Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-13
THE VENETIAN LACE scHooIs
An Industry Revived by the Queen n aseum
OF Rarc Old Iaccs

An industry Revived by the ouecn-Mus~uw.
OF Rare Old Laccs.
Venice correspohdenoe Of the Mercer
The lace of Venice. like her glass and nosaics.
Is traditional monument 10 her ancient in
dustrial greatness Venice is the carl,es, horn.
OK lace, and from her hands IL was introduced
into other countries The hrst lace Was mad.
by nuns within the walls Of converts. for &C.
elcsiastical garments. With the fan OF "a.
Venetian republic the converts were closed ana
this graceful industry vas lost Cor an eutire
century.
In 1870 the Princess Ma-gherita, now Once.
OF Italy, determined 10 revive the art aud uro-
vide employment for Venetian women string
Cling in the throes Of poverty To her il du.
the credit OF the origin and endowment OF tho
existing schools. These schools are subsi-
diced by the Italian government and are mn der
the direct control of a company of which tha
1he'alier Jesurum IL at the head. There are
nov seven schools an full aud active operation
N venice ana her surrounding islands The
principal building iuts up against the time
colored walls Of San Marco aud from this ME-
turesque spot, under the very wing of III.
cathedrad. issue some OF the naost exquisite pat
terms OF lace that the world produces.
Yesterday l walked through the various
rooms OF this school aud saw tie women alb
sorDed IN their tedious work. Thew were Of
ali ages and sizes, from the soft-oved girl OF
Twelve 10 the gray-haired woman of si.tv.
tach sat on low stool and held Il plump.
square cushion an her lap. On this cushion
was pinned a strip of paper marked with the
pattern TO be followed, and into this pattern
the nlmble-tngered worker sticks glass
headed pms and twists her threads about
THEM From twenty TO fifty shuttles depended
from all sides OF the cushion, and these were
thrown across and back with the rapidity of A
typewriter handling the KEYS OF her machine,
ihe pms were constantly withdrawn and re-
placed as the threads advanced along the nat
tern. lhe process Is so simple that Il looks
IN. me play, out the lace produced represents
thousands OF hard gold dollars Ihe SIM
pie laces grow RAPIDLY under the den-
ferrous fingers OF the women but IA. en-
quisite rose point and it's kindred ouAli-
Ties evolve with u slow and proud dignity
number OF women were AT work on new
lace, designed by the Cheyaller Jesurum. This
was woven with bright-colored silks aud deyeI-
oped flowers and birds an all their natural
shades Polichrom is the maine given thu deli
cate fabric. lhe cost Of some OF the hand
made thread used in the finer laees is enor-
NOUS. IL Is spun from an especial kind OF TAX
ana has been known TO bring the extraordinary
price Of S2.500 pound
In this building there are large exposition
rooms, where lace is sold at fixed prices vary
Ing IRON 40 cents TO Goo yard. When 1 say
liked prices i mean 10 give the Inipressiou thar
the dainty fabric Is valued upon a stationary
basis, according to the time consumed in its
manufacture. The women are paid ifom IA 10
70 cents day, and their work Is valued at a
liked scale OF profit IL the la-cent woman
consumes ten days IN making a yard OF lace
this yard OF fabric Is sold for 40 francs, which,
OF course, includes expenses of tools. maternal
house rent &c.
There is also q museum here devoted 10 the
preservation Of old laces. Here the embroid-
cred fabric of history aud romance enroll, IT.
aIasN
one place, gay at another with the rosy Smiles
OF lie. The most remarkable piece on eNhi-
bitlon Is a fiounce made especially tor the En-
press Marie Louise by order a Napoleon IL
Is quite probable that the equal OF tine pattern
viii never be produced. The texture OF this
article ls SO line that one could imagine IL the
work OF a fairy. Ii is point d Alencon with
flowers. candelabra. symbolic vases and birds
which lose themselves IN q mass OF delicate
tracery.
lhis precious piece was the heritage OF Q
family OF Parma. who sold IL to the muse m
for an enormous price IN gold. In this mu-
scum hangs the portrait Of Queen Victoria IN
the costume worn at her jubilee. The lace Of
this costume was all made IN the Venetian
schools, and Is the finest work that has been
done by them
The second school in point Of size is situated
upon an island that sparklcs like level inn
bedded IN the sea- A path, marked nj intervals
by posts, leads across the picturesque lagoon
TO tile Island OF Burano. Down this path YOU
glide swiftly and softly. mere twist Of the
hand OF the silent g0ndolier sends the light
boat forward over the golden water. You
float up TO a landing and the oarsman fastens
his craft to one of the many blue-topped posts
that protrude out of the water.
The Burano point lace Is SO famous that il
does not require a minute description at my
hands. liz has been successfully revived and
the old patterns are being rolisiously followed.
The girls employed in these schools are Of uni
versal beauty. They are gentle natures and
turn their large, soft eyes upon you with an
expression of innocence and confidence. In
the old church on the island an antique altar
lace is preserved that is said TO be the finest
piece of lace in existence. 1t was designed for
and has never left the church, and Is held in
inestimable value.
In the prison on the Island OF Giudecca lace
making is carried on by the women inmates
and the men manufacture damask-
Under the direction of Signor Jeslrum the
industry has grown to enormous proportions,
employing no less than 1000 women. Ii Ia not
conducted solely for the purpose Of gain, but
to keep the nimble fingers of Venice in active
operation. OF course the schools turn out q
large product. the greater part Of which finds
its way to America Paris dictates the fashions
of the world, especially In womens wear. and
consequently quotes the price on lace. The
bulk of the output OF the Venetian schools is
sold from their headquarters in the Avenue
de rOpera