The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-09

women of all ranks, from the palace to
the cloister. Like the women OF ancient
Greece and Rene. noble ladies whiled
! away their time by depicting in en-
broidery the exploits Of their husbands
or lovers in hangiESs for their chambers.
Tradition says that Matilda wife OF
William the Coaueror. embroidered the
record OF his exploits as represented on
The so-called Bayeux tapestry, which is
In reality an embroidery work on q linen
cloth. 10 inches wide by 226 yards long.
Let us hope she omitted some of the
gTuesoyne and inhuman acts of cruelty
whereby he devastated England In the
process OF subduing her people to the
yoke. think she must have required
the diligent help Of her maids to have ac-
complished this long strip of embroidery.
Matilda was by no means the only queen
who piled her needle at embroidery. We
read OF the rich embroidery which Queen
Emma, wife OF Canute, wrought with her
own hands and presented to the Church
at Ely, for the English ladies were skilled
In needlework before the Norman Con-
quest. History also tells US of the two
handsomely embroidered chasubles which
Queen Adhelais, wife Of Hugh Capet,
presented to the Church of st. Martin. at
Tours, and centuries later the Inflated
Mary OF Scotland beguiled by means OF
her embroidery many weary hour OF
her captivity In England. Catherine de
Niedici also WAS distinguished for her
skill in embroidery. 1t would have been
fortunate for the world If she had con-
fined herself to such innocent and femi-
nine pursuits, leaving intrigue and forni-
cation alone.
In no country, perhaps. was embroidery
so elaborate and profuse as in France,
especially In the seventeenth century and
earlier half Of the eighteenth Not only
were figures and portraits produced In
embroidery, but there was an excess of
f1cral and arabesdue ornaments, flowers
Of the grandose style. wrought with ara
hcsuues of gold and silver. among which
snarted birds and insects. CASTOR, DUKE
or Orleans. established lighthouses and DO
tanical gardens for the express PURPOSE
NJ supplying the needle with new forms
qua vicI,er t,nts. The English work too,
had q high reputation for excellence, dat
fnr back into medieval ages. Fortunately
there IL preserved In the South kensing-
Ton Museum al, invaluable specimen OF
english needlework OF the thirteenth cen
fury,
surpa ssed other countries IN tne 1cn,
ness OF her embroidery, as her troplcal
vegetation surpasses ours IN Insurance
and gorgeous co,oring. The Orientals also
show a more painstaklng spirit about tneir
embroidery than we do. inasmuch Is tney
mike It Just alike on the right and the
wrcng side. That this ws3 the case even
In very ancient times IL proved by what
sisera's mother says about her son TAX
ing "a prey Of needlework OF divers Col.
ora on both sides." Judges. chapter ..
Y. go
With our increasing facilities Tor pic.
to,1al art in modern homes. we need no
longer put the work OF the artist upon
the neeclewoman, but II seems that the
fancy for doing no has not passed away.
although the necessity has. In the Christi
mar number OF the Ladies' Home Journal
there is an interesting account OF Q cory
OF the I4stine Madonna. embroidered by
Fraulein Clara Ripberger. OF Drsaden.
This IL. perhaps, the most re1na1kabiS
Hicce Of neediework painting ever exc.
ctited. as she han suoose6sd not only In
. perfect reproduction Of every external
detail. but has ovo0 sopcod1eo6 stho ooul.