The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-01-09
"Re0L LNce."
WHAT AMERICA WILL PRODUCE IN THE COURSE
OF A CENTURY.

Madam Carter, an artist and expert in lace
well known for years in the city Of New York.
has recently established a school for the in
struction of women and girls in the ancient art
OF lace-making. She has number of pupils
who already exhibit great dexterity in use of
bobbins and needles, and decided in both imi-
tating and inventing the most delicate and ex-
quisite patterns. According to Madam Carter,
who has been interviewed by a reporter of the
New York Sun, few of the most expert lace
makers are able to excel in moro than one or
two styles of work ; hence, in the manufacture
OF single piece of lace, many different artists
have to be employed. For instance, in piece
of point d'Angletine, the flowers are executed
by one artist with whom this sort of work is a
specially; the wheels are wrought by another,
who also has skill to do no other part; the fine
puring or point chain edges around each flower
are the work of still another while an expert
IN reseau, and one in bride work, unite the
whole and NAL ke the ground.
Madam Carter is onfident that in The course
century, finer laces will be made in Amer
than elsewhere in the world, as the best
&c workers from the various lace-producing
stricts of Europe will be induced to come here
ed unite their skill in the manufacture of laces
will combine all the beauties and iptrica-
he fn sb webs Of ancient and modern
- -,--~-~lisss JfIo cisos !, -. .-.ssi
err ander her instruction who exhibits extra
fordinary facility for learning different styles
sf lace work yet practically, her teacher de-
iares that perfection can be attained only by
he study of one two points.
s The fall of the French Empire gave great
blow to the anutacture OF lace all over Europe.
Joined to this, the unsettled condition OF the
Pope, and the decrease in the incomes of Rus
sian mobiles from the emanci patton of their serfs,
have had depressing effect upon lace workers,
Priucely revenues alone will admit of irdul-
gence in their costly productions. At the last
Ex q Brussels
exhibited a lace dress on which he had expen
ded 900 in the hope that the Empress would
becsine its purchaser. His hope was disap-
pointed, and ultimately he gave the dress to
his wife, 1t is of point melee, mixture of va
rous antique and modern points, all needle
wrought 1t is said to surpass in fineness and
beauty the aces of Queen Victoria, of the En-
press Josephine, and of Nine. Fraloff.
Madam Carter preserves 81 small piece cut
from one of the lace dresses of the Empress
Josephine. 1t is raised point de Venise of the
fourteenth century. The dress, with several
other pieces of the same lace, was purchased
by retired American actress. The price of old
Venetian laces is enormous Clement VII.
gave his niece, Catherine de Madicis, valua-
Bile supply, which afterward became the prop
erty OF Mary Stuart In the time of Louis XIV,
the lace necessary for a gentleman's costume
cost $4,000 The Pontfcal dress worn by
Pope Innocent XI. was lately on exhibition at
MllaU, as were also Iue IdCcS Vi
the Princess Margaret, presented to her on her
marriage by the ladies of Venice. The texture
of these laces is marvellous, the stitches being
scarcely visible, and the thread as fine as of
spiders spinning.
In making laces where the threads are so at
tenuated, the slightest motion in the air foils
the worker, while ey en- when this is iT percep
tible, wind from the north has the same eff
feet The separate ilaments are so gossamer-
like as t, be almost undstinguishable unless
backed by color Thread OF this extreme fine
ness costs at present $500 per pound, and much
Of it has to be wasted on account of imperfec
tions in its fibre. No wonder, with the cost of
material, and the amount of time consumed in
the manufacture Of such laces, their expense is
fabulous. piece Of fine Venitian point four
inches wide, and long enough to trim over
skirt, may be had for 5000, and collar of large
size for 500.
The nuns in ireland excel in the manufac-
ture of different kinds of beautiful lace. The
crocheted lace made by the Zoughal nuns is Of
so exquisite aquality as often to pass for antique
points. 1t is told Of one lady that she bought
in Italy, at great expense, quantity of Roman
point, when, on bringing it to a Dublin dress
maker, it was pronounced by her simply crochet
lace of Irish manufacture, that had been dipped
into some yellowish fluid to give it the appear
ance of age. The Irish lace will bear hard
usage, and is easily done up, which admirable
% afIties render 1T a favorite with the ladies'