspicious
of doctors and hospitals. and II was quite
beyond comprehension that any young
woman of modesty and good taste should
be willing to undergo a nurses expert
ence. a.
A campaign OF enlightenment had 10
be carried on before IL Was possible to
establish nursing classes. But the read
lily adaptable Filipino. once convinced
that the finest of young women became
lightened people. speedily abandoned her
prejudice. The set Of the wind is now
as strongly In the opposite direction. and
the vocation Of trained nurse has 30
caught popular fancy that the number
OF applicants each year is far greater
than the capacity OF the training school.
In basketry and rug weaving another
profitable line has been opened for wom-
en-. and by rare good fortune IL happens
that the islands produce In lavish quaint
ties all of the required materials. ma
terfals which with their commercial
values unknown hitherto were permitted
to rot In tie jungies. Still another line
OF income Is from the preserving and
canning of fruits for commerce a line
which at once makes income bearing
previously wasted human energy as well
as q vast fortune in unused fruits.
SO summed up. the training OF the
young Filipino women means that when
che Americans came 20 teach them the
desire for a better method OF living. the
new and strangely benevolent condueror
showed them at the same time how the
desire might be gratified.