The morning times., 1896-10-11
lNVALIDS' FACTORY.
Shut.in Women Who Make Lovely
Lace.

Laces, finer than frost OIL the pane.
more fantastic than SPIDERS webs spulI
in the sunshine, leaves and blossoms of
shining flax In garden of Immaculate
linen. aud all SO beautifully wrought
with cunning needle that they would seem
the haudiwork of fairy folk. t..ssc, pile upon
pile. pinned 10 cOlorcd tissue papers. lie III
their square boxes in the trunk of a GER
tain lace merchant. Whose factory is one
of the most unique In existence.
The lace merchant Is Miss X L. Hunt
ing, and her factory" extends from quiet
New England farnhouses To pioneer towns
III the kar West. where, scattered here and
there over the country. live the fifteen
deft-fingercd lace-lnakers who constl; uteth
'fuc:ory" These fifteen womc; sud gir.s
who are employed all the year round in
making laces Tor Their nIorc fortunate sls-
ters. are hopeless inyhlids, who work in the
solitude OF their sick chambers, patiently
and carefully. with Tim anu languid iiugers,
incapable of ans heavier occupation
Filagrec fineries OF flounces and jabot
which 90 10 balls on the gowns of society
bellies. and 10 receptions on the poftly
forms of fine ladies. have pathetic life
histories wrought in leaf and bud, ani the
rosaries of cheerful, patience are tod.
sutch by stitch, in the garIands oc gus
sainer roses on wedding wells.
Some ofthe magnificent lace trimmed red
and table linen which has gone To the
furnishing OF Mrs. George Gould's new house
at Lakewood has come from Miss Hunting's
invalid Workers. A magnificent bed set,
consisting Of sheet and pillow slips, is to
adorn the spare had'' OF the state cham
Der. IL is OF sheer liren with Point venise
border at the top OF the sheet aud at the
enGs OF the pillow slips The sheet border
is almost half n yard in width. and the
pillow lace is eight inches. Mrs Gould Sc
iectcd for a large luncheon cloth ii design
inlaid IN the four corners of the linen
cloth representing horns of plenty, the good
old Biblical symbol foT feasting and good
cheer. 1t has been developed in heavy
Point venise and will outlast a generation
of feosiing. Mrs. Gould is especially happy
in her choice of philanthropies and many
of the luXurieS OF her home have cume from
similar sources, where specially interesting
and deserving workers have bcen helped by
her patronage.
Another patron OF Miss Hunting's fac
tory" of inYalids Is Mrs Cleveland. Dur
ing the last season her fancy in gowns has
chiefly run to crashes and brown linens, and
in many Of these simple little toilets a
handsome lace collar, wide and cape-likc
in effect. has been the Conspicuous finish of
| an otherwise plain gown. This was one Of
the prettiest pieces OF work sold during tue
season, a simple floral design, made to
Mrs. Cleveland's order. The first lady in
the land so interested herself in the unique
enterprise that many of her friends gave
generous orders for filmy preitinesses OF
table linens or toilet covers, collars. flounces
| and what not. Miss Benedict bsingone of tile
| most lavish purchasers. number of New
York society women have b-.n regular Gus
TONERS of Miss Huntipgs little factory
for years. and Boston, where she is as
well known as in Gotham, has furnished
many year-to-year patrons.
Miss HuBting's laccmakers are members
| of the ''Shut-in Society," whose official
| organ is little magazine called the
'Open Window and Miss Hunting is, her.
| self, an associate member. lace factory
OF invalids is an entirely unique enter
prise, and while not distinctly cliarita-
bic Undertaking, Miss Hunting has, through
her wealthy patrons, furnished the help
OF money-making occupation to those
who otherwise would have been entirely
| helpless and without means of support.
When family reserves made it neces.
sary for me to earn my living" Miss Hunt
ing says. in explaining the beginning of
| her lace factory. II knew no special oc-
cupation for which i was suited, until
1t occurred to NE to try lace designing
had learned laceniaking as pretty en-
pioyment for idle hours, but never imag-
ined 1 would ever utilize it for the gain
ing of MY daily bread. I did not know
that 1 had talent for designing until 1
4 began to design. / took some of my
work one day and went out to interview
a prospective customer. That first Gus
toner gave me an order for $10S worth
of goods, and I returned home elated
| FOR six years / have been in the busi-
ness now. As my work grew / thought
how mutually helpful it might lac made
| by employing others to do most of the
work and giving my own efforts to selling
the laces among people of wealth at the
resorts and fashionable hotels.
From the secretary of the 'Shut-In Sc
| c.ety.' OF which am an associate member
1 obtained the addresses OF a number OF
J