Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-16
LEARNS SECRETS
: OF INDIAN ART
German Girl Now In Capital,
Is Authority on Subject /.
After Long Study. .

man girl, having completed her Studies
IN political economy at the Universities
Of Heidelberg, Hamburg, Berlin, Venice
and Paris, travelled p India for the
purpose Of studying the results Of mix
ing Oriental and Occidental politics IN
that land where the East and the West
meet.
Entering India student of political
science, she left student Of Indian
had carried her to the little town Of
Farrukhabad, on the Ganges, where for
many hundreds of years before the
Christian era weavers and artists have
combined their skill TO produce the col
orful hangings and cloths known t" the
Western world as Indian prints.
The young German girl, Ella Le I'D
ancient art of India and probably the
only Occidental person living who has
been permitted by the Sadhs of Far
rukhahad to see the mixing OF the colofs
used in the prints, as well as taught
the ancient arb Of blocking, has recently
arrived in Washington.
Miss Leidhauser came to the United
States to continue her studies OF polit.
zeal science at Columbia University, but
her knowledge Of Indian art, hand.
blocking in particular, has aroused
much interest among art students and
merchants. Speaking English fiuently,
the young woman has been able to bring
to the United States hitherto unknown
facts pertaining TO the fantastic
''prints" which of late have become so
popular among the housekeepers and
home decorators OF the country.
Lived Among Natives.
Miss Leidhauser acquired her knowl-
edge by living among the natives OF
FaFTukhabad, where, through much
tact, by studying their traditions and
strictly observing certain customs in
respect for their religion, she gained the
coincidence of the Sadhs, the conserva-
tive group, who possessed the exclusive
knowledge and right to manufacture the
ancient prints.
IT FIRST studied the Indian legends
and religious teachings" said Miss Leiu@
fauser, "and learned the signlficanc- Of
the designs used on the prints. Every
tree, every flower and every picture
found among these colorful prints has
some special significance. Many Of the
Sadhs themselves no longer knew the
origin Of the designs they were using.
Fer many years French, German, Eng
iish and Japanese designs had become
interviewer with the Indian. studied
the pure Indian designs, some Originate
ing hundreds of years ago. taught
the men who made the prints the sig
nificMnce of their motifs This pleased
them greatly, and as D consequence the
Indian prints are now made with
strictly Indian designs"
Ate No Meat in India.
MISS 'Leidhauser said that during
her entire residence in India she ate
no meat, nor would she kid mosquito
or q ny in the presence of the natives.
AN meat eaters are unclean in the
eyes Of the Hindoos," she explained.
"And 1t is their belief that even q mos
quito has o soul. Therefore, II you
should kill q mosquito, you would be
murderer In their eyes,"
Few Americans who proudly display
the paisley" shawls worn by their
gfanoEnothers know that the paisley
pattern is D perfect reproduction of the
Indian Leaf Of the Jungle, the .Kheri."
design in Indian prints, Is rich in ma
tive lore. Miss Ieidhauser explained, and
many Of the folk tales Of India have
sprung from its branches.
"The hrilliance of the Indian colors, !"
she sal !, cannot be reproduced IN any
other part OF the world. The water Of
the Ganges has certain chemicals
which, when mixed with the chemicals
Of the dyes, produces the most brilliant
and beautiful colors.. The Hindoos be-
neve that the soul OF Bfahrna is in the
waters of the Ganges and gives 70 the
colors their indispensable bFilliance.
Brings Blocks to Capital.
Miss Leidhauser has brought several
Of her Indian blocks to washington to
demonstrate the methods employed In
their use
1T IS impossible to bring the Indian
paints" she said. 1T takes three weeks
TO prepare and mix the dyes in India,
and they are only good for "a hours
after mixing"
The long process Of making Indian
prints, which, in addition to the COM
plieated and secret method Of making
the dyes, comprises the use of many
sets of specially cut blocks, Is completed
by submerging the finished article for
several days in the waters Of the
Oanges. After that they are left TO
dry In the torrid, blazing sun on the
while stretched out Oh the river
banks" continued Miss Leidhausef,
'they are thoroughly moistened with
BtAnfna's sacred waters and left in the
night air to dry. This Is done to OBJ
tain certain effects In the colofs. These
methods, though seemingly crude, have
proven successful and inimitable in
creating the most expressive cOiUfs
known from the dawn Of the ages TO
the present day"
Miss Leidhauser viii remain at the
Mayflower a few days before returning
to New York, from which city she plans
TO leave for India the early part Of
December to resume her studies Of the
legends of India as associated with the
rapidly reviving art Of Indian print de-
~Rn-