NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
AND REMINDER 
Vol. XII 
Manchester, Mass., Friday, ucust! 21, 1914 
No. 34 
Crafts for Health 
By Mary Harrod Northend 
66Q. RAFTS for Health” is the watchword in the handi- 
craft shop at Devereux, Mass., where every day 
one finds a busy, happy group of workers interested in 
their looms or in modelling designs in clay. They are 
forgetful for the time being of all ills as they listen to 
the bussy hum of the looms or, in leisure hours, compare 
notes of the different patterns wrought. Little wonder that 
the old-time barn in its new dress is filled with handicraft 
workers from all over New England brought together by 
a common cause, ‘hat of obtaining help through crafts. 
When the idea of starting a shop of this nature in 
Marblehead was proposed by Dr. Hall, the movement was 
accepted with disfavor. ‘This was especially true of those 
who had given little or no thought to the subject and they 
did not realize that it was the commencement of an in- 
dustry that would in the end do much to revolutionize old 
time theories. The creation of a home for nervous peo- 
ple was to them an innovation that was so unusual that 
they could not take in its importance. 
From-the time of its inception, the scheme has been 
a pronounced success. It was started in a small way, but 
with its growth the making of pottery, the weaving of 
rugs and the tooling of brass which has been carried on 
merrily by a busy group of workers in the same room 
was too confusing to be concentrated. It must be divided 
that it might bring about the best results. Within the last 
year an old barn on the outskirts of Marblehead has been 
taken to better accomplish this work. It has been fitted 
up with looms and all the accessories necessary to this 
work, the making of cement pottery being included. Here 
the patients gathered daily the year round working to 
promote the industry and also to regain health. 
When the factory with its whirring machines stopped 
the making of all hand products, everyone felt their doom 
was sealed. ‘The rapidity with which atricles could be 
made, and their cheapness did away with their use and 
for a number of years everybody wore or used machine- 
made articles, that their things were like their neighbor’s 
gave them no concern. 
Machine-made goods proved a benefit to the world 
at large and the growth of large industries brought tn 
its train hardships to those women who had eked out 
a scanty living by work done at home. Their occupation 
was gone; no one would pay the price for home-made 
goods. A desire for artistic things led to the arts and 
crafts movement which is now scattered through one hun- 
dred communities and twenty-five states in the Union. 
The most prominent of these we might say, is that of the 
handicraft shop. The reason was, it marks a unique 
epoch in the arts and crafts movement, through being 
designed to restore health through éraft. 
wo distinct lines mark the movement of today car- 
ried on in the old barn. One of these is rug weaving, 
this is done partly on Swedish looms and partly on 
Colonial, The work is under the supervision of skilled 
artisans who not only design new patterns continuously 
but train them into skilled workmen. ; 
_ The patients are differently treated with regard to 
their strength, some being allowed ten minutes of work 
per day only, while others are allowed to practice their 
art for half a day ata time. The limitations of the work 
have proved a constant incentive for the little band of 
workers to accomplish as much as possible without over- 
working in the short time. It is a stimulant that creates 
self-control, and this from the medical view is the best 
mental cure. That it has been successful has been proved 
by the many persons who have gone out absolutely cured 
by the treatment. 
Spinning and weaving have been revived in many 
parts of the country besides at Marblehead. Possibly 
brought about by the success of the Deerfield society 
whose blue and white needlwork has revived the exquisite 
colonial embroidery, the forerunner of other forms of 
handiwork which have now become regular industries in 
the town. The weaving department at the Handicraft 
shop gives special attention to rugs, particularly the old- 
fashioned rag rugs which are so popular now-a-days. 
The orginal ideas brought out in the weaving have 
done much to add to their popularity We find unique and 
interesting patterns differing from the quilts, more espe- 
cially those woven by the women of the Southern Moun- 
tain districts, such as the ‘Missouri Trouble,” ‘*Washing- 
ton’s Victory,’ “Rose In Bloom” and “Isaac’s Favorite” 
The second industry which is rapidly growing and 
which bids fair in time to equal if not outrival the rugs 
is the cement work. The Devereux Mansion flower pots 
have orginated and developed this line. It is a new form 
of pottery that shows new designs and ideas, many being 
designed and worked out by professionals who shape the 
mold into which the cement is poured by the pupil. 
This pottery does not have to be kiln dried but is 
baked in the sun. Common sand and water are used 
for materials, the texture being determined by the coarse- 
ness and fineness of the piece to be made. The directions 
are given with every piece sold, so that there can be no 
mistake in its mixing. When it is thoroughly mixed and 
ready for use it is packed into artistic molds which have 
been designed by experts for this purpose. 
The flower pot which has succeeded the old-time red 
flower pot, is a most artistic piece of pottery when com- 
pleted. There are many advantages in its use over the 
original ones; first and foremost they do not need to be 
baked, as they harden readily in the sun, secondly they 
are porous and non-leakable. Their hygienic qualities fit 
them for the use of the plants, doing away with the sour- 
ing of earth through standing water. 
Flower pots are not the only things made here, there 
are tiles, bricks to be used for fireplaces that show good 
lasting qualities.as they are better than the ordinary red 
brick for this purpose. 
