Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-05-11
WEAVING FOR KING

1t was several centuries age that a
new art was introduced into France by
some Flemish artists. From the first this
fascinating accomplishment caught the
BYE of that beauty loving nation. 1t was
also an industry that arrested the atten-
ton of the king, as well az his subjects.
It was called tapestry weaving and was a
most wonderful improvement ever upon
those webs cut from the looms of the year
1900 by those skillful weavers, the Sara.
Gems, for the invention had taken on new
features since it was rescued from the an
house Of Gobelin. Fresh patterns
devised with which to add to ita
and brighter oolors We'd with the
damelike Gobelin scarlet, so much talked
in the reign of Francis T..
And now some Of the most famous
Of the day were kept busy furnish
Ing new models for the lovely lengths
turned out Of the great looms, while the
whir whir of the rapid wheels, the click
of the flying shuttles, were heard in
every city Of the realm. These costly webs
purchased to enrich grand palaces,
the luxurious homes Of the monarch and
his court. And 10 every effort was made
10 furnish the market with new and strik-
Ing designs.
On a certain day, so this old story
runs, an order came to the great looms Of
Beauvais for a piece Of this tapestry rare
and beautiful enough to form the back.
ground of a young queens throne. There
was a good deal Of rivalry among the
weavers now AS to whose skill should be
able to satisfy her taste and so furnish the
web to the royal customer. The looms
than ever before. The artisans
wove with unusual care and skill, each
that his W workmanship would
please best the imperial taste.
Among the Flemish workmen was q
young apprentice, a inere lad, accustomed
10 being ordered here and there, a perfect
task drudge, indeed, to his hard taskmas.
He was a silent, sad looking boy, who
seemed to have no friends and to be quite
alone In the world. But he had an eye fol-
a taste for blending oolors and q
delicate skill in inventing patterni
for tapestry. Many a time he was scolded
and punished for his experiments, yet wal
cured one whit of making them. They
appeared to be the one pleasure Of his soil
tary life.
One day when he was cleaning up in
great loOlnroom over which his mas
ter ruled 1t occurred to him to gather uI
those bright threads cut off and thrown
away by the weavers. He noticed the 1ool
was almost covered with them. Evening
after evening he gathered the fragments
until he had a store. He sorted and ar.
ranged the oolors with care and taste.
And now the thought suddenly flashed
Into his mind that he would make a piece
Of tapestry himself.
At first the boy had 10 other motive
than just to while away some lonely hours
and to test his skill in weaving. But as
The inspiration of his work grew upon
him, as the interest in his task deepened,
he began to toll in pride and hope and to
take delight In his own power to create a
thing of beauty. He had to work in Sc.
cret, however, at night while the rest
slept. His stern master might forbid the
task, telling him harshly "to leave such
to his betters." He could scarcely
have borne to give up now. He made 1t
of friend and %contldant, poor, lonely
lad, and wove into the lovely harmonies Of
this creation his own young hopes anG
dreams. The tapestry became at last
of his finer fancies, his faires1
thoughts and most patient powers. 1t wa
indeed a beautiful web, and he grew tt
feel an intense joy in it's possession.
1t was finished ere long, and SO wheI
the king. with his attendants, came to ex
anime the costly store the poor apprentice
not without much inward trembling
among these his own work, so thai
1t might be seen and compared with the
rest. Would it be noticedp he wondered.
Would Its unique beauty catch the eye o.
any member of the imperial partyP Would
the king But he could only wait and
see what would happen, and taking the
glowing length in his trembling hands he
began to prepare 1t for his majesty's in.
spection.
The boy took special pains with the ar
rangement Of the folds as he hung his rich
web among the other lengths Of tapestry.
He had a careful eye for the details of biz
task and wished to leave nothing neglect
ed that would reveal to the royal eye the
beauty Of his handiwork. II
was for this reason that he secretly plan
ned to let his web hang just where a mel
low light would fall upon Its rich "color
scheme, " and go show to advantage its
delicately blended tints. But he hardly
dared now to raise his eyes to the radiant
when it was thus shown at itt
best. HI could scarcely believe 1t was biz
handiwork, wrought in secret and silence,
without help, encouragement or sympathy.
"Ill choose this, and, by my word, nc
otherl" be heard the king declare, and
then the lad, looking On in bewildered sur
prise, saw that the royal purchaser wal
pointing to his W web. He could not
however, ''believe his eyes," as the saying
IL. 1t seemed to him far too good to bt
true.
And yet 1t was true. The product o.
this youthful genius vas more beautiful
than the rest. The -poor boys experiment
had succeeded. The tapestry SO wonder
fully wrought Of those rainbow fragments
those rejected threads, had caught thu
monarch's fancy. There was something
in It's novel beauty, something in tt
unique design and delicate pattern, tina
even q kings taste. He saw II
the rare web q dazzling wonder that b,
coveted to enhance the splendor Of th.
queens throne on the day Of her corona
tion.
SO name and fame were 0 And un
til this day, II the story tells what ia true
the famous length Of tapestry remains II
the old place, a mute yet eloquent witness
Of the apprentice lads patience and genius
Its history lived, too, 90 that future gener
ations might learn what q boy, poor ant
friendless, fettered by poverty and lack o.
resources, could accomplish, and thai
mind Ii ever lord Of Its environments.-
Christian Observer.
A Suspicious Character.
The dromodary wandered one day be