The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-16
IRISH FRIEZE.
Interesting Historical Facts About Tb,,
Much Worn Fabric,

Much Worn Fabric.
AS fur back us the history of Ireland
can be traced in writings mention is
mndc of n coarse wooden cloth woven
by the people of the country and known
to them as frieze. Tho name is said To
be drawn from the ancient Frisa in the
Netherlands, whence possibly the art
of making tho fabric was derived. So
remote, however,. is the period when
frieze was first made in Erin that no
one can tell when or where or by whom
it was originally spun. Century after
century, so long that the mind of man
runneth not to tho contrary, it has been
the national cloth of Ireland, tho dis
tinctivc dress of patriot, peasant and
peer, and since the seventeenth CEN
fury an outward badge of the peoples
aspirations for nationality. For when
England destroyed Ircland's commerce
by the infamous navigation act of 1868,
and the injured country began to pro-
mote its own manufactures, led by
james, the first Duke of Ormonde, it
was to the wooden industry that it
turned its chief attention, and on which
it founded its highest hopes for q re-
vival of its prosperity, and then the
making of friezc became the occupa-
ton of the women of every shecling.
While the men tended the herds of
sheep and prepared tho wool, the col
leens kept their spinning wheels whir-
ring and their looms clacking with the
materials for the great staple. And
when the expectation of wooden goods
from Ireland was made crime in 1909
the people of that island became too
70
of homemade clothes aud still
had need of frieze in local
trade and for private use. In
1899, when the condition of the peas
antry was most deplorable they be-
sought the king" says Mr. Froude, ito
interpose in their favor, and procure
them leave to export and sell at least
the coarse frieze blankets and tlanncls
which the peasants wives and children
produced in their cabins" But their
appeal was in vain. The English par
Lament, that had ruined their trade
and suppressed their most profitable
manufactures refused to allow them
to dispose of the goods they still made.
AT last, when the volunteer movement
triumphed, the British laws, (which
prohibited the Irish from exporting
their wooden manufactures and their
glass. were wholly repealed" says Mr..
Leclly. "and the great trade of the col
onies was freely thrown open to them.
Frieze covered Sarsfield's soldiers in
1000; it made ovcrcoats for the volun-
teers in 1872 It was worn with pride
by the chiefs of the olden clans, by
Henry Grattan, by Daniel O'Connell; it
is used to-day by Charles Stewart Par
nell, by Michael Davitt and by the
other leaders of the Irish people.
Frieze is still made in Ireland. No
longer woven to any extent on hand
looms, it is produced with improved
machinery, from beautiful patterns, by
skillful worlsmen, in prosperous mills.
1t is honest goods. There is no shoddy
in it Every thread is WOOL The
fleece is fine. the color is fast the de-
sign is neat, the finish is artistic, and
the wear is everlasting. Pure as the
patriotism of the people who make it,
simple as their nature, true as their
love, it is typical of Irishmen, and de-
serves to have the name inseparably
linked to theirs in its namo of Irish
friezc. -Donahoe's Magazine.