Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-03-25

ject and through his efforts grea'
strides have been made in artistic dye
ing in recent years.
This art deals with color purely as
color and unrelated to form, and Is
fascinating. for thus considered each
color becomes as a note in music and
is capable of being woven into endless
harmonies or if unskillfully combined
of forming clashing discords. Mr.. Pei
lew has not only shown the possibilities
of using color beautifully, but has
demonstrated the fact that for certain
purposes varied tones are more eff
fective than flat tints. He has, fur,
thermore, not only made and com bined
colors scientifically and artisticaliy,
but has adapted them suitably for diff
ferent materials and uses.
Nor is this all. By tying the fabric
to be dyed after the manner of the
primitive peoples he has introduced the
art of design into his dyeing. And 60
Ing step further by means of what is
known as batik work, he has shown
how the art dyer may introduce free
artistic expression into the design of
his dyed stuffs.
These are not discoveries, nor are
they methods practiced alone by Mr..
Peilew and those he has instructed.
Long ago they were known to the orr
Gently have they been employed here.
The Hindoos do extraordinary work
by the tied method, thus by means
OF innumerable little knots eXecut
ing most elaborate patterns in dyed
materials. The same is true of
the Japanese, while among the ma
tives of East Africa the art. though
in clumsier form, is known and
practiced. When the design is fine
the effect is somewhat the same as of
a hrtr oh ha
obtained by this method that cannot be
obtained mechanically.
The batik work is of quite a different
sort. In this the design is painted upon
the fabric with fluid wax. the surface
Is chilled and as a rule slightly
cracked. then the fabric is dipped into
the dye, the wax is removed and the
design stands out in white against the
colored background. The charm is in
the freedom of expression. the tiny
outlines sufficiently definite and yet
not absolutely clear cut. 1t is wonder
full what interesting effects can be
obtained through this medium. Obvi-
ously 1t is one which differentiates
strongly between hand work and the
work of a machine and in a way which
is entirely legitimate. for to the ma
chine we must look to supply the chief
demand that is material in quantity.
whereas to the artist and to the in
ultluudI we SIloulu lufIl loI WI N VI a
more personal character. a finer quality
and a more precious sort.
Into the mysteries of all these kinds
of dyeing Mr.. Pellew has recently mi.
tiated the students of the Handicraft
School, exhibiting for their benefit not
merely recent work, but excellent ex-
amples of work done long ago In
foreign lands.
1t is interesting to find to what
extent the handicrafts are now being
taught In institutions in this country
for the benefit of those who are in
some way or other handicapped either
by i'll health or other physical in
flrmitfes. One of the largest hospitals
in Massachusetts, conducts handicraf,
shop for the benefit Of its patients, the
doctors having come to the reallzatlor
of the fact that "a patient at work Is
a patient half cured" Not only has
the health of the patient been bene'
hted, but so excellent has been thu
work turned out that his earnings have
amounted to as much as 81 a day;
The New Jersey state sanitariu nl
earnings Of which last year amounted
to over $1,000.
These are but two instances OF many
It is a splendid thing that those whe
would otherwise be objects OF charlt!
are through this means enabled to ale
in their own support and to ada
through their efforts, to the mum pei
Of well made artistic articles OF utlllt5
in common use among our people.
It is as craftsmen that many OF oul
foreign immigrants come to this coun
try 'sbearing gifts" and it is in thl:
particular field that our nation up tt
the present time has been extraor'
dinarily wasteful. We have in meas
ure recognized the necessity of educat'
ing the immigrant in our ways, bu
we have given little thought toware
the possibility of learning from MIN
The fact is that many of the foreign
peoples who come to our shore nave
a heritage in art that we cannot boas
and a skill in craftsmanship when ma:
been handed down from generation u
generation, and yet almost nothing ha:
been done SO far to conserve this ar
and to continue these traditions.
Within recent years there has beer
some effort in this direction. In New
York a school of Italian lace maker:
has been established; in Calumet, Mich.
under the guidance of far-seeing
capable American woman. the wives Of
the miners have been encouraged tt
return TO lace-Tld n IilS anu nave ucei
and are today producing beautiful
work. work which is in constant de
mand At an exhibition recently helt
in Philadelphia work was shown from
a settlement house in Boston by
Italians, Syrians, Greeks and Ar
menians, in silver, leather. linen ant
silk, all of a high order of artistic ex
cellence.
But these instances merely go t.
show the possibility in this direction
and what a big. rich field it is tina
has been neglected.
A noteworthy exhibition has recently
been shown in New York city of 9
series of ffty-one Autographs of mu
milton works in Great Britain, by 10.
seph Pennell. These Autographs were
made with the permission of the Brit
ish government, nd are now being
shown under government auspices II
all parts of the British isles. The Sc
ries was first exhibited in the Guilc
Hall in London under the patronage o.
the lord mayor. and was there viewed
by more than 5000 persons.
Mr. Pennell has been invited by the
French government to go to France
and make a similar series of drawings
of munition factories in France.
The British series shows work in the
iron and coal mines. great furnaces
the machine shops, shell factories. the
$500 46Ar> III