El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-11-29
AMID ORIENTAL SURROUNDINGS, WHICH ADD
REALISM, Ell PASO CLUB WOMEN HEAR TALKS
ON CHINA AND ITS ANCIENT AND MODERN ART

? TITLE Chang san and his brother
Kip Ling sat unconsciously
~ serene on tufted cushions be
fore wisteria-trelHsed fretwork
screens and blossom covered arbors.
TO create atmospheric witchery OF
the Orient for Wednesday afternoons
arogram on Chinese art, at the Won
ans club. which was one Of the most
ttractlve OF all the entertainments
thus far presented To add 10 the
setting" Mrs Robert Harvey. Mrs
o.. P. Brown, Mrs. George Haley, Mrs.
Harry Ponsford and Mrs. ". r
HrOwn-an in gorgeous embroidered
imonas-became Geisha girls for
aLrs A. " LOOMS Of the exchange.
nd served tea from clinking china:
while Mrs. D. V Fennessy, in a gold
and black Chinese robe. had charge
u an exhibit OF Chinese potteries
nd embrOideries, held in connection.
The opening number revealed much
that was IN store when Miss karma
Deane, in native Chinese attire Ca
rich red satin Crousers-mandarin
COstumel did an original dance ITO
Wisteria' with captivating nuance-
AIRS. Stanley Bevan. always a YER
saJile, charming speaker, whether
her subject be art, legend or war,
told an absOrbingly interesting tale
OF this, one Of the Oldest civilizations
on earth, taking her hearers down
the Canton streets not wider than
so many lanes, IN sedan Curtained
chairs where one meets the ivory
and wood cutters whose fOrefathers
sat there and sold their wares an
eternity OF years ago (wOod enErav-
ing dates back to the 9Th century,
On down in search OF the art booths.
To the Chinese. Mrs. BeTan accredited
carrying their art 20 the highest
degree and perfection Of beauty
Their output OF embroidery was the
result OF uecessiLy-the binding Of
the feet OF the women made the lat
ter almost cripples, and they had TO
pass the Ours-eu7broidering served
Toman's purpose The Chinese
chose their subjects from nature
the sky, land, trees. the sea. rain,
and tradition; dragons. stOrks in
flight. Chrysanthemums that live, so
perfect in their beauty, butterflies
these were and are their favorite
decorations. They love to work on
white, and never make the mistake
OF putting two flowers or objects in !
che same shape or position. In the
booths OF Canton may be found old
vases dated from the middle ages. 3
pOrcelains that have been handed 4
down generations
Ceramic art and the beginning Of
porcelain dates to % 3. c., and there E
such as libation jars, funeral yes I
sells, etc. dating the 18th century be I
fore Christ At the beginning Of the I,
Christian era is marked the begin ]
ming OF porcslains, as soon as the .
Chinese OutSLripped every nation n !
the industry OF pottery This repu- 4
JatiOn they held until the tenth cen
fury, during which time ssmiporce- /
lain was discovered. (Englaud gave
the porcelain name china, honoring 3
the land OF its discovery "The be-
ginning Of porcelain was accidental"
said Mrs. Bevan- They were hunt
ing for substitute for jade which .
IS held highly, and stumbled uDon
porcelain, just as they did fire
cracked powder, the compass. etc"
she traced the decline, and the re-
viyal which has been noted during .
the past % years. In the making OF
porcelains, the firing or baking is q /
delicate, particular part, and the .
furnace is sometimes kept going for I
several days before the kiln is the .
right degree OF temperature. Granite /
stone, flint, china stone and color /
ing matter are the substances that ]