Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-30
AT THE CITY OF LACE.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DISPATCH. ]


BRUSSELS, Oct. 19.-From Paris We CANT
to this city. We could not leave Europ,
without visiting the City of Lace.
seemed we should have known the city W,
were in from the lace in the show windows
Every one, no matter how unpretentious
had its display, more or less 'real, but al
ways labeled with, the cabalistic name Of
Brussels.
We went to a lace mandatory. The
work is practically the same in all. This
particular establishment announces on its
shingle in red, white and gold letters thai
it is under the patronage of the Queen o.
Holland, but as no one could remember the
name of this Queen we set the story down
upon the list of Brussels lies, by which
more than anything else we shall remember
the place. Really it is almost impossib.e 4
TO get two people of this city to agree upon
their numberless yarns and each one de.
clares the other narrator professional liar.
A Tedious and Grinding Process.
But the lace making is done before our
own eyes, and is already so wonderful moth
ing could be added that would increase our
interest. What labor it involves! What a
strain upon the nerves, and of course, the
eyes! As we watch the operatives we think
the wearing of lace involves greater cruelty
than the wearing of birds plumage, and
yet we have not the moral courage to resist
investing few American dollars in the
business. What woman would?
The most of the lace making here is done
by Flemish women, who have begun it
when children. The art is supposed to be
hereditary. Little girls of are already at
work, and take to it naturally. 1t is most
surprising what pretty things they make.
Nine hundred women and children are at
work for this one firm, which 1ourishes un-
der the name of the Royal Lace Manufac-
tory. What a great school for patiencel
If job had made Brussels lace he would bet
ter have deserved mis- reputation. Think of
its taking three weeks to complete one cor
ner of an ordinary handkerchief, and the
largest amount of money an expert can
make is l franc and % centimes, or Is cents
In our money, per day.
A Great Contract in Three Inches.
We notice an old woman working on a
piece of black Brussels which covers space
on the cushion of only about three inches
Yet 1t takes 400 threats and twice as many
pins to make it. The pattern, which is on
parchment, is fastened to a cushion; the
almost innumerable pins are then stuck
around in way that outlines the pattern;
bobbin is attached to the end of each thread
and the tedious work is begun. The pins
used are the same white variety commonly
used to hold our clothes together. To see
the skillful handling of the bobbins, the
turning, twisting and fastening of the cob
webby threads among the countless number
of pins is a sight well worth travelling to
Belgium to see.
And yet this style of lace is the least
tedious to make as we learn later The
finest laces are darned with cambria needles
and are made under magnifying glasses and
women who have made it life work ap-
pear bent almost double and so nervous one
wonders how they ever keep the pattern
straight Some of the gossamer thread
used in the manufacture of these laces costs
s., ,0G0 per pound.
We are shown a mantle in which the
costliest thread has been used. The mantle
was made for the Queen OF the Belgians,
Marie Henriette, and shows in the
pattern, Her Majesty's initials in mono
gram with the royal crown. We are shown
also in black laces, quantities for dresses in
prices ranging from S19 9upward-very much
upward, but only the fear of having to
swim home deters us from investing for
ourselves and all our friends
Pieces to Delight the SEX.
Nets there are here in stripes thick and
thin. as we say, which when translated
means one stripe plain and the next flowers
or figured. Others, represented as newer
in style, have foot-bands or borders, some
of them having the same effect as that pro-
duced by bands of ribbon. A whole dress
of this can be bought as low as S11 90.
Long scarIs are also display ed in great num-
bers and every inducement brought to bear
upon purchase. These scarfs are upon
exhibition in both London and Paris and
in all of these places We have been assured
they were ga coming style"
In white laces there is no end to the
beautiful things. There are vests, collars
and cuffs in exquisite sets of point lace.
hsadkerchiefs galore, founces that make
US tipsv with delight, fans that rival the
butterfy's wing in gauzv fneness, and
which make our eyes green with covetous-
ness; matchless parasol covers, christening
robes and bridal robes, indeed every known
thing that was ever made with needle or
boDbin, these patient toilers have made and
continued to make
The lace and lace makers will
be at the Worlds Fair. The process
OF making is to be one of the features of
the display, and 1 am sure, for women,
there Will not be one of more interest We
were shown some indescribably fine work
already under way for the Worlds Fair,
notably bridal dress, which it is expected
will remain in America, the idea over here
being that the almost fabulous price that
will be asked for it will not be considera.
tlon to the American papa who will pur-
chase it.
A Great Dress for America,
Appropos of this opinion on the part of |
here is an announcement that
has been goipg the rounds of newspapers |
and magazines on this side, and which 1 |
take from The 6enaeoonaau:
"Well, well, well! Here's girl in Amer
lea paying s2O, 900 $4,000 for dress to be