LETTERS OF A JAVANESE PRINCESS
work-place ought to be built, and many apprentices and artisans taken to work under regular supervision in our immediate neighbourhood.
If we only had the money, we could build a work-place, buy material, employ workmen and train apprentices. Singo could be placed at the head of the establishment. I believe in less than a year or two years at most, the capital thus invested would be doubled.
I should have been glad to begin here, but both of us had our eyes upon Batavia. When we were gone our little sisters would have had to take the responsibility for everything, and that would have been too hard for them. Now it is different, we could take the responsibility, if we had the necessary money. I am convinced that our artistic industry has a great future.
Not long ago, while we were on a little journey, we met the Heer Brandes, brother of Doctor Brandes. He expressed much interest in the art of our country. When I told him of a tokootje[1] of productions of native art at Semarang, he set out immediately to look for it. You must understand that the people of Semarang are opposed to sending the products of their own neighbourhood to Batavia. "East and West" wishes to open a tokootje at Semarang. But again money is needed, and "East and West" cannot give very much as yet. When I told Heer Brandes this, he said, "Oh, do not worry about that, the money will be foimd, if you will only take care of the other side."
I said, "But there must be some one of discrimination who will stay at Semarang."
"That will be found too, and your only care will be to see that beautiful things are produced."
I have received a short letter from him. He has spoken to various friends about the plan, and they were all much interested, and have
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- ↑ Little shop
