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

IN THE WOMAN’S BUILDING. 197 Woman’s Building of specimens of work done in various philan- thropic institutions, together with a, number of models, sketches, photographs, maps, and some seventy printed volumes of reports, etc. All the examples of work exhibited—though in some instances of comparatively small value—possess a history. Taken in associa- tion with the written report presented to the exhibition., they tell many a story of how single individuals setting to work with heart and mind, and pursuing the effort with courage and tact, can con- quer the obstacles presented by an isolated and iesouicclsss district, by an ignorant and untrained population, by an apathy and idleness arising-^ mainly from the want of hopeful inspiration and skilled guidance. They are so many proofs, these little pieces of handi- work, of the industry and cleverness which lie buried in the pooi- est classes, and the effective materialization of which is one of the best and most reproductive objects to which philanthropic effort can be applied—for the work required in the production does not end with the object produced, and the reward is not to be measured by the little wage given in return, in itself often an appreciable help to the scanty resources of a struggling- family. It carries on into the future; it implies that the hand which hitherto was unskilled has been trained to execute, and the eye to select and discriminate. The mind as well as the body has learned the habit of work, and the whole morale of the individual is braced and trained. Upon the methods adopted for collecting the information con- tained in the printed and type-written volumes, it is not necessai} for me to dwell here. Those who are interested in the subject will find the information given in detail in my preface to “ Woman s Mission,” where I have also explained why the Columbian Exposi- tion will, in my opinion, give to 1893 a significant and unique place in the history of the material and social progress of the world. Hitherto international exhibitions have been chiefly concerned ■with the material progress of civilization. At Chicago the moral and social progress of the world receives a prominent and peculiar consideration. Moreover, under this second head, the department of woman’s work takes its place for the first time, and both on that account and by reason of the special regard given to philanthropy much of the deeper and more lasting interest excited by this great Exhibition will, I think, gather round the section for which this report has been prepared. It is fitting that the close o± the nine- teenth century should focus and illustrate in a definite form the share whicli women have taken in its development, of which, m