I 
Vol. XVII, No. 6. 
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK 
October 1915 
E publish in this number the cup and 
saucer and plate of the same design 
as the supplement bowl of the Au- 
gust issue by Dorris Dawn Mills. 
They may be executed in the same 
colors as the supplement, although 
another color treatment is given. 
In the original there was a touch of 
orange yellow at the center of the 
flower which was not shown in the 
color reproduction. 
We also give this month photographs of work done at the 
Fawcett School of Industrial Art under the direction of Miss 
Maud M. Mason, who has been teaching there for three years. 
The work was exhibited recently in New York and Mr. Perry 
of Pratt Institute considered the exhibition "a most remark- 
able achievement." The plaques illustrative of Folks Tale 
and Nursery Rhymes are both unusual and effective. 
Considering that the Fawcett School is the first indus- 
trial school of the kind to give encouragement to china decor- 
ation, and taking into account the large number of pieces 
shown, the number of people represented and the fact that 
the work was all original, though of course done under direc- 
tion, the results are most encouraging. 
* * * 
We print a letter from Miss Laura B. Overly who has 
taught last spring at the Free School of China Decoration at 
Macy's New York store. This free school is an innovation 
which, it seems to us, might well be taken up by other stores 
in the country, anyway by large shops dealing in china and 
painting materials, to the advantage not only of the store 
and teacher, but also of the china painting public in general. 
The letter follows : 
"I expect to be able to take up the class work again on 
September 7th in the Art department of R. H. Macy. 
The lessons are given free. The pupils buy their china 
and materials, also have their firing done in the store. I am 
engaged to give the lessons. This experience is very inter- 
esting to me. 
I must confess however that when I first heard of the 
arrangements I was not pleased with the idea at all. It did 
not seem just to me. I was in the class work only a few weeks 
when I discovered that instead of 'taking pupils from private 
studios,' it was creating a demand for the lessons and was 
sending pupils to private studios. 
I can safely say that 90% of the pupils who have taken 
up the work are 'beginners.' It would give me great pleasure 
to tell you, if it were possible, how interesting this work is. I 
can only say that from the beginning to the end it is a joy." 
It seems evident to us that this scheme of free school 
would be to the advantage of the dealer. The expense of 
the teacher's salary would be more than made up by the pro- 
fits on materials sold, firing, etc. Besides the great majority 
of beginners who would join the school would undoubtedly 
become regular customers of the firm. 
We are not suiprised that Miss Gv^rly found that the 
Macy Free School did not injure the private studios, on the 
contrary sent pupils to private studios. Such schools would 
be primarily for beginners who, after they have mastered the 
first elements, would complete their education in private stu- 
dios. Their great advantage would be to give a start, an in- 
terest in the work to a great many who may hesitate to take 
it up when they have to face the heavy initial expense of pri- 
vate tuition. If such schools were scattered in several big 
stores in the country there is little doubt that they would in- 
crease enormously the general interest in china decoration 
to the great advantage of both dealers and teachers. 
* * * 
Mrs. Filkins is getting ready for the press a book on china 
painting which embodies her personal experience of twenty- 
five years and the title of which is "The China Painter's ABC, 
A Beginner's Primer" . Although it will contain information 
for the advanced students and teachers, it will be primarily 
for "those living in the country or small towns, away from the 
service of the studios." The book will sell for $1. 
* * * 
All letters received so far from both subscribers and ad- 
vertisers are strongly against the change in arrangement of 
advertisements as suggested in last issue of Keramic Studio. 
We expected that this would be the general feeling, but one 
of our advertisers insisting, we thought that we would find 
out definitely. Not a single letter has been received favoring 
the change. 
Here are two samples of the letters received : 
FROM A SUBSCRIBER 
"I have been a subscriber to your Magazine since its first 
issue and would not know what to do without it. It is cer- 
tainly an ever present help in time of (art) trouble. Don't, 
don't, I beg of you, be induced to print advertisements in the 
body of your Magazine. As fast as my subscriptions run out 
for Magazines which have adopted this method, I do not re- 
new. No one I know of likes it." Mrs. S. B. H. 
FROM AN ADVERTISER 
"In reading your editorial, we notice that some people 
are urging that you place advertisements in the reading mat- 
ter of your Magazine. 
"In our opinion cms would detract from the beauty and 
effectiveness of your Magazine, without giving any additional 
advantage to the advertiser." B. & Co. 
* * * 
The fear which everybody expressed at the beginning of 
the war that there would be a great shortage of china for deco- 
rating has not been justified so far. There is a sufficient sup- 
ply in the market yet, some dealers have more, others less, but 
shipments have been received by the importers for their cus- 
tomers and there is no need of worry. 
The tendency this fall will of course be toward the use of 
French china, which is regularly imported, although shipments 
are more or less delayed. No china, at present, is received from 
Germany or Austria, although there are reports of heavy con- 
signments waiting at Rotterdam. From samples received the 
goods made in Germany seem to have suffered in the making, 
they are not as clear and as nicely modeled as were samples 
before the war. This condition may last for some time after 
the war in all European countries, as so many of the best me- 
chanics will have been killed or crippled. 
As we said before, the best solution would be to have a 
suitable white china made in this country. We understand 
that tests are made of a ware produced in this country, which 
seems to have quality and which the maker claims he can market 
at a lower price than the imported wares. 
