The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-12-31

gradual Disappearance Of the carpet
and its replacement by the rus nv
erybody has observed the progress IN
this direction in the last few Years.
and az present Il seems as II the change
were going on more rapidly than ever
before Il Is hard 20 set an estimate
on the subject which can have any
claims TO accuracy. but the statement
OF one rug-dealer that fully SO per
cent Of the floor coverings now In use
are rugs may be taken as a conserva-
tive one II Is no, difficult to see why
the popular taste has turned this way.
For one reason, rugs are vastly more
convenient and lahor~saving. Instead
OF having to be swept vigorously and
often on the floor. they can be taken
mp every day. II necessary. and shaken.
They never become so impregnated
with dirt as carpets, and by their use
the dreaded semi-annual house-clean-
ing Is robbed OF one of its greatest ter
rors. The hardwood floors upon which
the rugs are laid can be kept perfectly
clean. and the gain TO health from
the Punishment Of the germ-harhoring
carpet is something 10 be considered.
People who live in apartmnts. or who
have occasion 10 move from time to
time, appreciate rugs 10 the full. They
viii lie anywhere, and the old-time
cutting and fitting process to which
carpets had 10 be subjected whenever
they were changed into other rooms is
avoided.
All these advantages of rugs yet
omit to include the further one OF ar
tistie merit. Laid upon wsll-fnished
hardwood floor. fine rugs. from their
beauty of texture and variety Of color
and design, are far more pleasing to
the eye than a monotonous stretch of
carpet, Made. as they are. in every
sire and shape. ii is possible to find
rugs 10 suit any part OF the house.
even for hall fioor-coveringS.
The superiority of the handmade i'm
ported Oriental rugs over the products
of machinery in this country needs no
argument 10 prove its truth. The only
obstacle in the way of a wide use OF
the Eastern rugs is their price For
tunately for those who cannot AFFORD
them. many of the limitations produced
here are excellent asd durable. They
cannot be expected to deceive an ex-
pert, but they are perfectly able to
stand on their own merits as WE'LL
made articles of furniture, desirable
when the precious products of the ORR
entail looms are unattainable.
OF the thousands of rugs brought
yearly TO this country from Persia.
Turkey and India, only a small per
,entage now are genuine antiques The
of these old treasures have
been largely drawn upon, and as
the rugs made several
generations ago are becoming rarer
and more costly every season. The
modern Oriental rugs are articles of
treat beauty, but comparison of them
with those which time has mellowed
shows the points of difference. The
antique rug has been treated by its
ormer owners with care which has
)ften amounted 10 absolute reverence.
Il has never been trodden upon with
shoes, or even sandals. but has felt
'nly the soft touch of bare feet. Such
iesecration as placing furniture upon
l, as is the practice here. would hor-
-ifed the Arab or the Persian who
made it and willed it TO his children.
i has been washed at times in pure.
soft water and then hung up to dry
n the fierce rays of the hot Eastern
sun The result of the treatment has
,een a general softening and blending
II the tones of color and an increased
ustre of surface. BY these points and
" the character of the design, which
aries with the generation, rug buyers
decide the antiquity of a specimen
The modern Oriental rugs also ex-
libit eolorings which are due to pecu-
lar and secret dyes not known in this
OF in Europe