February 15, 1935

Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A Quilt Club Corner column including a coupon for Quilt Club membership and letters from Quilt Club members.

An Unhappy Quilt-Maker Complains of Radio Hour

By Edith B. Crumb

A Few days ago I received a letter which hurt me deeply for it is a letter from someone, who I'm sorry to say, is dissatisfied, who doesn't like us a bit and, this is the important thing-she makes some pretty serious charges. Now I think the best thing to do it to face this and talk over it openly. The letter is from Edith Johnson, of Detroit, and is as follows:

Dear Miss Crumb: I just heard your talk on the radio. Instead of just reading off a lot of names of people and telling how you hoped they had heard your last talk or seen the last quilt show, it would be much better to give suggestions about quilting.

I noticed, too, every time someone asks a question or tried to get some information you always reply the same- "I hope that some of the old members will be able to help you." Now, I want to know what you and Beatrice are there for? I guess you two just get paid for what you do- surely not for what you know. Why, any child could stand there and read a lot of manes off a paper. And, too, I hope the next grand prize will go to some person that has made a quilt from a News pattern, and reads the paper. Don't you think it is only fair that it should go to one who is interested enough in buying the News and uses your patterns? Why that woman don't even read our paper and after all your shouting about it has to be a News pattern! Or they can't enter. Well, our club is through with your Quilt Club Corner. All we can say is Mrs. Steele was a friend of one of the judges. Well, I feel better now. I have been wanting to write this ever since last fall.

Sincerely,
Edith Johnson
Detroit, Mich.


Well now, Edith Johnson I think it's fine that you are frank. Your letter makes me glad and sorry. Glad because you spoke your mind and feel better now, and sorry because I'm afraid you don't like us very well for down here in the Detroit News Quilt Club I am frank to say we do all like each other.

In fact, while we never have said anything much about it, we think that the friendliness is just about as important as the quilting- because, according to a wise man who is supposed to have lived in the 7th century "He who has a thousand friends has not one friend to spare, but he who has an enemy will meet him everywhere." So, of course, we are just human enough to not like enemies. And I'll even say, "He who has a thousand friends always has room for one more and one enemy is always just one too many." So now let's see what we can do about this letter. Perhaps we can write off that word enemy and change it to friend.

First, you said that instead of reading off names you wish that I would give some suggestions about quilting. Well, Miss Edith Johnson, if you ask me any questions about quilting I will be glad to answer them; but I will answer them in the paper because this radio talk is a king of open meeting on the air where friends can exchange greetings.

You say that I read names and addresses, but didn't you forget to add that each one has a message? And some of these messages, dear Edith Johnson, are from shut-ins or from some busy tired mothers who have not time to visit back and forth but want to communicate in this way with their friends in the Quilt Club. Before you pass judgement, just put yourself in the place of some lonely woman, lonely and shut in or lonely for companionship of woman friends because she is tied down by household cares or the responsibility of a big family. How would you like to receive 75, 80, or 100 letters to brighten and gladden your heart someday just because someone has taken 60 seconds to mention your name and address over the air?

If you knew the heart and home stories back of some of the letters as I do, you would know how much it means in good cheer and friendliness to have the postman who has perhaps all too often, passed by on the other side of the street, come up the walk with a whole handful of letters, come of them with lovely bright scraps from your friends in the Quilt Club. So I'm sure you wouldn't grudge the few minutes we spend on the air to bring that much pleasure.

And now let's take up the matter of the grand prize at our last quilt show. Let's just fact that right out and get it all off our chests. Wouldn't you be surprised if I told you down deep in my heart I was disappointed too? If you had any idea how hard we all worked on that old-fashioned Nosegay, our brand new series for 1934, and how proud we were of the quilts we made from that patterns, you would know without being told how my heart went down to my boots when I saw what the judges had done. Well now, you see how hard it is to please everyone. In 1933 the entries were open to Detroit News patterns only, but in the 1934 Detroit News quilt patterns and original designs were eligible and I do think that Mrs. Steele must have read The News or she would not have known about the Contest.

The judges selected were those who have had fine technical experience with needlecraft, and the study of color and design. One is in charge of sewing in the Detroit Public Schools, one teaches design in the Arts and Craft School and the third is a curator of textiles at the Detroit Institute of Arts and knows the needlework of the greatest museum in the world, and they chose Mrs. Steele's quilt because it was good in design, pleasing in use of color, and because they considered it absolutely the best example of quilting which any of these highly trained women had ever seen. Yes, I would have like to have stepped up and saidoh please, can't we have a News pattern for first prize?" But a rule is a rule and I had nothing to do with judging, or course.

Now about that sentence where you say Mrs. Steele was either a friends of mine or the judges. Well, I don't honestly think that you mean that. I think you were somewhat angry and said something that you did not really believe. I ought not to bother to answer a charge lie that. But since you bring it up I will say that had I or anyone on The News known Mrs. Steel, it would not have been necessary to broadcast messages, send messenger on train, auto and horseback to her little country house "way down in the foothills of Kentucky, only to find that she is visiting in Detroit. The story of the Grand Prize winner had to be left until the others had been told and you can hardly imagine how embarrassing that was, for the city editor just insists on a reporter coming back with the story.

Now you see, dear Edith Johnson, things aren't always as black and dastardly as you imagine- are they? So, don't you think that you are ready to leave enemy camp, where I really hope that you are lonesome, and come on over to the friend's side where it is much nicer? I hope so.

Beauty in the Home Editor:
Please enter my name as a member of the Beauty in the Home Quilt Club.

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Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.