The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-04-24


Paris and Punishment of Napoleon ILL.,,
the Empress Eugene discovered one day.
among lot of old laces which had been
tranferred to her as souvenirs of the EN-
press Josephine, and which her daughter,
Queen Hortense, had religiously preserved
as relics of her illustrious mother, about
quarter of a yard of lace tounce of a
most singular and beautiful mesh and pc
culiar design. The ex-Empress is dilet-
tante and connoisseur i'm laces as well as
in many other fine arts. She saw at a
glance that she possessed an art treasure,
the more valuable as it was yellow with
age, broken and mutila.ed. She sent at
once for M. De Lisle, the President of the
| Compagnie des Indies, lace manufacturers
of Paris, and spreading her treasure be-
| fore his admitting eyes, said:
"Monsieur, | wish this lace reproduced,
mesh and design, in full lace dress for my
self. Can your lace makers do it?'
| Bowing low befo e the beautiful woman,
the manufacturer replied:
Your Royal Highness gives me diff
cult commission, one, | fear, impossible
| to perform. Your remnant is real old
point de 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 EN-
press. 81 give you carte blanche in max
ing the experiment, and another carte
| blanche for my dress when finished"
Madame, | will see what can be done.
If possible it shall be accomplished" and
bowing again he retired from the royal
presence, taking with him the old piece of
point de Venise.
When an Empress commands every
body hastens to obey. So the President
of the Compagnie DIES Indies lost no time.
He first submitted the sample of Queen
Hortense's relic to his own adult expert
erced lace makers. None knew the mesh.
He placed it under powerful lenses-nO
better success. Its intricacy baffled them
all. No instrument, however fine, nor
fingers the most skilled, under eyes the
most practiced, could tell how it could be
reproduced. Our manufacturer was per-
picked, but not in despair. His next step
was to ransack the whole empire for the
Oldest lace makers living. About forty
old women, sexagenarians and octogena-
rians, were taken to Paris. They were
provided with the best of glasses and most
powerful hand lenses. One after the other
examined the old flounce. Alas! not one
knew the mesh. M. De Lisle was almost
desperate. He had tried adult ingenuity
and the experience of age, now he must
resort to youth. He selected from his
young girls twenty of the most intelligent
workers--those with the strongest eyes and
deftest fingers. To each he gave a section
of the old sample. He provided them
with lenses and every appliance for work
In the mean time they were secluded and
given every necessary comfort, so that
their eyes, their fingers, and their minds
might be in perfect working order. He
watched the work from day to day ant
: week to week; still no progress seemed
to be made. AT length he left the house
| oil, n ollv
the experiment. This was about one
J year after the Imperial order had beer
given. The next day he was late in reach
ing his office, but as soon as he arrived
the superintendent of the lace worker
met him with the long wished for, wei
\ come, but almost incredible intelligence
r that one of the young girls had discover
/. ed the old point de Venise mesh. Tn
: President hurried to the room where tn
over her lace cushi n. He seized lens
I examined the work in her hands, com
: pared it with the original, and a quie
, smile stole over his features.
e Eh bienr' he exclaimed softly, 81
, est acheUe!"
Turning to the successful discoverer h
q rewarded her with the place of teacher Il
q the others and eneral superintendent O
= the work, and communicated with tn
y Empress, VINO among oil ner engage
J, ments had kept diligent watch of the pre-
gress of affairs.
Now the work was begun in earnest
: 1t was four years before it approache
:, completion, but from time to time tn
Z Empress visited the mandatory, show
. ing the greatest joy and pride that los
II art had been restored by the lace weaver
of France in her reign. Before the dres
u was finished Paris was in ashes and Et
If genie ain exile. But the lace weavers e
5, capped the general destruction and Eug
e nie's dress was spared. The generOr
l. and noble woman did not forget NJ. [
l. Lisle nor her order. She wrote to hil
from England saying that "though n
=, longer an Empress nor enjoying the il
:, come of royalty she would take the dre'
IS when finished if he should be loser b
g, keeping it,"
r The manufacturer, not to be outdOne
"a nobility or generosity, laid the case ;
stated in the Empress letter before IL
fe directors of the company. They wei
e. touched with the misfortunes of the bea
?: tiful woman, and unanimously decided
release her from her engagement. Th
le now historic dress is to be exhibited
It the Vienna Exposition as the first spec
men of point de Venise manufactured
, more than hundred years.-N. Y. Si'