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

230 ART AND HANDICRAFT century. (I give precedence to the word physical, considering the moral largely dependent upon it.) In. the Woman’s Building at the Columbian Exposition the history of lace, from prehistoric times to the most perfect speci- mens of the modern school of Burano, is illustrated in a collection of great interest, including the priceless antique laces graciously lent by Her Majesty the Queen, of Italy. There is a complete set of antique bobbins of bone, terra cotta, bronze, and ivory, and the figure of a woman with her pillow of unfinished lace to illustrate the process. The revival of the lace industry has resulted all over Italy in the greatest benefit to the peasantry, the success of which is greatly ow- ing to the indefatigable energy of an American, Cora Slocomb, Count- ess di Brazza, whose untiring- example has inspired many others. It is customary to think of Italy as a country that has had her day. No mistake is greater. Bologna, the quaint old university town, with, her leaning towers, her picturesque arcaded streets, and medieval palaces, is still mentally alive, and has kept awake dur- ing the long sleep of centuries in which some of the nations lay unconscious. There are at present fifteen women students in the university, the most learned of whom is a Signorina Catani of Imola, twenty- eight years of age, who has been a student there for nine years, and is now assistant to Professor Tizzoniin “general pathology.” She is a worthy successor to the famous Bolognese women of the past who occupied the chairs of philosophy, jurisprudence, and medicine. Among these, as early as the twelfth century, the famous Novella lectured upon philosophy. Her beauty equaled her learning, so that she was obliged to lecture behind a veil in order not to endan- ger the peace of mind of the sterner sex! In. the thirteenth century Bettisia Gozzadini was a “ reader of law ” in the university. Her portrait is in Bologna, a truly lovely head, an. ideal Portia! Laura Bassi, wife of Professor Verati, was professor of philosophy, and equally learned in mathematics and physics. She was a member of the Academy of Bologna,and devoted her leisure to writing poetry. The pride of Bologna, the woman whom the university justly delights to honor, is Anna Manzolini, who, 115 years ago, filled the chair of anatomy at the university. Her wonderful anatomical reproductions in wax, as well as the portrait busts of herself and her husband which she modeled, are still to be seen there. She was macle an honorary member of all the scientific and literary