was
done or not, however, but there was no woman's work in the whole
Louisiana Purchase Exposition more deserving or of higher grade
than the needlework in that village exhibit. Enough can not be
said of these little workers. The present age is one of
superiority, in which women not only show their ability, but
each year they are granted more, and more widespread becomes
their ability to grasp all vocations and fill them most
creditably.

I am confident there was no question of the interest shown by
men in woman's work; in fact, I think it attracted more
visitors, and the results would not have been better if their
work had been separately exhibited.

The work shown at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition was on a
much greater and higher plane than ever has been exhibited
before. Where women exhibited they received a greater number of
awards in proportion. Miss Mary Williamson was an original
designer of artistic needlework, showing exceptional talent, and
was awarded a grand prix for her designs.

I attended the Paris Exposition of 1878, also the Centennial at
Philadelphia, 1876; spent much time at the Columbian World's
Fair in Chicago, and possess a diploma and gold medal for my
artistic needlework exhibited at the Columbian Exposition.

Miss Margaret Summers, of Louisville, Ky., was also a juror in the
above-combined groups 58 and 59, and writes:

In group 59 the costumes made by men were about twice as many as
those made by women, though the handsomest of the exhibits was
the work of a woman, Caroline, of Chicago.

All the work done by women showed a great improvement over that
exhibited at the Chicago Exposition, not only in the cut and
design, but in the artistic finish and the care given to every
detail.

The hand work was a special feature of all the garments for
women in the lingerie, gowns, and manteaux.

The most intricate designs were executed in a manner betokening
the true artist, and none but those educated in the art of
combining colors and in designing could have obtained the
results seen at St. Louis.

The tendency in all garments for women, however, was toward the
ornate rather than the simple, and with but few exceptions every
gown, every wrap, and all the lingerie was most elaborate. But
the hand of the true artist was shown in these g