The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-20
Lace Making, Rug and Tapestry
Weaving Revival Of Ancient
Arts Has Gone Far Toward Re-
deeming Ireland from Poverty
Limerick, carrickmacross and
Irish Crochet Laces Made by
Peasant Women-Weavers from
Galway-The Art Guild Of Miss
Elizabeth Yeats. . e..
New York Post.

Disappointment, with their brief
American experience is freely expressed
BY the Irish lace-workers, weavers and
representatives Of the various cottage
industries in the Green Isle. The dearth
Of visitors, especially purchasing visit
ors, is the main cause Of their disap-
Miss Ellen o'Reilly, in charge of the
exhibit, described the organization OF
the village industries in her county.
Seventy women Of the educated classes,
members Of good county families, form
an association, the yearly dues of which
pay the expenses Of the organization.
Something like nine classes in lace-mak-
ing alone have been formed and are
,fourishing in the various villages.
From six to sixty girls attend the
ia ee Materials are furnished
free Of cost, and all good work is pur-
chased the organization at good. prices.
An Industrious worker can easily earn
a pound a week, which, is more than she
could earn in factory or in the fields,
where most Of the girls. were working
before the guild was formed. After
the annual expenses Of the guild are
paid a bonus of about 10 per cent is
paid to the workers. Exhibitions are
held in London and at the Horse
Show, which is the great social event OF
the year in Dublin. 1Our laces and
orr other work have taken many
prizes,o said Miss O'Reilly.
Evolution of Lacemaking.
For years the peasant women have
been practicing the secrets OF the lace
makers art among those green boys
Fashion passed them by for many sea-
sons, when all Of sudden kind-heart
ed members of the British aristocracy
woke up to the fact that all the beau
tiful lace in the world was not made in
the Low Countries; that at their OWE
doors, or at least no more than across
the way, the loveliest creations were
being made to sell for song TO who
ever would buy. There was great re
vival Of interest in Irish crochet, Car
rickmacross, Limerick, and native
duchess and point. The wedding gown!
of English princesses thereafter were
adorned with Irish lace, and the rest o.
the world Of fashion followed suit.
All this has done wonders for the
peasantry Of Ireland. Whole communi
ties have been, rescued from grinding
poverty, and in many cases, compare
tive affluence has been gained by skill
ed workers. Among the other exhibits
is one Of the lace-making industries con
Quoted by the Roman Catholic Sisters
in Ireland. The converts all over Ire
land have bent the energies of their de-
voted sisters to revival Of village
industries. No, the nuns do not make
lace or embroidery nowadays said one
sweet-voiced sister. They are kept
busy teaching the little girls. Is the
work hard on the eyesa Oh, very. Yes
it is too bad to wear out ones eye:
making lace for the rich, but Is nc
worse than wearing out the body, anc
the soul as well, toiling in factories
Besides, there is better living to be
gained by making Lace
Close beside the white-clad nun sal
a peasant girl Of II or whereabouts
stocky, red-cheeked, and bashful. She