The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-25
THE MEDIEVAL EAST
AND MODERN WEST
MEET IN RICHMOND
A Glimpse Through the Ka|ei-
doscope Of Commerce as
Seen by an Art Critic,
France, Turkey, Persia, India and
Our Own Country Each in Turn
Showing It's Storehouse Of
Treasures TO Richmond
People.

| SSf'S'
| Have you never been struck with tho
wonderful romance and poetry that is
| conveyed by some Of the things wo have
| around US every day? No? Then YOU
| have missed a great deal Of pleasure In
life. The wonderful progress Of our In
| dustrial and mercantile world has gone
| far 10 Introduce beauty In most things
| that Ill our latter day wants, be they
| humble or pretentious. Beauty OF concep-
| ton and execution. of shape and coloring;
| and like music to the ear, 30 Is beauty
OF lines and curves and colors to tho
cultivated eye. and the delightful dreams
| and fRucies that are conjurcd up by
origin and character!
TO share our enthusiasm we would
have you visit the third floor in Miller
&, Rhoads establishment. A museum as
much as n showroom. your visit there
will be q pleasure and an education.
| Wander through their rections. given over
to textile fabrics, lace hangings, to for.
eign or domestic draper1cs and floor
coverings: and II the coherencc Of tbs
| display and the rare excellence of some
or the examples exhibited does not touch
some "corde sensible" you must indeed
| be heart OF stone.
| Pause in their Lace Curtain Depart
ment and ask to be shown some OF their
finest specimens. Some beautiful Arn-
bian Lace Curtains, priced from s25 to
$50 per- pair. recall the extravagant
reign of Louis XIV, when the great paint
err Boucher. himself. designed many OF
the charming effects on which we now
feast our eye. Or look at this dainty
Marie Antoinette Curtain, how vividl5
Its chastity and simplicity remind you
OF the unfortunate queen and king, un-
der whose reign the French played at
shepherds and shepherdesses In laces.
silks. tight stays and high heeled shoes.
| And think OF the Frcrch peasant woman.
| for many, many months patiently work.
\ ing, deity weaving, for a few sous per
day. to create this magnificent hanging
| for your parlor window, my lady.
And now, what do you experience? Is
this sac!ilegc? Or are you in awe and
admiration for the majesty OF Tween
tieth'' century mechanical genius. that
reproduces the most intricate and costly
hand made laces by machine and pow
err loom? True copes and perfect re-
productions. And yours for few doll
| lars the pair.
But do not daily too long; there is too
much to be seen to give each feature the
attention it deserves.
| Proceed. and like a character In Ala
din's wonder lamp, you may feel and live
| In the atmosphere OF the thousand and
one nights. The Orient at Its best. What
| soothing and mysterious power these
| Mussulmap and Hindoo artists exert In
their masterpieces.
Those beautiful RUGS, that In the wild
! est interior of Persia and Asia Minor
| were woven and collected By the nomad
| after many wearX days of travelling
through deserts and mountain passes
| were brought to seaport towns and ship
| ped TO our modern shores. Oh, that we
had the gift to read some OF the histories
| these rugs would tell. Sec that sliken
prayer rug from Anatolia. See the arch.
| representing the door OF mosque. on
| which some good Mohammedan must have
| knelt to pray. the point OF the arch to-
| wards Mecca. What secret prayers did
| It hear, supporting the forehead of the
! kneeling devotce!
| Look at these BaSdad hangings. Can
you help thinking OF slnbad the Sailor!
| And India has given It's quota towards
this splendid collection. These shawls
! ~ covers. symbolic OF the warm blood
eu, barbarc creatures In every color con-
trast, In every feature Of their strong
-rd expressive design. make truly beau
| tful hangings. This Is forcbly demon
strated where, here and there In this
beautiful department. they were assem-
bled by clever drapcrs In cosy corners
and hooks.
From Hindustan to Japan here Is but
a step. And a stronger contrast could
not we'll be presented. The ingenuity
these Yankees of Asia display IN Their
manipulation OF bamboo and mating Ia
not only very interesting, but, character
istc of their race. 1t combines beauty
with usefulness. And the cost of these
articles Is ridiculously low.
There is much more In this beautiful
showing to be observed and commented
upon. too much to be dwelt on In detail
But If you would shake off that drea my
dolce far n!ente." into which the Orient
has tempted you, just look at these new
American creations in Drnperles and
Sofa pillows. The first perfect expres.
sion of the New Art OF young Nation
You cannot imagine anything more snap.
/ by and invigorating. Yet artistic of a
high order OF art witial. The effect ls
| too new and unusual to be described
These applques f toned and tinted leath
or on tremendously contrasted velours
embelllshed by the pyro-pen In masterl,
! fashion, and IN designs that are sim.
ply perfect These productions must be
/ seen to be appreciated and understood.
And Mcssrs. Miller g. Rhoads cordially
invite all lovers OF art and beauty t.
| visit their third floor and be shown
around, while to prospective purchasers
they not only assure moderate prices, bu,
also service ms efficient as perfect or
ganizatlon and honest methods can make
1t.