The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-11

IL
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born Mrs. Belmont was collecting r.
lace for her daughters trousseau
The lace which her mother collected for
her and which the Duchess took TO Blen-
helm was valued at over 100000, and since
then her grace has more than doubled bs.
collection and it's value
One she possesses a piece OF lace ro.A
ing will tempt her to part with il and II
is said she frequently looks over and
fondles her treasures as miser does mis-
gold.
Here is an instance to the point. Tbe
Princess of Wales is a great friend of tba
little American Duchess, and they are in
innate and informal in their relations
The Princess is also devoted 10 Old lace
and the Duchess spent an entire afternoon
once showing her treasures TO the Prin-,
cess.
IN the lot was one very rare and Won
derful piece of old Italian lace. which had
once been part of Pope's or high priests
robe. The Duchess bought it when She
was in Rome on her wedding journey, and
paid an enormous sum for the piece The
lace is eXquisitely wrought of finest thread
in a design of flowers and scrolls, and The
Princess was greatly taken with t. She
to part with it TO any one, and the Duchess
replied: NO, to no one"
The Princess said no more at the time,
but the next day her royal highness sent
her equerry to state that the Princess
would be willing to give the Duchess ex-
actly double the price she paid for the
lace, and asked if her grave would let her
have it as a personal favor.
The Duchess has a good deal of the old
commodore in her composition, with any
amount of American independence and
where any other peeress of the kingdom
would have sent the lace post haste and
deemed it an honor to be allowed TO do
so, the American Duchess returned note
saying that nothing could make her change
her mind, not even We're Marlborough
house to be offered in return.
The Heirloom TO Be.
The duchess latest investment in lace
makes it 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 weayers'
and is in nine pieces. 1t is not to wear,
but consists of six curtains, two bed drap-
cries and Counterpart, or bed covering.
When the lace is finished, which Will De
soon, it will fetch all together the pretty
figure of $4,000
The bed curtains will cost 5000, the win
dow curtains $1,000 each, and the coun-
terpane the sum of $1,000.
The lace makers employed have worked
on these pieces night and day for three
years, and twelve more months will be
required to complete the order
The designs for the lace were all sug-
gested by the duchess herself, who mas
had them carried out after her own ideas
Every year when she goes to Paris TO or
der her wardrobe she examines the WORK
that has been done, and it has pleased
her greatly as it has progressed.
The designs for the window curtains
are elaborate scenes from the chase, car
ried out in the minutest detail, the faces
the figures, the landscape and all beng
as clear and fine as the needle can pos
sibly make them.
These scenes are all wrought out ON
groundwork of Illusion so sheer ana
fine and delicate that it looks as II tho
lace pictures were resting against inc
clear glass of the window instead OF Oh
net. These curtains by the way are not
intended to drape back, but to hahs
straight down over each window, so tha'
the exquisite pattern shows off clearly,
AIOuIu THESE pam ldCS CSAtSiS
the design is border of most marvellous
work in flowers and fruit crowded ricny
together. The scenes on each curtain
are different and all are suggestive Oh
Blenheim and Woodstock. There are tns
familiar landscapes of the place, ana Il,
nearly all of the scenes some view VI
the castle appears.
One scene represents stag hunting, an
other the shooting of birds, one foX huh'-
ing in full cry, another the start ahu
third the finish. The sixth curtain mas
scene representing falcon flying, and III
this one the duchess is in the center hold
ing hooded hawk on her wrist.
A Novel Iden.
All these scenes are distinctly the BEN
helm of to-day and modern in every de-
tail. The costumes are such as are worn
at the chase, and the figures of the Duke
and Duchess wherever they appear are
perfect portraits as far as such sman
figures can be made portraits with nee
die. The little Blenheim spaniels appear
in several of the scenes and are perlec''
executed.
The two bed draperies have the same
border of crowded fruit and flowers as tno
window curtains, but the center design
simple. the Marlborough arms carried ~,
in perfect detail with the crest at tile wy
and all the quarterings. ,.,4a
The Counterpart is quite as eaDoIdt%o ,
however, as the window curtains anu w
center represents the finest view oil i pi.u
helm palace, with the grounds IN ~
This is wrought beautifully, ana wiz IN,
spread over some pale color TO display
design 10 its fullest beauty. ,.-,ta
The Duchess ordered these eiaD'.~
lace pieces unknown to the Duke, VINO we
onlv let into the secret about six mon',s
ago. He was inclined to look upon
an extrayaeance. but the Duchess soon ve
planned to him that she desired 70 his
some special thing for posteriiy anu A.
lace will become famous and VIII py ,be
certain historic value, as it repI Ii,rious
chase and the hunt of to-day IN ITS ''''
branches.