The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-12

An Industry Which Has Thrived I'm
der Queens Patronage.
Pail Mall Gazette.

Pail Mall Gazette.
Support home industries is the motto
par excellence for the coronation year. and
consequently the laceworkers of the west
country should receive their share of atten-
ton. Energetic ladies have from time to
time famed this moribund industry-as one
might really call it-into life. Great i'm
petus was given it at the time of Queen
Victorfa's marriage, when her Matesty's
wedding robe was made Of Honiton lace by
eighty-one women of Beer for the sum of
f1,OO0. But fluctuations followed this royal
order, the old workers died. the younger
ones were less skilled, and ii has been the
pleasure of some ladies of recent years TO
once more induce the laceworkers to regain
the old cunning. Beer is to-day still one of
the headquarters of the Honiton lace
makers, and in its wood-paneled parlors or
before Its cottage doors you can see the
women bent over the pillows on which the
bobbins fly and the pins change position as
II by magic. And as you watch you realize
that this work is worth its weight a hun
dred times in gold. For with all the MINI
bleness. the progress is so slow, the tax on
the eyes severe. Certainly the present
pay for beginners is not alluring She be-
gins by making queen Shells, and one
week is considered creditable achieve
ment. For this she receives the handsome
sum of pence to pence. Surely this is
poor encouragement for skilled work, and
the public would do well to support the
lyan. who employs many women in Beer
and keeps them supplied with orders on
commission. while lace depots are kept by
the Misses Newton, Mrs. Seward and Mrs.
Prescott. The public must be prepared to
pay well, too, or there will e.danger OF the
rising generation refusing altogether to
earn their bread so laboriOusly.
Certainly fewer presents are more accept
able to young girl than lace handker-
chield, and these are not prohibitive In
price, ranging from IS Cd to f5. Lace by
he rd sell dc
from LIS upward. while what is known as
raised work. is the most expensive. Flem-
ish and Italian laces are also made by the
Beer workers.
1t is interesting to learn something of
the history OF this most ancient industry,
though opinions are divided as to how and
when 1t was introduced Some quote the
Huguenots, some the prosecuted Neither
landers; in any case, during the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries 1t was well es-
tablished There is a tombstone in Honiton
churchyard to the memory OF James
Rodge, who departed this life in 1917, with
so much Of this worlds goods amassed
from lace selling that he bequeathed FOO
to the poor OF the parish in perpetuity.
Tradition has it that this James Rodge of
pious memory introduced from Brussels
the secret Of the fine stitches which appear
In Flemish lace of that period-hence his
wealth. 1t is curious to learn, too, that
sharpened fish bones were used instead of
pins In olden days; pins were SO costly
as to be beyond the dreams of lacework-
ers.
The beautiful lace veil which Queen
Alexandra wore at the opening of Parlia-
ment was made of Honiton lace, and this
fact should do much to help the workers
this year. Where the queen leads. all the
women of England are only eager to fol-
low; her beauty and taste in dress are still
the admiration of ALL So that there Is
every prospect of fortune smiling on Beer
In this year Of grace.
GLORIOUS Beer as the frivolous call Ii,
is well worth a visit, apart from its lace
making traditions 1t is delightful drive
from Seaton-the more or less fashionable
Devonshire seaside resort-to Beer. and
a ramble on the cliffs and tea in the vii
lage make an attractive programme. The
village street is an old-world picture with
its little sparkling stream and queer old
pumps. The cottages that rise on the hill
side are powered in flowers and the cottage
folk are kindly and friendly and soft OF
accent. In truth, the language of Beer is
not to be understood by the stranger, so
full of peculiar words and phrases is it.
Dark eyes and dusky hair, too, proclaim
foreign blood. Strange names are to be
read over the shops-the alien laceworkers
still live in their descendants in this corner
of the west Yes, Beer should not be
passed by-if only for the JOY Of gazing
out from Beer Head over the sparkling
waters and downward to the cove where
the fishing boats lie in the shadow of the
rugged cliffs. The fresh breezes. untainted
by railway smoke, Danish all cobwebs-all
memories of dusty towns.