Vol I, No. 7 
NEW YORK AND SYRACUSE 
November 1899 
E expect from now on to open two new 
departments in the Keramic Studio 
and would be glad of contributions from 
any interested subscribers. One depart- 
ment is in the interest of collectors of old 
and valuable china. It will be called " The Collector." The 
second is for the study of pyrography or burnt wood and 
leather etching, in which art great strides have been taken 
in the last year. Many china painters are taking up this 
fascinating art in connection with their own work, and find it 
both interesting and paying. 
The border design about the article on Hops would make a 
simple but effective design for a stein, with the thyrsus on 
either side of the handle and the ivy vine and ribbons form- 
ing the border. The reeling figures after Boutet de Monvel 
would also make a fine decoration for a stein or whisky jug, 
making above and below the band a conventional design of 
grapes or corn or hops or rye, as the case might be. These 
designs would also be useful for burnt wood, as would be also 
the Poppies, the Anemones or any of the conventional designs. 
The figures by De Monvel will appear in the December issue. 
We have received a letter from Miss Ann Shaw, who is 
traveling abroad, and an article on Cut Leather, which is the 
second of a series of interesting and instructive articles from 
her pen. We consider ourselves greatly favored to be able to 
publish them for our readers. Below is an extract from her 
letter, promising us much entertainment and instruction to 
come : 
I have but just returned from an extended trip through 
Switzerland, the Austrian Tyrol, and to Vienna. While in 
Vienna I wrote a letter which I will send and if you care to 
use it in another of your issues you can, and I have a great 
deal more information concerning book designing and leather 
work, and can follow this line with several articles that might 
be both instructive and interesting. 
I have been studying leather work quite a little and find 
the interest is growing rapidly here (Paris) and also in Vienna. 
I looked into enameling and designing for jewelry and metal 
while in Geneva, and I found such attractive things and 
wonderfully artistic handling of the wax from which are 
modeled the heads and figures before they are cast in gold 
and silver. 
Some new ideas are being brought forth in china in the 
factories, but I am delighted to say our work in that line is 
surpassing any work attempted by individuals here. The 
factories enjoy the monopoly of all that work in Europe. 
•f -p 
To the Council and Menibets of the National League of Mineral Painters: 
It has often seemed to me as if a vast amount of talking 
or explanations to our members must have one bad effect, in 
leaving upon their minds a vague impression that the National 
League to which their thoughts are so continually urged, is a 
complicated thing that it should take such a multitude of 
definitions to make it clear. And so there is always present, 
as I begin a message to you, the fear that these multiplied 
letters will give you the uncomfortable feeling that our organ- 
ized work is a thing of many rules, hard to understand, and 
needing a great deal of commentary. I should be very glad 
to show you how simple the rules are that govern the League, 
how very broad and plain its principles are, and how easy its 
work might be for those who are equipped for it and love it. 
It is part of the debt I owe to those who but recently enrolled 
with us, to make clear these simple rules and plain principles, 
and in again venturing to address you through the columns 
of this magazine, I hope to briefly suggest some thoughts 
which will help to an understanding of them, without deliber- 
ately stating them anew. 
I have to thank you for the many encouraging replies to 
the September letter. As many of them contained apologies 
for referring some matter or request for information to the 
President, I am led to say a few words on the duties of this 
office. The central idea of the office is to faithfully execute 
the laws governing the League. The President carries into 
effect the rules or laws passed in accordance with the constitu- 
tion — not her will but the will of those chosen to direct and 
supervise the affairs of the League, the Advisory Board and 
Council — and it is the duty of the President to see that every 
law so passed is executed, and no discretionary powers except 
the means to be employed are left to her. As laws do not 
execute themselves, some one must look after them. 
There is a large number of things to look after, and the pro- 
vision of nine executive officers is none too great for an organ- 
ization as far-reaching as ours. As the President is responsible 
for executive action, she is consulted in all important matters. 
To secure time to properly study these questions as they are 
presented, is often a difficult problem, the more so as her time 
is largely occupied with remunerative, and, therefore, more 
pressing duties. The term of office is three years, and no 
officer is eligible for consecutive re-election. One needs but a 
few months experience to be convinced of the wisdom of 
those who fixed this limit. 
To assist in keeping the work before the federated clubs, 
to take advantage of all openings for advancing the aims of 
the League, and to make it of the highest value to members, 
is the earnest purpose of all the executive officers. 
Answers to questions relative to the conduct of business, 
information of all rules and regulations, in short, anything 
that you may require of the League, will be most cheerfully 
furnished, not only by the President, but by every member of 
the executive. In this way we gain your intelligent help, the 
inspiration of numbers, and the larger test of our work. It is 
not safe to judge of the effect of our work by one or two 
members ; but when the League pronounces on it by the tes- 
timony of its evidently changed condition, we may be assured 
it is never wrong, The mass of correspondence last year 
bears witness to the fairness and considerateness of our feder- 
ation. League insight is very true, and her conscience on the 
whole is very right. 
These are only my impressions, and if the tone is rather 
complacent or congratulatory than otherwise, it is from no 
wish to commend our Own stewardship, but attribute all favor- 
able results to the opportunities of the times in which we live. 
Mrs. Worth Osgood, President. 
