New-York tribune., 1908-02-08
ANCIENT IRISH FILIGREES.
So Exquisite They Must Have Been Fairies
Work, Saws Sir Purdon Clarke.

The Irish believe in fairies said Sir Caspar
Purdon Clarke at the Womens University Club
yesterday afternoon. after talk by Miss Evelyn
GIeeson. head Of the Dun Emer Industries, in
County Dublin, Ireland. upon "Revving Art Handi-
craft in Ireland" '"They must have employed
fairies to do that marvellous flisree work which
comes down to US from ancient Ireland. Human
hands are too big, TOO clumsy, to have formed
those exquisite traceries, which you must exam
ine with microscope to see their full wonder we
have beautiful figree work from other ooun-
tries but it all looks coarse beside the Irish spec-
mems.
The Ireland of to-day clings those treasures.
There are things in the Dublin Museum which all
the wealth Of Pierpont Morgan could not buy. But
We have started to get copies in New York
Some which arrived at the Custom House Thurs
day. said, Will be IN their places In the
Metropolitan Museum in a fortnight. I'VE are get
ting the finest up there first. The wonderful reh-
quarry which held the bell Of st. Patrick has been
taken up and is to be the top OF the central
staircase. And there are two nne pieces or lr1en
tapestry in the lace ROOM
Miss Gleason gave brief history OF the home she
started five years ago in an old-fashloneo mouse
rear Dublina home for the revival of the ancient
handicrafts of Ireland. II know when one speaks
reviving the ancient arts and crafts OF ireland
most people will say there none to revive"
said Nevertheless, in early Ireland the name
of the maker stood proudly beside that OF tho
king. Embroidery so highly esteemed that tho
penalty of stealing an embroidery neeoe vas pun
ished By death"
Rug making the first art industry taught
at Dun Erner. But with Miss GIeeson was Miss
Eunce Yates sister OF w. B. Yates, and she
began to teach printing Printing in Ireland was
a curious thing at the time we started. Miss
Cleeson said The pages would be covered with
queer little wriggly ornaments Miss Yates tried
the experiment of sending out books done IN clear,
uniform type, and It is succeeding wonderfully
we'll"
BookbindinE i- done there. too. and now they
are making copies of the old tapestries. Tapes
try is soul testing work. she said IT II 4.
sary o take out stitch. the whole line across
the tapestry must be taken out I often think 1t
illustrates the tangle get into when depart
from the truth.
Our girls love the work at Dun Elmer. II is no
trouble 10 teach them If you go into the
workrooms and them, with their bright eyes
and their pretty ribbons, laughing at their work,
you would think II pleasant sight.
We want to give the young people work in
Ireland We want to keep them there II was
due TO burning desire TO aid people that
began the work at Dun Erner II is very sad"
said Miss Gleeson, TO Ireland losing all its
young men and young women In the chronicles
of the ancient Celts there is story of a wonder
ful country in the West TO which all ewes were
ever turned It is curious that in these modern
unles ali ireland turns its eyes toward a country
your country-here in the West You can scarce
children have not gone and the father and mother
are left alone with their sad eyes turned toward
the West.
We TO establish industries to keen our
young people at home. And II is 10 find an outlet
for our energy that / have come to America
Whenever ! meet wealthy Irish people here T ast
them when they buy presents to buy Irish work
and many doing IL now You have taken ,,.,y
OF our young people Now we ask your interest
in the work We are doing there"