The Washington times., 1913-10-05
BASKET WEAVING
CURES NERVOUSNESS
Mrs. Everett H. Corson Finds
Art of Handling Raffia Is
Mental Massage.
By EDITH LOBERT.
Here is a new cure for nervousness.


Here is new cure for nervousness.
1t is Woodworking baskets.
But to watch the skillful fingers of
Mrs. Everett II .Corson, 147S Clifton
street northwest, manipulate tie rafda
strands, one might conclude that 1t is
play.
Throw away your medicines and buy
a bunch of raffia,' is her prescription.
Il have found basketry the best cure
for nervousness" she declares. when
] first became interested in II / could
hardly sit still more than a few minutes
az a time. ! broke my needles impa-
tiently at first, but now-well, 1 know
OF nothing more soothing than the
fascinating art of the basket weaver.
One has to keep ones mind on it. or
the basket will go awry. That means
that ones troubles or worries take
flight Immediately, because the weaving
absorbs the complete attention. 1 have
even known women who were on the
verge of insanity to be benefited by It.
II differs from the usual fancy work
of womankind in this respect, that it
does not ir.jure the eyes. Embroidery.
lerocheting. or fine needlework all call
for close application. and in many
cases are ruinous to the eyes But the
hands and mind completely without
producing a strain upon either
Is Ideal Work. es.
II do my best work when alone. For
that reason / think IT is an ideal work
or pastime. whichever you wish to cali
it for people who are shut in or have
many lonely hours .
Mrs. Corson's home is filled with her
exquisite handiwork- From the big
lantern-shaped basket, which took the
leisure moments of two years to COM
plete, to the tiny pin trays, each dis.
plays skill equaled only by that of
the Indian women.
In fact. Mrs Corson. during her resi-
dence in the West, taught the native
own art. -.
I lived for time near the Indian
school at Phoenix, Ariz.." continued
Mrs. Corson. as she exhibited a large
plaque cf peculiar design.
hile was workings one day on this
basket l turned suddenly to discover
three Apache squaws. dressed in true
Indian fashion-beads and blankets.
Each had upon her head a large
wooden bowl filled with pottery for
l.
they grunted Ugh! Ugh!' and made
signs to each other White squaw
IIake much baskets they said In broken
English. and began to take the half
woven basket from my hands. / told
them No! MOI and they Immediately
stopped, and joining hands commenced
TO dance war dance around the bas-
Eet.
Fnghten by Squaws.
Il was frightened for a moment I
thought my basket had started them on
the warpath again, though 1 didn't
know exactly why.
But my fears were soon aIlayed
when they held it above their heads and
shouted aloud. Pale face make heap
big basket
While there ] was visited time and
time again by the various tribes. They
admitted that my figures were superior
10 theirs, and 1 often showed them how
To work up the designs accurately
Did you oHginally learn your art
from the Indians2' asked her
No. she replied. 1T would be very
a matter of fact my first basket was a
Hot Springs, Va, product. 1t was
small blue and white one, and needless
10 say one of the most highly priced
in my collection ~
"A friend of mine who was an adept
In the art taught me her secrets, and
! took II up at first more to relieve my
nerves than anything else
Some of my baskets have been made
under unusual conditions. My husband
ana l were in quarantine in Leesvillc
La, during the yellow fever epidemic in
Ise. We were completely isolated, as
there were no trains running in any di-
rection. After spending the summer in
Leesville. We finally obtained pern1is-
sion to leave. From there we went to
Waskon,. Tex. where we again under
went the ordeal of detention. Most of
the people were thrown together, high
and low. rich and poor.
Special Tent.
"As my husband was a Government
official, a special tent was provided for
us on a side Of the hill, with a special
food supply. 1t was under these trying
conditions that many of my baskets
have been made
The borderland of California pro.
duces Indians who make remarkable
baskets In New Mexico ana Arizona,
however, there are also found many
forms that interior decorators highly
prize. The art Of basketry is not orac-
uced to any great extent among the
Pueblo people, except by the Hopi. The
latter made both forms of basket, the
woven and the coiled. Some of the for
mer are used as sieyes or receptacles
a,
are not sought by collectors. They have
no instructive decorative value The Hopi
tribes employ basEetry I'm the making
of cradles for their papooses.
The Mariposan Indians of Tulace
county, California, produce the most
highly priced specimens, as much as
500 being, paid for a single gambling
tray.
so. you see. it is not only a sort of
mental massage but a profitable and
useful way of spending ones leisure
time.
Sanitariums are beginning to intro
duce basketry as A means of keeping
their convalescents busy.
Having experienced personally its
benefits, and having seen the results
of its practice In my friends, L would
say to my fly-to-pieces sisters, throw
away your medicines and buy bunch
Of rattle
You never saw a nervous Indian. did
you?" she continued.
Makeup That Requires