The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-12-18
A WONDERFUL CARPET.
English Women viii Present It to the
Queen.


At Bridgnorth, within stones
throw of the home of Bishop Percy,
whose "Reliques' have justified the
preservation of his house. for nearly
four months past women have been
weaving with deft fingers the magnifi-
cent fabric which will be offered Tor
Queen victoria's acceptance. 1t is in
keeping with the loyalty of the givers.
says the London Chronicle, that the
carpet should be manufactured in
town which claims as its civic motto.
-"Fideltas Urbis Salus Regis" That
such carpet was in course of manu-
facture was generally known, but no
description of it has been made pub
lie.
In fact few, except the Prince Of
Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, and the
Duchess of Teck-in whose mind orig
mated the form which the gift was to
take-have had an opportunity of in
speeding the designs. When finished
it will measure IS feet by 16, and, al
though of unusually fine texture, is up
WdIu VI oil Hull III IAiShhOoos
1t was originally intended that thu
material should be mohair, but on
subsequent consideration the finest
worsted yarn was used, inasmuch as
this gives the firmest and most dur
able service. The coloring is regal in
it's richness, the whole being conceived
with a view to harmonizing with the
surroundings of the throne room,
where it will be used on state occas-
ions.
The centre, which is in two shades
of crimson damask, contains the mono
gram "V. R. II in bold letters Of gold.
supported by the Tudor rose and the
Star of India, the whole being inclosed
in a garter bearing the motto, "Honi
soft qui NAL y pense," surmounted by
the imperial crown entwined by a
wreath of oak leaves, tied with a rib
bon.
A marked feature is the border in
which, on an ecru ground, and in pro-
per colors, the rose, the shamrock, the
thistle and the lotus flower (the latter
mathematical of India) are continued
until the corners are reached.
At the angles are animals allegori-
cal of the colonies; the tiger repre-
senting India, the elephant Africa. the
beaver Canada, and the kangaroo Aus
tralia. The whole of these animals
are fifelike in coloring and attitude,
and were specially sketched at the Zoo
for the purpose of the design. The ex-
IRENE edge of the carpet has the con-
ventional band, worked in soft gold.
The Midland looms have rarely pro-
duced anything so strikingly beautiful.
Technically described, the carpet is
what is known as royal Administer,
every one of the thousand cords being
separately. tied by skilled female
hands. This fact lends additional in
terest to a gift offered by women to
their queen.
The loom on which the carpet was
produced consists mainly of two strong
wooden beams, over each of which the
work is stretched, and is in every way
identical with those on which the old
est examples of Oriental carpets were
made. Real Administer is only pro-
duced by a very few firms in England
at the present time, the exceedingly
slow process necessary rendering it ex-
tremely costly, and consequently Great
ing somewhat exclusive demand.
Since the middle of February no
fewer than twelve girls have been reg
ularIy employed on the carpet, the
number of hands being limited by the
size of the loom. All of them showed
the greatest interest in the national
gift, and individually endeavored to
turn out an article which will not only
be a credit to the firm by whom they
are employed, but will be singularly
handsome example of the superiority
of this branch of British industry.
A case composed of polished oak IL
being made for it's reception, and as
the latter is only to be used on state
occasions, there is no reason why il
should not remind many future sover
eigns of the love and reverence IN
which Queen Victoria was held by thu
women of England throughout all thu
years of her record reign.