Art and Handcraft in the Woman's Building
of the World's Columbian Exposition

IN THE WOMAN’S BUILDING. 141 The responses that came to me in return were many and earnest. Few States in the Union failed to appoint advisory com- mittees and pass upon the applicants desirous of availing them- selves of this opportunity of being heard in the Woman’s Building. Many of these States followed the example set by Minnesota and awarded diplomas—in one instance a gold medal—to the successful candidates. The next step for the candidates, after passing the State exami- nation, is to appear before the expert jury in Chicago, appointed by Mr. Thomas. This jury congratulates itself upon calling Mr. Mees of the Exposition orchestra its chairman, while the other members are the well-known musicians, Mrs. Clarence Eddy, Mrs. Bloomfeld Zeisler, and Mr. Burritt. Owing to the unavoidable delays attendant upon such matters, the first examination by the final jury will not take place until June the 13th, the first concert on June the 15th. If the “médaille d’honneur ” to be awarded each successful candidate by Mr. Thomas’ expert jury and the National Committee on Music, of which I have the honor to be chairman, prove a stepping-stone toward a larger sphere of usefulness, or ä possible means of assist- ing women in the honorable struggle for independence, I shall feel that my work has been blessed beyond my deepest hopes. I can not close this brief statement without expressing my sincere appreciation of the interest taken in this work by Mrs. Palmer, to whom I am deeply indebted, as are so many other women, for support and encouragement. My sincere thanks are also due to Mr. George H. Wilson of the Bureau of Music for his unfailing courtesies; and also to Mrs. Theodore Thomas, Mrs. George B. Carpenter, and Mrs. Edward Barbour for similar kind- nesses. Lena Burton Clarke.