Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-25
BEADS OF ROSE LEAVES.
An Art of the Middle Ages That Has
Been Revived in Denver.

Tho art of making beads from rose
l.ay.s has recently been revived in
Denver, 1t has fingered since nediae-
val times in few converts III france
- Mas lne E" "a Al
until an American woman, Mrs. W IL
liam ". hall of Denver, discovered II
in Roman convent, learned the pro-
cess and brought it home
The Crusaders brought back from
the Orient the secret OF making altar
of roses. a mandatory of TINS per-
fume was established near convent
in Italy, so runs N ItN
perfume was made and the rose pulp
remaining was thrown out as "ois.i'
less. The nuns gathered up this odor-
Gus pulp and by experiment develop
ed the art OF making beads for
rosaries from it.
First the fresh rose leaves are
thrown, handful by handful, into the
hopper of an ordinary kitchen meat
chopper. \ dish il placed beneath to
catch the flood of juice that pours
from them as they are ground, and all
this Juice is poured back upon the
pulp The mass of wet pulp is then
spread on an iron baking pan. 1t is
the contact with the iron which gives
Il the Jet black, which is the eventual
color of the beads.
For q hours the mass remains, &C.
easionally turned and stirred with q
knife to bring every portion into con-
tact with the iron. Then the mass is
run through the chopper again and
put back on the pan. This is done
nine times in all. At the end Of that
time one has a fine, coal black dough
with no resemblance to rose leaves,
but with all their scent.
At the end OF the ninth day ordinar-
lily the paste is rolled. But only ex-
perience can tell If it is exactly ready
on that day or if it should dry little
longer. If too dry it can be moistened
with a little water. When the paste is
ready to roll it will retain any form
into which it is moulded. If too hard.
it will crack.
For beads enough pulp is pinched
out to make bead as large again as
is required. 1t Is rolled into sphere
and left on fiat surface to harden.
Twenty four hours later it is rolled
again, smoothed and compressed and
left to harden another day. On the
third day it is pierced. \ wire or a
hat pin may be used to pierce the
beads through the center and the
beads left upon the wire or pin to
harden.
At this time or little later the
beads may be marked or carved with
any design desired. Any small i'm
plement which will make an impress
may be used. A hairpin has been
known to achieve wonders in skilful
hands.
The beads are left to dry until they
have ceased shrinking. Then they are
polished first by rubbing forcibly be-
tween dry palms, then between palms
moistened with vaselne or cold cream.
This gives them the polish of dull jet
and the process is completed by dry
ing them on a soft cloth. At any
later time when the beads grow dull
they may be restored to lustcr by the
palm and vaseline treatment.
The charm of these beads is that
they long retain the rose odor. They
may seem to lose it when worn i'll the
open air. but regain it on being en-
closed in tight box in cotton wool.
RoSarieS. necklaces. bracelets and
watch fobs are made and hatpins may
be achieved by dipping the head of the
pin into glue and pressing it forcibly
into the mass of pulp which has been
chosen for the tops.
In stringing these beads personal
taste is followed. They may be used
alone or they may be strung with two
little gold beads after each large rose
It'd. In long chains this Is charm
Ing. II fs Sss'
NO white or pale roses will make
these beads succassfuN". ONLY @" 10
heavy odored petals give satisfac-
tory result. Mrs. Han computes ,Idt
on the average it REQUIRES the petals
of twelve roses to make one bead.
Each mess of pulp started must go
through alone. Additions of pulp at
an earlier stage Of the process will
ruin the whole. But beads from many
d!ferent messcs can be strung to-
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