The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-31
FOR THE SCRAP-BOOK.
Interesting Items That Should
BE Filed for Reference.

In the middle ages WOODEN manufactures
attained their highest development in Elan
ders, which had the advantage of being
within easy reach of abundant supplies of
wool, especially from England, and being
able to send its manufactured products to
the best markets by sea, river and land. In
| the middle of the twelfth century Flemish
wo0lens were already worn in France ana
Germany. a writer in the thirteenth cen.
tury says that all the world was clothed in
English wool wrought in Flanders. 1t was
from Flanders that English Kings at differ
ent times introduced artisans into England,
with the view of improving the wooden
manufactures of that country Toward the
close of the eleventh century this was done
by William the Conqueror; it was again
done by Edward III in the first half Of the
fourteenth century, and again by Henry
VII toward the close OF the fifteenth.
The original invention of poplin is claimed
by Avignon, France, once Papal See on
Which account it was called papaline, in
compliment to the reigning Pope, at which
time (the fifteenth century, this rich ma
terial was produced to supply the gorgeous
ecclesiastical vestments and hangings in
use. The industry was introduced into
Dublin by French immigrants, refugees,
at the time of the revocation OF the Edct
of Nantes, who settled in that part of the
Irish capital called the Liberties" The
La Touche family established the first or
gained mandatory there, which CON-
menced operations in 1888
When the Duke de Valentnois, son of
Alexander vi, visited Louis XII of France
his horse was loaded with gold leaves, ac-
cording to Brantone, and his cap had double
rubies that threw out great light. Charles
of England rode In stirrupS hung with 321
diamonds. Richard III had coat valued at
ga a1nh n 1r1
rubies Hail described Henry VIII, on his
way to the Tower, previous to his corona
ton, as wearing Jacket of raised gold,
the placard embroidered with diamonds
and other rich stones, and great bauderike
about his neck of large balasSes.
OF all non-metallic kinds of money that
which has come into most extensive use is
the cowrie-shell (Cypraa morl which is
very extensively employed * 1Iade OF
Africa and Southern Asia, a5well as in the
islands of the Pacific. The home of this
she'll is the Pacific and Indian Oceans. and
ship-loadS of it are conveyed from the Nal
dive Islands. the Philippines ana other
island groups to tine European ports which
carry on trade with the African tribes,
among which this kind of money circulates.
In speaking of Milan bonnets, so named
from the duchy in which they were first
made and which were also so fashionable in
says, they were WORE by both sexes and
were composed of the costliest stuffs, cloth
of gold and silver, velvet and satin, slasbed
ard pulled like dresses. and decorated with
profusion of jewels, spangles, aylets and
other pendant ornaments.
Catherine de Medics had mourning
bed made of black velvet powdered with
cresceIts and suns. Its curtains were Of
damask, with leafy wreatbs and garlands
figured upon gold and silver ground and
fringed along the edges with broideries of
pearls, and it stood in room hung with
rows of tho queens devices in cut black
velvet upon cloth Of silver"
The state bed of Sobieski, King of Po-
land was made of Smyrna gold braid en-
broidered in turquoises with verses from
the Koran. Its supports were of silver gilt,
beautifully chased. and profusey set with
enameled and jeweled medalions. 1t had
been taken from the Turkish camp before
Vienna, and the standard Of Mob ahmed
had stood under it,"
1t would appear that carpets originated
In embroidery, and that they were first
used, like embroideries, for hangings and
pals. The earliest we have OF this art are
in the Bible. in the accounts in the PEN
tateuch of the furnishing of the Taber-
nacle ana elsewhere.-All from the Dry
goods Chronicle.