The San Francisco call. [volume], February 24, 1907, Page 9, Image 9

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA

                
ROSE L. ELLERBE
liT '.IS - ha.r,d :us 'to Realize. ? as .wej .
read ' the newspaper, 'a^copn.ts,- of. up- \u0084
risings,' assassinations,
, and 1 anarchists, i that^the igreat VbodyK
of 5 the \u25a0Russian**people,7- the peasantry/ , '
are fgolng'on;quietly*'with3the ? business y
of, their, lives .and-, are iJbut. 4 little' cpn-"v
cefned fi in "pqlitical- 'affairs. V,
peasants^ are ! \u25a0_ en grossed r'.with' 1 the % one' &
great' demand oIA nature^fqod" enough
tor keep.; life s in 'their- 1 bodies—^theyi have":'
no time f6r"public v questioris,*'for public ;'.
action — -unless -life -itself *le'«ln s danger. %
As yet, ' Russia isanagriculturarna-V
tion. Eighty' per ! cent rotr'thef tfbpula- .
tion« exists- by .-'tilling* the', soil ; .but: the :
long,; cold \u25a0.seasons,; wh'en 'all-; farming-,
operations^ % mu«t- cease,' /'necessitate ,/
some other* employment; for- thie; farmer
than, farming, since "ho -cannot possibly \u25a0;
ma.k^ 1 'enohigh^outj*pf /* the *small* .; allot- '; .j
merits of ib>% the peas T t
ants ' to ;; supply^ liis^" family/'Hlfe' \u25a0 yeir f
round.- . Aid::thu9^the'';peasant*..farm-
ers \u25a0 are >also v workers^at 1 * niamy* crafts I
abd: aVts^'and* wh'atViSvknQw'n",'as'^"th'e '"
cottage • industries'*' are«tho ''\u25a0 most* impor-. ' .
tanfmanuf acturlng interests ? of ! Russia. |
Wopklngr.wlih ;*crude"- tools i and •simple £
appliances, ': in \u25a0\u25a0'\u25a0 -their-? own •homes 'or * \n,:~
village i'workshbps.^thely peasants'^ turn^
out> woodwork tot-*'* every
from . the^tlnlest | figure \u25a0' wJJt.tfed :'iout*^
wlth'tttkhife-; to*. a« sleigh, or /anielabo- '?
rately .caryed^piece of ;f brnlture/T I ; Toys,^*
most 1 Ingenious I In '• ldea^aiid'Jcqnstr uc- .-;
tton; : wooden* spoons, *.d,ecorated *>,wlth
quaint designs, , and .many"; other, things v
sire - made.-; i They*. make'/Jacquer^ work • .
In some parts of Russia andtin/Moscow£_
Is a! factory established '\u25a0 by.r a-. peasant**
who 4 had ' discovered *a'f prbcessf^kepf; a *\u25a0.
profound secret— for 'inaklnsf(alaequer -
1 which 4 Is * exceedingly. >beautif ul:> Many '• !\u25a0
* of i the' articles^turned'iout X by./.this ' fac7.i -^
i tory ; are* decorated :s ;by,*artlstsVand>are< J
-ca.meo : llke* in'? their ?brilliaricy;'9,ndrfln7 '?\u25a0":
4sh. \ ; In, "'other fdistricis^irdn* :an'd -brass ,\ \u25a0
'Js ; worked. !4 The 'belief br?whicti < Russia* \u25a0
I is ' famous, \padlocksU' kettles^' samo'vars,V>/
' chandeliers, * 5 candlesticks' 1 "^ and '. ; "mariy^v
t other I things, *areV designed '•% arid y' msude" r >,
-by /• hand 1 1n >.th«se.- homo /-.factories: -, ; . ln> :
: several ' districts <the'. il'rihabrtants" -ar,e> /
mostly. 'Moslems,^ and the > sio"slems>are i ;
•workers* in failver.<f : . They, turns out^but- 1'
. tons, ibuckles an'd -th^ ,'ornam'ents iwhlch '•»\u25a0;
are *-worn v ": by \ their* women; ;~;
j wrought. Vby."ihaiid;: ; and" /showlng-j tlieVi
: touch" of ; Oriental^art 'in' their ?de'signE. ? y
The''making. f of.Aicpns,ior ; the I ';;fellgibus': < ;
(Pictures .whicirarol found Jin- dve'ry^home >,
.and?, church,*; Is;' aribther;,brancli'i ; o.f^ In- -j
• dustryi that f * occupies ' many - nicn '^arid 'S
.-wpnien.'ol'iv u\X^V<^i J.. s^'.i «-->."*^vjaC*-"* : v
•\u25a0'\u25a0 \u25a0 But ithejmen 'areJnpt.thV'pnlyVworJicrs "
lln <tho ; ; TheS women -' of -'Russiavf 1
tmakejannually;ajlarire;-output ! > of:iaces, v ?
.7drawnwbi\k,;, embroideries, VjHn'elis OV and V
vhomespun j cl oths. ?,Th e J laceniakl in g v ;in.-i*'
Jdu^try.'has-bcen^greatlj', fostered ;bfJlafo,*^
years »by the <schools;bpeiied by the Gov- >.?
I ing tthe i lace>vworkers?? supplyin g> them §|
\u25a0. > wlth i patternslandtlmplementsiand?.'vidr:^ :
•in^g> them? In ;'dlspqsing>ofv their )waroß.t
. The k hava ->done much J- to v in
-.creaseiJi'ttteXquaiitity ~iahd I' 'imp 'rove *Uh*o p
quality of; the workidonejbytthe peasant^',
k ',w*omen /" vTTli e se\wame h are \ nb'wi rijaklh g ~fy
\;mbßtijelatforate"^Mdl4be^Uf.uliftlaces-*-'^;
\u2666valenci^nnes/ipolnt^de'Venise.H Flemish;' t
v .:irlsh v p'blnt,'andfso>on,*asSwellias\their|.
' own which V-arß^;
, mostibeautltulj and ioriglnal^inYdesigri.*^
also Jmake imost exquisite': drawn"- 1»
dottis, andj^owelst-r-wlrlchlt wouSfi tie V
a" desecration { to '. use | as s to wels— -altar- S
pieces "« and W'.many < other .•>\u25a0\u25a0: Maiags.^-'. Into "
their; lacesiandrdrawriworlr- they r often V
TYeave-^colojed -threads; 'dyed'-jin]- their/; ,
id.wn^eg^tabieydyeß,>jwlalch; never* fade.^*.
iThelr.': r hbrteap"un^4^. ens^ r ?Ssbme^bf .V- 1
; them; as ;' ; fine ias/a"n'y^lirien;Vmanufac-^^
tured, 'and 'are 'much'- mofe- durable^thaii ;)
I ordinary! linens.^ Many- pieces^ of i their H
work sirepresenf r *,weeks ;' and < of
-painstaking -labor/ as well as'inuch var-":v ar-":
j tistic'ri nstincf • and. skill" ' i 7'i 7 ' { vS' - \ *$?.
•r,-(ln^ one* ii district rthe 'women t. weave a "•'
*c|ptlv ? l^6wri?as : -''plachtai" r 'frbm";cdarse, s> _
..Wool'arid^9o'ttbn.^,The"patterns are*elab-"2
i6rate.'an"dibrllliant s in;col6rlngi-and ! the\u0094
.goods, ; used" bruits? makers -as: a /skirtrv
\u25a0or .'petticoat^ theVonly,*^ ' : garment>worn, : '.
niakes;an"ii<lcal-fabric^f or* draperies, v.t:;
-*\u25a0 "j. The/ wages^earned by.these "kuslarl, 1 / -.
.or - homework*crs,*-:"are:% pitif ullyi«- : small ':*.
!men 1 is ? almost/
, unbclieVable^amoun tinpVP.it. p: is itestl^
; , mated; I tol aii ; 'avef a"p;e",of > n.btjrriqre '-than f
'\u25a0iO cents: :porVdayi'irrThe*ohiof market- for*,
'their f wares Ihas^beeiv'ith^fpeddlerwtorj
i.middieroao'^fWhbii travels i"ithrpug'lr*itlie'l«
.''cpuntry.^stopiping-iinteach-i village,-' and;^
• purchasing /the ..for j almost in Qth"^.V
|ingaf-Theß«smen^andswomen j in"H turn f
'sell r :thej.WQ^k^p.;tbeXmerch"ant6;
<ehor'mousrlftdvan£e; overAtheVpricesf paid -^
; the7(wbrkefs;i^andj > the^mQrchanfs,^of^
, tcburse,? reap A a/?, rich < harvestCf roma'the 1 .\u25a0*
:- pro'duct^of : peasant? woman's Jtoll^f
•^TheY^ciraols*. and ;Hh<| league., twblohn
\u25a0 are :istrivlngrto&better,« the ;.- conditional
•of .the "j lace '' workers, ! 7«Ha.ve .'
'to -'assist Sin^ marketings thevlaces," buti
iwithV Indifferent; success.;., \>.The Tdemand?
? in>Russla^.was" ¥ supplledj. and •; the £ work
:"\u25a0'., rv ''\u25a0'.'''\u25a0'^'V''.-'. .7- \u25a0'\u25a0\u25a0'\u25a0\u25a0.:.:\u25a0\u25a0* .'•\u25a0'\u25a0y'it -i/.''A'*!'
HOW CALIFORNIA
WOMEN ARE HELPING
THE PEASANT
LACE = MAKERS
OF RUSSIA
"was : almost *- unknown ._- In »' other \u25a0 • coun- T
: tries.".y -. .-"--;; : ';.^,-v/-C'f \u25a0."''.;• :y' i •"? \u25a0\u25a0 \ "[• 'r'*
'\:i .'lt;, remained!? for,- a _ noblewoman, 'nowj
residing In California, to f urnish-a 1 prac- ,
the'', problem and; find.,'
; r a inew^niarket 'jfor^tbei... 'needlework of *-
I the ; Russian 1 ; peasant -.women; Madame . .
t,yerra"KalematiahoTdeXßlumenthal. had a
-been lhterested"ln: trie -efforts :.to;aid, the*"
hace ;»! makers JV.bef ore^leaving *, Russia.* •
* Inf this '.-country "'-her I heart i wasVatill ";'
•.'With '*'• '.'. her.T" ;sufCerihg. s£l country women. '
•Whlle^livingJJri.. Chicago, -"she"- talked ;
; with': Prof essof.jVlllukoffvof her" wish.',to
'"h'el^jin^tiye/Vwork *:an<3, 'as ; a "result -of
'-\u25a0thls^'cohVersatlpri,'. a ;'pt.
\u25a0'laces j;was"s*entJ'tb"J.li'er. T ' She-ex hibited \u25a0
these *to s the; ; little/ l 'coterie "jqfK-frieridsV
"i wh'oniishet had fathered' about Jier/jThe?
-hdmesVof ; : , 'society ; Van"d"^-phUanthropljD."; :
\u25a0fwqmenfwereithr6wn" t .op^nj to; her.- the' :
I needlework iwas *exlilblted*and (Madame I
•i'de^Blumcnthal^tofdyMn^her-ownjpic- :
"tilre.squfe^wa^/^the^story/pf^the VBusf;"
»slahf : peasant laces i were*
vs6ld.:attprlces-far.fbe|owv s6ld.:attprlces-far.fbe|ow ;any:'ever*ber*
;\fprelpaid"fort'^real^race'.'^inithi3, coun-rl
'itry;-but%which^netted •the; lace - makers^
Imore than %' they^hadl'ever;' before) re- <
their/wbrk.'-* More*;> goods*
Hwere -atfojice*serit":t6 ? .Mada"me; da jßlut;"'
7 i merithal.lj and |'f or l the * past t three I years \u25a0;\u25a0
h she *has vgiven^herSelf-'Theart ?and - soul -
to *Fthe *" dlsposaTfof \ the; handiwork ** of J
'ih"erVcduritr3riffbm«n^;frShe^*BbonH" found*
3 that \ ahe £ couldj- not 3 meet gthe demand i
Jalone:"-? Ladles various •[citleß^ Vwho".
? the :S workers.v: assisted* • hereby/. Belling
*tbTe ? laces In V thelr^own^ homes i and^to;
r?.th>iri-j f rlendaJ.i'SUpori"! her"' removal rr to ',
; Vftsh«*"saf ousedv^ the ;
thetcauseiso ?dear \t6;
Jher.'Slecturlns'/.beforeimany- clubs: and;
finflln gr* m*ny i homes ". drown *• open * tm
her, exhibit*. '. •• -(' r ; \u25a0 . ~ ; ;"v'v iV
- The goods I are consigned to h«r ti«a .
: the f various * schools Sunder 'tin* pairoa- 1
age of 'Russian* noblewoman. She pay* .
the •\u25a0'\u25a0• duty •: ' upon • . them ' and .' distributss
them;; /When, the igoo'ds.'are'sold \s2xe ">.
'reml ts* the *proceeds to> the patroness of r
the school and", it^is' distributed Oir+aQT;'\u25a0
-to *the^ workers; -j-"Thronglr^th« t«fflo»t« :\u25a0
I of 'Madame- de,Blumenthal-inf this cona- .
\u25a0 try ? the^ prices paid" to ; the : - lao* maJcerm ;
•have^increased -40^per.cent. 5 ;.'. H«r work
is h recognized'- by W ths ladles ''-.of ; th« ;
league^ : in"iRussIa a as i of^.tlxs v «r««test -
•value/ and ; some - of I them E hiv«} adopted. \
:her. j methods "land J.thrown their/ owa^;
homes "open f for -exhibitions ; and; ssl«s'
[ of I the;needleW6rk of the peasant wpia
e n— 50 me tlii n g f hitherto i- tmknoiTn* I la ;
that - country, i, Her services -nave :
• been o(3cially:re*cd t gnlzed,by. the'wnartrsj ?
' of I tne;d Istrig t /of y Rtazan, -trom s whlo^ •\u25a0
'manyv'of .lier -consignments coma, - aa4 •
, they ' have"'; sent^herf a ; formally ! : drawn ;
• letterjof; thanks if or ; her, aaslstanoe.-,Tb«.
1 peasant- .women^ have jappreciated *,h#T..
\u25a0'efforts, to' show^ their rgratftad*
prepared for * her.^ a i beautiful r pleo«; of
. ' point * de "..Moscow,^ th,e } work ; of i nearly
; thlrty;women,iwhlch*>was,Vent'to'.h«» as .
h*% i &x'S*e-^£ i^&*fi -\u25a0\u25a0 '\u25a0 : -- ; \u25a0\u25a0
' **. It 1 is. probable .that in '^th*; tutors .most
toll the iha'nd^made j lace . soldi in ' Axaorlc*
i will' come -from VRussia^ for; In ;that ' sor-> \u25a0
;' irqwCul . land^tuUvand^f brsxaaayiyeax*
\u25a0* to 2 come,5 must"? exist \ •\u25a0 the ; , conditions ;
1 which !mak*e* hand i craf ts j possible.- Thus "
.: Madame Z&&>i BlumenthaTi >J h'ope^ oi "• a
constantly, increasing - patronage -.and ; a" \u25a0
comme r cially ' established market, which *
:' shall 5 pay^the \workers 2*1 fair^ price • f or .•
their ,labor. V« is "} no t J* unreasonable r and
,'xaayrwell^become' an assured, fact." •