New Orleans Republican., 1873-05-04


1t is we'll known among ladies who ara
connoisseurs in lace, that the manuiacturs
of old Point de fenise has been among tba
lost arts for upward of q century. When
ever one of our American prlncesses on her
round of morning asks for Point de Venise,
the salesman who is we'll informed in laces
knows at once that his customer is not If
he is sharp, shrewd and interruptions. he
practices deception by showing The lady
some other lace; if he is honest he tells her
the truth. "A representative OF the Sur
while looking for items for trade report
few days ago, gathered the following facts
from a lace importer and head of the lace
department in a wholesale dry goods house.
whose cash receipts from sales amount to
over sixty millions annually.
About five years before the fall of Paris
and banishment of Napoleon ILL.,, the En-.
press Eugene discovered one day, among
a lot of old laces which had been trans.
ferred to her as souvenirs of the Empress
Josephine, and which her daughter, Queen
Horteuse. had religiously preserved as re-
lies of her illustriOus mother. about quac-
ter of yard of a lace t1ounce of a most
singular and beautiful mesh and beautl-
iul design. The ex-Empress is dilettante
and cOnnOisseur IN laces as well as in many
other fine arts. She saw at glance that
she possessed an art treasure. the more
valuable as it was yellow with age, broken
and mutilated. She sent at once for NJ
De Lisle, the president Of the COmpagnie
des hides, lace manufacturers Of Paris, and
spreading her treasure before his admiriD2s
eyes, said
Monsieur I wish this lace repssduced.
mesh and design, in a full lace dress for
myself. Can your lace-makers do it ,"
Bowing low before the beautiful womare
the manufacturer replied
Your royal highness gives me difficult
commiSs ion, one, fear, impossible to per
form. Your remnant is real old point d3
Venise, of which there are but few samples
in existence, and the art of making It Is
LOST
Can we not revive it ?" asked the Em-
press. IL give carte blanche in making th1
experiment, and another carte Blanche for
ny dress when finished
Madame, will see what can be done. ~
possible it shall be accomplished" and bow
ing again. he retired from the royal press9
ence, taking with him the old piece OF point
de Venise.
When an empress commands everyb 9
hastens TO obey. SO tlie president OF the
Compag ME des Indies lost no time. He iirst
submit ed the sample Of Queen Hortensos
relic to has own adult experienced lace
makers None knew the mesls He placed
it under powerful lenses-no better success
Its intricacy bas1led them all. No instru
ments, however fine, nor fingers. the most
skillful under eyes the most praoticed.
could tell how it could be reproduced Our
manufacturer was perplexed, but not in
despair. His next step was to ransack tho
whole empire for the oldest lace makers fiv-
ing. About fortyt old women, sexagenar-
ans and OctOgenarians, were taken to
Paris. They were provided with the best
of glasses, and the most powerful hand
lenses. One after the other examined tho
Il Al.
NJ. de Lisle was almsSt desperate. He had
tried adult ingenuity aud the experience of
age. now he must resort to youth. He SC
lected from his young girls twenty of the
most intelligent wOrkers-those with che
strongest eyes and deftest tingers To
each he gave section of the old sample
He provided them with lenses and syer,
appliance for work.
In the meantime they we're secluded. and
given every necessary comfort, so that
their eyes, their fingers, and their minds
might be in perfect working order. He
had watched the work from dav to day
and week to week; still ~ progress seemed
to be made At length he left the house
one evening almost persuaded to give up
the experiment. This was about one wear
after the imperial order had been given
The next day he was late in reaching his
office, but as soon as he arrived the super
intendent Of the lace workers met him with
the long wished for welcome. but almoat
incredible intelligence that one of the young
girls had discovered the old Point de Veniss
mesh. The president Surried to the eoors
wher@ She successfug Soung workes Was
bending over her iac@ Cushion He ee5,e6
is Sense exam;ned chs sxork IN nep kandso
compared It with the OF iginsssa sfld ar2sg
smile stole over his feaerreso
@'Eh tie,,r@ Se exclaimed soF9S. en- SO
achere,"
Turning to Tie successful liscoverer, hs
rewarded her with the place OF teacher to