The Chemawa American, October 01, 1914, Image 4

THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
H. E. WADSWORTH, Superintendent
VOLUME 17
OCTOBER, 1914
NUMBER 1
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FWO SPLENDID LETTERS
R E C E N T L Y A D D R E S S E D TO COMMISSIONER SE L L S
AM in receipt of your circular letter No. 896 on Indian
Fairs and I have read it with care and with the deep­
est interest.
Being an Indian woman and a member of a family
of exhibitors at white man’s fairs, the first paragraph
on page three of your letter, particularly, appeals to
me.
My mother, Mrs. Marie Renville-Bottineau, deceased, my sister, Mrs.
Lillian Bottineau-Whitney, now living at Becker, Minnesota, and I, for
a number of years, were exhibitors at the Minnesota State Fair, held
every year since eighteen hundred seventy odd, at Hamline, Minnesota.
My mother’s exhibits at the fair, and for which she was awarded first
and second premiums, consisted of four classes in “ Textile Fabrics”
division—quilt designs, quilts, quilting, and etching embroideries. My
sister’s exhibits, and for which she was awarded premiums, consisted of
bread, rolls, cakes, jellies, and preserves.
My exhibits consisted in laces, in cotton, silk, wool, and linen, both
crocheted and knit, knit articles of many kinds, including golf hose,
men’s and women’s hose in both cotton and wool, and wool mittens, both
fancy and plain, for men, women, and children. Three exhibits in a
class of work known as “ darned net” —in which were used two original
designs—brought first, second and third premiums. A painting in oil
in a class calling for a “ marine” brought first premium, and a collection
of twelve paintings third premium.
Oi;e year the premium money I received amounted to twenty-five dol­
lars, no one premium amounting to more than four dollars.
I fully appreciate the enthusiasm and the rivalry that can be aroused
between women and children by showing at the fairs not only their na­
tive products and the products of the farm yard, but also as products of
their own industry—the laces, embroideries, paintings and the many arts
and crafts that are pursued by the white women. I know that the In-