The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-09
ART OF LACE MAKING.
BY EMMA TouLMlN REID.

In Isaiah, we find the description They
that work at fine flax and they that
weave net works."
From the time of the Pharoahs until
today, the love of fine lace has been COM
mon to the women of all countries. Net
ting was the primitive Acknowledgements
of this net woven and knotted ike hsh
netting have been found in the tomps
and mummy wrapping of the Egyptians.
Point lace, made with needle, Is credited
by some to be the Oldest specimen OF
ce-making-though there are lots Oh an
cient lace that indicate the bobbin, Is Oh
very olden date, and in these remnants
many threads are woven, While In point
lace only one thread is used. The ltal-
ians are said to have invented the bob
bin lace-it was a product of that eoun-
try Hlong before 1t was introduced else
where When the peasant class was SO
solely oppressed In northern Europe IN
the year of 1861 Barbara Won Etterlln
found the lace-malking art, where II was
next introduced to Flanders, and feelins
the need of some industry to relieve the
distressed situation of her country, this
philanthropic woman learned the art from
a protestant lace-maker, who had been
expelled from her native home on ac-
count of her religion. She married
rich mine owner, Christopher Utman OF
Annaberg, at which place she founded
a lace-making school, and taught the
several patterns-the lace-making lndus-
try became a flourishing source of money
making and Flanders is famous for the
art, from the generous spirit of Barbara
Utman. The industry spread rapidly from
the frontier of Barbara to Altenberg
and Gernsng, giving employment to 3d.
600 persons-producing an annual revenue
or 100000 Reichs marks
In the green vaults of Dresden Is pre-
served an Ivory statuette of Barbara Ut
man. and her grace store bears the In
scription: "She became the benefaetress
of the Erzgebirge. through the art or
lace-making and epitaph reading.
IAN active mind and a sensitive hand;
They carry Gods blessings into the land.
In the seventeenth century France be-
came a rival and thus a law in Flanders
preventing the lace-makers from crossing
the boundaries-a few had already
crossed, and Louis XIV determined to
increase the revenue of the country, in
duced Italians and Flemish women 70
teach the art to the French, and later
the making of lace spread into England
and thence to Germany, where, in Berlin
5000 people were employed in the art OF
lace-making.
Queen Elizabeth is said to have intro
duced 1t In Denmark; James Rodge OF
Honiton is said to have introduced 1t in
England; hence Honiton lace derives its
name.
ireland was among the last of the Euro
pean countries to take up lace-making.
and until today the Irish point lace is a
favorite on the market in all countries.
While laces were sold in all parts of the
United States not until 1902 did 1t become
a popular work among American women.
In the spring of 1901 a demonstration of
lace-making was being given in museum
in Chicago by a foreign woman-great
crowds of women were deeply interested,
when a smart young man with an in
ventive genius became interested and
asked an interview with the woman who
was rendering such beautiful work on a
cushion" a device used by her method;
his persistence awaited nothing-he was
full of Yankee energy, and finally sue
ceeded in calling on her at home, when
she gave him instructions in her art
From this he began to plan for inn
proved methods and modern machinery,
and after many trials and experiments
he invented the first lace-making ma
chine in America, and in 1903 lace-mak-
ing in the United States by machinery be-
came a success, and now woven laces
of every description can be found on the
market including the Princess lace, Tor
chon. Cluny, Smyrna, Honiton, Guipure,
Machlin, Saxony, Valenciennes, Point and
Duchess. Many copies of imported pat
terms and much that is original. 1t is es-
timated that near $500 American women
are now employed In lace making.
The machine lace Is priced so as to be
in reach of all-but when the original
hand made lace Is purchased the price in
dicates how highly appreciated the an
tique article remains. Though the ma