Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-11


Belmont was collecting rare lace for her
daughters trosseau.
The la,e which her mother collected for
her and which the duchess took to Blenheim
was valued at over 800, 900, and since then
her grace has more than doubled her collec-
ton and its value.
once she possesses a piece OF lace nothing
will tempt her to part with it, and it is said
She frequently looks over and fondles her
treasures as a miser does his gold.
The duchess latest investment in lace
makes 1t doubtful whether so costly and
ambitious an order was ever given before,
unless, perhaps, by some French queens Of
long ago.
The lace in question is being made by the
most accomplished French weavers, and is in
nine pieces. 1t is not to wear, but consists
OF six curtains, two bed draperies and a
co~unterpane, or bed covering. When the
lace is finished. which will be soon, it will
fetch all together the pretty figure of $4,000.
The bed curtains will cost 1000, the WIN
dow curtains 1000 each, and the counter
pane the sum of $4,000.
The lace makers employed have worked
on these pieces night and day for three
years, and twelve more months will be re-
CURED to complete the order.
The designs for the lace were all suggested
by the duchess herself, who has had them
carried out after her own ideas. Every year
when she goes to Paris to order her ward
robe she examines the work that has been
done, and it has pleased her greatly as 1t
has progressed.
The designs for the window curtains are
elaborate scenes from the chase, carried out
in the minutest detail, the faces, the figures,
the landscape and all being as clear and fine
as the needle can possibly make them.
These scenes are all wrought out on a
groundwork of illusion so sheer and fine
and delicate that it looks as If the lace pic
lures were resting against the clear glass
Of the window instead of on net. These
curtains, by the way, are not intended to
drape back, but to hang straight down over
each window, so that the exquisite pattern
shows off clearly.
Around these plain lace centers with the
design is a border of most marvellous work
in lowers and fruit crowded richly together.
The scenes on each curtain are different and
all are suggestive of Blenheim and Wood
stock. There are the familiar landscapes of
the place, and in nearly all of the scenes
some view of the castle appears.
One scene represents stag hunting, an
other the shooting of birds, one fox hunting
in full cry, another the start and a third
the finish. The sixth curtain has a scene
representing falcon flying, and in this one
the duchess is in the center holding a
hooded hawk on her wrist.
All these scenes are distinctly the Blen-
helm of today and modern in every detail.
The costumes are such as are worn at the
chase, and the figures of the duke and Ouch
oss wherever they appear are perfect por-
traits as. far as such small figures can be
made portraits with a needle. The little
Blenheim spaniels appear in several OF the
scenes and are perfectly executed.
The two bed drapeTies have the same bor-
der of crowded fruit and flowers as the win
dow curtains, but the center design is sim
pie. the Marlborough arms carried out in
perfect detail with the crest at the top and
all the quarterings.
The counteTpane is quite as elaborate,
however, as the window curtains, and the
center represents the finest view of Blen-
helm palace, with the grounds in front.
This is wrought beautifully and will be
spread over some pale color to display the
design to its fullest beauty.
The duchess ordered these elaborate lace
pieces unknown to the duke, who was only
let into the secret about six months ago.
He was inclined to look upon it as an ex-
travagance, but the duchess soon explained
to him that she desired to leave some spe-
become famous and will be of a certain his
toric value. as it represents the chase and
the hunt of today in its various branches.