The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-13
Revival Tn Real Laces. Old Patterns Resunected and New Combinations Effected

that prevails on this side of the Atlantic: and every mother plans to have at least some few of the little shirts and slips for the little stranger all hand made and trimmed with more or less real Valen- ciennes entre-deux and edging
 Anyone who has ever sojourned for any length of time In the Emerald Isle--as Ireland Is familiarly known-coud not help but observe the artistic bent of the native inhabitants. Irish linens and dam- asks are known the world over. and command a higher price than those of anv other nation. But the failure of crops and the steady draln on the popu- lntlon made by continued and sustained emigration to these United States brought about laca of commercial enterprise that threatened to sink all of the char ncteristically Irish industries In short or. der.
 To Lady Aberdeen belongs the credit of the revival In these. Lord Aberdeen entered upon residence in Ireland with great deal of political prejudice to over come. Ills clever wife speedy found the way to popularity, and at all of the vice regal receptions. both social and political. she expressed her wish that guests-so far as possible-wear toilettes expressive of the artistic side of Irish productions.
 Linens at once sprang into favor Irish crochet which had languished for long tme sprang Into the highest esteem. and convent schools were subsidized-from Lady Aberdeen's private fortune-to re- ylve the old arts of Irish laces. Irish poplins, embroidered as only the Irish can do 1t. commanded q marvellous price. and Limerick lace, Carrlckmacross. crochet Of various kinds and characters are In such demand today that almost any price Is paid for them abroad. since the supply In the market .annot begin to satisfy the demand
 On yachting trip up the west coast Of ireland some few years ago this scribe had ample opportunity to observe the c..ss of work done by those-allegedly ignorant peasants. Handkerchefs, chemi- settes, collar and cufr sets. vests. little coatees, parasol covers and what not are embroidered bv the peasant population during the long winter evenings. Agri- culture is not possible In the winter months: darkness sets In early In those attitudes, and the womenEirl Of the household take ID the needle as means of passing time as well as of earning few pennies. Embroideries that are usu' ally credited to France are done upon the barren and bleak coast. The natural hu- mldity of the atnosphere-it Is said to rain every day in the year at sometime or anoth permits of the nlnning ot marvellously nne linen. both for weaying and for embroidery threads. The designs nre left entirely to the workers, the fac tor. as he Is called. In Belfast merely in- djcating 10 his local agent. oftentimes the parish priest, just what his market de- mapds. Embroiderles that are positively foirvlike in execution fetch bu. few nennies. and the work of months will often bring in but q dollar when finished.
 Belgium is really the center of the hand made lace industry at present. The sprightly fancy and nimble fingers or the French are combined with th- steady per severance .nd application of the Dutch. with the result that some beautiful speci- mens of lace are turned out at close h. teryals. fan in the finest point de gaze, unmounted, took two years tc make and fetched the sum of f10o Approximately s50D decade ago. Today 1t Is estimated to be double that In value; and all of tn rare old laces are being revived, with most satisfactory result-so far as the prosperity of the makers Is concerned, at any rate.