The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-26

that was used In ornamentlng The taber-
nacle. The habit OF making presents OF
rare needlework is still common among
Eastern nations who changed their GUS
toms so slowly.
The graceful and sacred lotus was
favorite pattern for embroidery among the
Egyptian women, whose deft fingers imis
tated almost every object in nature. They
worked on robes which the king wore,
lions heads and asps, the emblems OF
royalty. They not only ornamented their
own clothing with the needle, but the
garments that draped the images of Osiris
and Isis; the hangings and furniture of
their houses and temples, and the sails of
their pleasure boats on the Nile; but re-
served their most costly work for decor
ating the boats used in religious festivals.
Before the Trojan war the women of
Sidon were famous for their embroidery;
later the Greek women carried this art to
such perfection that their work rivalled
the finest paintings. Embroidered gar
ments, wrought by the skilled hands OF
the Anglo-Saxon ladies, were SO esteemed,
so precious in all parts OF Europe that
they were called, by distinction, Angli-
cum opus. At that period ornamental
needlework was considered the most de-
sirable accomplishment which a lady, or
even a princess could possess.
The chronicler, William of Malmsbury,
who lived in the reign of Henry l., says:
"The proficiency OF the four sisters OF
King Athelstane in spinning, weaving
and embroidery, procured those royal
spinsters the addresses OF the greatest
princes of Europe"
Tapestry was brought into general use
in Western Europe, with many other ele-
The oldest known specimen is the Bayeux
Tapestry, an epic in embroidery, carefully
treasured for centuries in the cathedral Of
Bayeux, and now preserved in the hotel
de vile of that place. Miss Strickland
says Of this piece of work:
alt is beyond all competition the most
wonderful achievement in the gentle craft
of needlework that ever was executed by
fair and royal hands" 1t was done by
Matilda OF Flanders, wife of William the
Conqueror, and the ladies of her court. II
is coarse linen cloth, PA feet long and
twenty inches wide, on which is worked
in woolen thread of various colors, a
representation of the invasion and con-
quest of England by the Normans.
1t contains the figures of about 625 men,
200 horses, fifty-five dogs, forty ships and
boats, besides quantity of quadrupeds,
birds, trees, houses, castles and churches,
all executed in the proper colors, with
names and inscriptions over them to
elucidate the story. 1t is valuable
historic document, as it gives a correct
and minute portraiture Of the Norman
costumes and their manners and customs.
The most magnificent piece of ancient
needlework in existence is the state pail
of the Fishmongers' Company of London.
1t is picture wrought in gold and silk,
of the company's patron, st. Peter. He Is
dressed in pontifical robes, seated on a
superb throne and crowned with the
papal tiara, holding in one hand the keys,
while the other appears in the posture of
bestewias tAe ebeaedietiea--p each side
is an angel bearing gold vase. The
wings Of the angels are composed OF pea
cocks feathers in all their natural colors;
their robes are gold, raised with crimson,
and their undervests are white, shaded
with skvblue.
Their faces are finely worked, and they
have long, yellow hair. On the side pieces
are various designs, the most conspicuous
being Christ delivering the keys to st.
Peter. Among other decorations are the
arms OF the Fishmongers' Company which
are richly emblazoned, and the supporters
IL
worked; the norman in gold armor, the
mermaid in white silk with long tresses
in golden thread.
The skillful use of the needle has always
been part of the training of every we'll
raised girl. To learn how to sew was
disagreeable task to many little damsel
in the olden time as it is to-day. While
Katherine Parr was yet young child her
fortune was told, and it was predicted
that she was born to sit in the highest
seat OF imperial majesty. This prophecy
made so powerful an impression upon
her youthful mind, that on one occasion,
when her mother called her to her sewing,
she replied: "My hands are ordained to
touch crowns and sceptres and not spin
dies and needles"
But Lady Parr was too wise mother to
encourage her little daughter in idle
dreams that would unfit her for the du-
ties OF life; SO, Notwithstanding her early
repugnance to touching needle, she be-
came very skillful in its use, and two mag
nificent trophies of her industry are still
proudly exhibited at Sizergh Castle,
Westmoreland county, England. They
are counterpane and toilet cover, worked
entirely by her own hands during visit
made TO her relatives there. The material
is the richest white satin.
In the centre of the counterpane is
medallion, surrounded by wreath OF
natural flowers wrought in twisted silks
and bullion; spread eagle is in the mid
die, gorged with crown. At each corner
is dragon-like monster, embroidered in
purple, crimson and gold. The remainder
of the counterpane is worked in large
flowers, in gorgeous colors, highly en-
bossed, and enriched with threads of gold.
The toilet cover is exactly like it, only 1t
Is worked in smaller pattern.
The author of "The Lives OF the
Queens of England" herself related to,
Katherine Parr, says: "The lapse OF three
centuries has scarcely diminished the
brilliancy OF the colors, or tarnished the
bullion; nor is the purity OF the satin
sullied, though both these queenly relics
have been used on state occasions by the
family in whose possession they have re-
mained as precious heirlooms and memo
-rials of their ancestral connection with
Queen Katherine Parr."
Rpfpra hp ard ~ tho n pantrry