The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-07-26
1NNIsHMAcsAINr LACE.


region still moro interesting, not only
from the loveliness of the scenery about
the upper and lower lakes of Lough Erne,
that splendid northern rival of glorious
Killarney in Kerry, but also from the
singular beauty of the maidens and
mothers who dwell and labor amid these
mountains, wales, glens and upon these
trafsccndent shores. Innishmacsaint it.
self Is dainty island half u mile from
shore In upper Lough Erne. A famous
abbey was founded here in the Sixth
century, by st. Nenn or Nernid of the
royal blood of Ireland. The saints bell,
ornamcntcd with gold and silver, is still
preserved here as sacred and precious
relic. The parish, partly i'll county Done
gal and partly in Fermanagh, derives its
name from the island of ruins, and the
entire peasantry of this wild and beauti-
full region, in manner and dress, strik-
ingly remind one of the picturesque folk
Of tile TvroL
Nearly every family has 81 member
who is lace maker, and without organ
ization. technical instruction, or any at
tcntion whatever to preserving or devel-
oping artistic effort, these blue eyed, black
haired, red Tipped women produce mar
vcs In point lace as wonderful as were
ever known in point d 'Alencon. found
orc worker who had been employed
more than five months upon one hand
kerchief She said two months more
would be required to completeit. "What
will you get for it," inquired. sFaith,
am I'm thinkin Il pound it'll bring. And
what will you do then2" asked again.
Go to America, plase God!" was the
reply. And yet the rich Belfast lace
dealers showed me handkcrchicfs by no
means as rich and delicate for which
they easily got $3.50 each.
LABOR BETTER PAID IN TIE SOUTH.
Their peasant sisters Of the south are
more fortunate in the matter of training
and just and generous supervision. The
nuns OF the Presentation convent at
ioughal have assiduously striven for
fifty years to not only secure the best
copies from the most famous lace MAX
e's of southern Europe, but have insisted
upon constant instruction Dealing direct
with the importing houses of America,
they have been able to pay the best
wages known In Ireland for women's
labor These fifty years Of effort have
also brought most magnificent artistic
results Irish point" as the Youghal
lace is called. is practically perfected into
an original combination of old and mod
ern stitches. closely resembling. and in
many instances far superior to, some of
the rarest specimens Of Malines: and 1t
is doubtful If today there can be found
rarer. more exquisitely and marvellous
ly designed work than comes from hun
dreds of homes of tho sunny wales of
Cortland Waterford.
There is also black lace In silk, and
white lace in thread, 10th pillow
laces," made by the peasant women
about the sleepy old town of Tallow,
from instruction during the last half
century by .lc nuns Of ST. Joseph's con.
vent
From the most conservative estimates
it would seem that 10000 women in Ire
land are constantly employed in tho va
rious forms of lace making; $4,000 are
at work in the linen spinning and weav.
ing mills; $4,000 are employed in EN-.
ploycd in embroidery alone. and from
$4,000 to 100000 in such pursuits as
knitting. shirt making. hem stitching
finishing. laundering and boxing; or, II
round numbers, 200. 900 Irish women ii
homes and factoriesare endlessly striving
to hold their hovel homes and their be
loved Ireland together, on wages which
will not exceed an average of four shil
lings per week!-Cor. New York Com
| mercial Advertiser.