Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-13
KINGS WHO KNIT.
Many Noblemen Who Are Accom-
plished With the Crochet Needle.

10dlly NODltneu w uO Are ACCOM-
plished With the Crochet Needle.
From Pearson's Weekly.
The shah is one of the most expert knit
tiers in the world, and when last in Eng
land presented the Princess of Wales with
a beautifully knitted silk pair of stockings
which the royal giver had worked himself
The stitch with which the stockings were
worked was a very uncommon one, no
fewer than nine needles being employed by
the shah in the working of the stockings.
which, it is said took over six months to
complete.
The crown prince of Denmark delights in
doing crochet work. At quite an early age
the crown prince developed a taste for this
sort of work. but was given no encourage
ment to acquire any skill with a crochet
needle. Such work was considered effem-
mate and quite unsuitable for crown
prince. The boy had therefore to do his
crochet work under some difficulties, for
whenever he was seen at such work it was
promptly taken from him.
At last. however he made compromise
that he should be allowed to do crochea
work for an hour three days a week. and
during that time he made a magnificent
crochet lace shawl. which is now in the
possession of Queen Alexandra Recently
the crown prince has not had much time
to c@vote to crochet work, for he has mary
OtHcT occupations anu OutleS TO dlLenQ 10,
but at other times he shows, by the making
of a lace tie or handkerchief that he has
not lost his skill with the crochet needle.
The Grand Duke of Hesse devotes great
deal of time to doing embroidery work OF
an elaborate and really beautiful charac-
ter. He embroidered a shawl in twelve
colors, the designs representing episodes in
the history of a distinguished noble family.
The shawl was sold at a bazaar in Berlin
for ESQ and was afterward purchased by
an American millionaire for double that
sum. The emperor of Austria was at one
time an enthusiastic embroidery worker,
though it is some time now since he has
done anything with his needle. Some
years ago, while boar hunting, the en-
peror met an old woman who was selling
embroidered chair covers. r..---.5
The royal huntSman, who was I'M
known to the old wona, recognized one
OF the covers as an exact copy of a piece
of work which he had done himself many
years previously, and he inquired from
the woman where she had got that par
tteular bit of work.
Il copied that cover" said the old wo-
man. from a piece of work which the en-
peror himself did with his own hands,
band years gone by. wouldn't sell the
original for all the money in the world
but I'll let you have this piece. which
is very good copy, for 95."
The emperor at once recollecting hay-
ing given the embroidered cover to an
old retainer, and was much touched at
the woman's story. He asked her where
she lived, promising to send for the COW
er and at the same time saying that he
would send her the money she asked
for it.
What was the old woman's surprise
when the following day a messenger
wearing the royal livery rode up to her
cottage and handed her letter which
contained ESQ besides an autograph let
ter from the emperor expressing many
wishes for her welfare, and an order for
twelve large embroidered chair covers of
exactly the same design as the one he
had purchased.
President Loubet used to do some lace
work many years ago, but he is touchy
upon the subject. and thinks such work
altogether too frivolous an occupation
for man. Once when asked point blank
by an old lady If he had not done some
garding her sternly, replied: Yes, mad
am, but have put away the follies of
youth many years ago"