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

IN THE WOMAN’S BUILDING. 15 We aim to show, also, the new avenues of employment that are constantly being' opened, to women, and. in wliicli of these they aie most successful by reason of their natural adaptability; what edu- cation will best fit them for the new opportunities awaiting them, and to answer a host of kindred questions. After a long period of inaction the enrollment of foreign women was rapidly effected, and we are now possessed of the most power- ful organization that has ever existed among women, having official committees, created by government and supported by government funds, cooperating with us in England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Austria, Russia, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Siam, Japan, Algeria, Cape Colony, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, the Argentine Republic, Jamaica, Ceylon, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, and tlie Sandwich Islands. The members of the English committee, under the patronage of the Queen, and of which the Princess Christian is president, have been chosen with singular discretion. Each chairman, is a power in herself, as well as perfect mistress of her own line of work; and all are enthusiastically following the leadership of their much- loved president. To give an indication of the strength and effi- ciency of this committee, I need only mention such names as the Duchess of Abercorn, the Marchioness of Salisbury, the Countess of Aberdeen, Lady Henry Somerset, Lady Brassey, Baroness Burdett-Coutts, Lady Knutsford, Lady Jeune, Mrs. Bedford-Fen- wick, and Mrs. Fawcett. In France Madame Carnot accepted the active presidency of the committee. She secured committees of the most earnest, influential, and competent women, to second her own efforts. Italy was almost the first to announce its committee, under the special patronage of Queen Margherita, who is personally directing the work, and who will send her marvelous collection of historical laces, some of which date back 1,000 years before Christ, having been taken from Egyptian and Etruscan tombs. They are both personal and. crown property, and. liavc never before left Italy. This royally generous response to our appeal was doubly welcome, for it came when diplomatic relations between the two countries were suspended, and it was intended as a special mark of fiiend- ship. Accompanying this lace exhibit is a collection of the work of the Italian women of to-day, a prominent feature of which is the lace made by the peasant women in the societies organized by, and under the direction of, the queen. This exhibit will be one of the noted features of our building.