Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1901-11-04
THE RUG DESIGNERS
PATTERNS DESCEND FROM PARENT
 TO CHILD IN THE ORIENT.
heasons Why Animal Figures Are Aareiy Seen on Persian Rugs Prayer Rugs of the Mohammcdnn, and Their Use-The Rugs of Siyas

frayer Rugs of the Moha mcdan,
 and Their Use-The Rugs of Siyas.
 The designs of eastern rucs are ofte, the spontaneous outcome of the fancy of the weaver. Sometimes they are handed down from one generation to another In some cases young girls are taught the design by an adult. who marks it in the sand. At other times q dfaWlnS Of the rug is made on paper. the instructor showing her pupils the arrangement of every thread and the color to be used When all this has been done, the pupils must make the rug without looking at the drawing.
 Perslan rugs excel those of other countries in artistic design as well as In harmonious coloring. The Persians seem to have natural intuition in the use and blending of different shades. and in the designs that contain these certain colors they achieve the happiest results. It is really wonderful what exquisite fabrics these people, born and reared in ignorance and poverty, produce.
 The designs in Persian rugs are gen. erally floral and In some districts, es. pecially Ears, the women weavers in- vent the designs, varying them every two or three years. The Mohammedan religion does not allow any direct rep resentation of animal forms. conse- quently rugs woven under it's influence take floral. geometric and vegetable forms. He Shah sect of Moslems however, numbering about 15,OOo.O0O of whom S.0G00OO are Persians, do not regard representations of animals as unlawful. By the industry of this sect and that of infidels and of all who dis regard the law of the Koran animal forms are seen on some Persian rugs.
 The prayer rug was evidently invent cd for the purpose of providing the worshipers With one absolutely clean place on which to offer prayers. It is not lawful for q Moslem to pray on any place not perfectly clean, and unless each one has his own special rug he is not certain that the spot has not been polluted. With regard to the purity of
 
 specially careful when making their pi1grimageS. the rugs which they take with them having been preserved from pollution by being rolled up until the journey is begun or until the hour for prayer arrives. It does not matter to these followers of Mohammed how unclean q rt9sss that is on the floor may be. because over it they place the pray CT rug when their devotions begin.
 The Turkish rugs made at Sivas are always woven of wool, and almost ev- cry haniet carries on the industry of weaving in the homes. There are 10 factories the young girls and women dGiHg the work here as in other parts ot Turkey. Sivas rugs are in most cases small. measuring about eight by falir feet, but in these years larger and moro attractive rugs are being made. Even the poorest families have fine TUES, for they regard them as valuable property. 10 be sold only under the pressure of great extremity. The weav CTS are so frugal in their manner of living that their daily earning of 15 to
 
 wants Their food consists usually of rice and crushed wheat, with occasion ally a small piece of mutton.
 Smyrna is only 6 mart for the sale of comparatively inferior rugs that are made in the interior from the coarse hair of the .tr@ora goat These are woven in irregular designs and, al though not artistic, are largely sought as coverings for the bare floors and to add warmth. He weaving of these rugs is crudely done by girls and wo- men, Sometimes the loom is primitive ly constructed from the trunks of trees. The designs are very simple and have either been handed down from earlier generations or are supplied from the city.
 Yuruk rugs arc so called from band of nomads who dwell among the noun taias of Anatola. They have large flocks of fine sheep and weave rugs of firm even texture. The colors are very good the lielG often of dark brown, or namcntcd with large designs.
 About 200 years ago small eInbrodcr- ed rugs were largely made ill Persia, chiefly at lspahan. These were prayer rugs. and on each of them, near one end WAS q small embroidered mark to show where the bit of sacred earth from Mecca was to be placed. In obe- dience 10 q law of the Koran that the head must be bowed to the ground in prayer this was touched by the fore head when the presentation was made, and so the letter of the law was carried out. The custom prevails. The Persian women who weave the finest prayer TUES seldom weave any other kind of rug.-"Rucs. Oriental and Occidental"