The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-26
THE IRISH DEPARTMENT.
LINENS, PoPLINs, LAcRs, ETC.

LINENS, POPLINS, LACES, ETC.
Properly speaking, the articles of Irish manufac.
ture exhibited at tue Crystal Palace are included in
the English department, Ireland does not occupy
separate section. 1t would be WE'LL therefore, for
vsiters to bear this in mind lest they should
sciOusly mistake English for Irish goods AS yet the
display from Ireland is not very extensive but her
collection is OF intrinsic worth, perhaps, than
other countries who make more brilliant show.
What she does send however, is exclusively her own,
and article, the poplin, was first manufactured
in her capital IL must be remembered that the great
National Exhibition at Dublin of the progress Of
her skill and invention in the arts and Sciences and
Of her creative genius i'll the fine arts has prevented
fair representation at our exhibition. We have
none OF the works of her painters and sculptors-0f
Barry, Of MacliSc, OF Hogan-all OF whom occupy
high rank among the artists OF Europe. We expect
however, at the termination Of the Dublin Exhibi-
ton that many of these aud considerable portion
of the other articles exhibition will be sent
over to be added to the present collection. The
specimens of linen far exceed any thing of the
kind in the building, and are particularly de-
Serving of the attention OF our dry goods mer-
chants ireland has long and justly been celebrated
for the perfection to which she has brought the art OF
manufacturing this indispensable article OF dress.
The London Dirt Jouraat, in recent number, says
that the liners OF Ireland " have kept and still
tain their supremacy There are it is true, large
manufactures in England and Scotland, but their
products are not 50 highly priced as those Of the
north of Ireland. lrumensc districts are there de-
voted exclusively to the cultivation Of flax, and we
do not over estimate the number Of persons who are
depeHdent upon its manufacture, in its various
stages, when we state them az two hundred
thousand. At present linen is somewhat dear
er than it formcry. This is attribute
BILE to the enhanced value Of labor, resulting
from the extensive eml ration OF thc past year. In
1851 the imports Of liuen into the United States
from Great Britaia aud Ireland, amounted to
az 503 33l and of this at least three-tonrths were
from the latter country.
The exhibitors of linen goods ut the fair are Fen
ton, Son q Co., Gilg,rd, aud Richardson, Sons d
Owden all OF Belfast, ireland Tue linen contributed
by the Inst named IN ,nafactrers is remarkable for
it, cearness, beauty, aud ileness OF It's texture.
table cloth which shown t. US is particularly de-
serving of notice on account OF its quality and the
beauty or its design. 1t is the very perfection
of table cloths, and al house wives, who are
generally the best judges OF slch articles,
will agree with us 10 o,r estimate OF is merits In
length il is seven yir.,s .Ld halt. and In width
three aud a hall. Tho design displays great degree
of artistic taste, and il admirably executed. The
border is tweityscvea inches vide and consists OF
wreath of shamrocks roses and tnistes. tastefully
intermingled In the middle ot this border are the
harp aud woTdog, embiematic Of the country from
which TIE article is sent; while in the centre OF the
whole piece is an cxlIs,try ornamented vase, out
of which spring rrotision OF all kinds Of flowers
This vase rests upon pile OF agricultural
implements, which also form a foundation for
Two pillars thai Unite above the flowers
in a sort Of canopy. This breS description
gives but very imperfect idea OF the article, which
must be seen to be thoroughly appreciated.
Mr. Richardson, we informed, has two factories
in the vicinity Of Belfast aad employs altogether, in
zhe cultivation of fax ind manufacture OF linen.
ten thousand persons including men, women and
children. His bleaching grounds alone extend over
hundred acres, and his factory il said to be the
only one in the world il which linen i manufactured
from the raw material, as it il obtained from tie
land. Specimens Of The Glx, in the various
stages of its manufacture, may be seen IN
7he department which is situated nel,
zhc south nave, about halfway between the inter.
section and the entrance from Sixth ayenne
PoPLIEs
This valuable fabric, oil purely Irish origin il We
regret to say, very little known in this country.
The poplins are composed of silken warp and wooen
weft, and are sometimes called tabbinet. The Eng.
Nsh and French manufactures Of this article are
Ear inferior to those Of Ireland, and their sales far
more limited PIN, Brothers b Co., of Dublin, have
ON exhibition q more valuable collection Of these
fabrics, Of their own manufacture, than were pro-
badly ever before presented to an American public.
2be d9uRle wssssvd poplas have the appearane