Telegram-herald., 1890-02-01

e4a 4sL1 stT s.u1 ss1sf - = s7~a tar
81 tAk ana sAsggy - bear sklas
tresA tron the ioons u Persia oT ed IS
TIE su glre u the saisns ana nesr--s
gae d-ss - tie Ca1c-s-z. cea-s tas en-
e2gal - @ the u,aFLs OF eS-ern ciYlil-
zagou
Ihs oriental rug Is the product Of
easteFa lie. TIE noaDtsin sheep sup
( pied ~ u.aterisl. nssare taught ths cs
sizl aad gave the cologlng, ana toe -
Agioa ~ the people became ths ImPalSs
ard guiding spirit Il tbs def woman
hnseFs tAaE through many centuries
spread the kaotted mystic covers ia the
homes and shIines Of the orlenL
kastern life Is religion The people
eat. drlns. work and th-lnk according 10
The dictates OF their traditional faith,
and though the idea OF utility may have
some lme largely entered into the pro-
ductI0n q rugs IL the orient, the domi-
aant spiritof tie ~ ork has been religion,
and tie rug IS thus sacred IN the eyes o.
the people.
IN the prayer q the Islam center va
rIous sacred ideas. He bows down be
fore Ais Maker, and the material on
which be rests his hands must be suscep-
lble TO spo.less cleanliness; he wants 10
Ind himself il an atmosphere Of high
thoughts and sacred suggestions, and as
10 looks down in kneeling he sees the
living green and crimson-symbOls Of
life and mingled in all mystic
figures with blue and gold that carry
TO him faint ideas OF love and glory. At
/ home IN the rooms where the morning
sun looks n. the pious Turk finds in his
prayer rug the associations Of the
mosques in his native city, or ot the
holiest OF holies where he prayed in
his pilgrimage 10 Mecca, il the form Of
domes and panels and the designs Of en-
caustic ti.es. and peculiar arrangements
OF stone and bricf, in the walls; so that
wherever the worshiping Turk may be
found, knteling upon a prayer rug
against the eastern sky, the soul finds
itself in the midst Of sacred associations
and breathes the holy atmosphere of the
temple where it has prayed with the
faithful
Thus dignifed, the oriental rug became
great institution among the peoples of
the orient, both MosleIn and Christian,
and industry and talent have been de-
voted to it for centuries. By reason OF
the high value thus put upon good rug.
the mothers and daughters of the people
who set themselves 10 the arduous task
Of tying up a rug spared no pains in
procuring the best materials, and their
Zeai developed the highest talent. In
many cases they were made for votive
offerings TO mosques and shrines; then
nothing was 10 be spared. Ruskins
lamp of sacrifice" was there in ali
brightness; it is gift 10 God, and must
he costly. The finest wool, the best Of
dyes and the highest talent were put
upon the altar, and some of these old
hazak and D2Shistan rugs that stray
out Of a Turkish mosque or shrine are
splendid works Of art, with an exuber-
ance Of rich, soft cOlOring and bold de-
sign that delight the eyes and call forth
the admiration Of appreciative minds.
There is no complicated machinery in
the manufacture of an oriental rug, the
warp being stretched on a simple frame,
and al the rest of the work done
by tying the colored yarn across the
warp IN line. in peculiar strong knot,
cOmbing it down hard and cutting il the
necessary length. Where each particular
tuft OF yarn had thus 10 be tied in a knot
by the slillful fingers OF the artist wea-
yer, q medium sized rug of good quality
required the labor of months or years,
according TO the simple or elaborate de-
sign which the artist carried in mind.
Considering the fact that there was no
machinery To save labor, no chemicals,
no shadow Of an art school, an antique
oriental rug Of fair quality, that in color
ard texture has defed tho tread OF cen
turies. is no mean proof of The patient
industry and consummate artistic skill Of
the daughters Of the orient.
Professor William Thomson tells Of an
oriental rug which the family had in
his boyhood in Syria. 1t had done ser
vice of ali kinds long enough 20 be torn
in two, and the half rug used 10 20 10
the sen shore with the boys to receive no
gentle treatment When soiied with
earth it would be washed in salt sea
water and thrown on the burning sands
to dry under tho Syrian sun. that can
bleach anything; bat the only effect OF
the ordeal on the half rug would be 70
give the colors now life.
What is tho intrinsic value Of an an-
tieuc oriental rug2 Answer. ne who
can. That soft, glossy Anatolian prayer
Ulg. with fine, intricate design border
ing the rich gold ground, is the handi-
work OF passionate maiden, who spent
years Cf patient toll on it, while b-foTa
her mind there stood the distaut visions
Of herself. mother. kueelug on that
rug in ardent prayer for her children.
That rug could hardly be produced
today for its own weight IN gold,
for not only the artist and the dyes are
gone forever, but the patriarchal days of
peace and quiet prosperity that made
snch art and labor possible arc no more
% be found under Turkish skies.
Turkish rugs Of the highest quality
have always been made IN the region Of
the Caucasus mountains by Turks. Ar
ueaians. Iurcouals and kuTds the lat
ter tvo being nomad races "Daghis-
tan (Which means mountain region Is
generic name given in the native coun-
lry t0 all close woven. heavy. fine wool
rflss which would naturally bo made in
a region where a large portion n the
people are occupied as shepherds rearing
aocks - fine sheep. The term Daenis-
tan however. has row come - be mi