Gilpin observer., 1914-12-03
Sara HadIey Knows All There Is
to Know About the Deli
cate Fabrics.
IS CONSULTED BY UNCLE SAM
Unborn Skill, Study Abroad, and
Teaching Have Made This Cana
dian Woman One Of the Great
est Lace connoisseurs in
This Country.
By RICHARD sPILLANE.

toms authorities at one of the large
ports along the Atlantic have laces
or other delicate fabrics about the
value Of which they are in doubt. there
is one rule to follow. That is to send
for Sara Hadley. In the estimation
of the government, she knows more
about needlework than any other wom-
an in America. She Is Americas great
lace expert. There is not stitch that
is known to woman that she isn't mis-
tress of. There isn't thread that
ever was made that she doesn't know
the history of. There isn't precious
piece of lace work handed down from
former centuries that she doesn't
know as well as the most famous of
art experts know the work of Michael
Angelo. Rubens, or any of the other
great masters. Whatever she says
about the product of the needle is ac-
cepted as gospel.
Some girls take naturally to needle
work. Sara Hadley was one of them.
She is Canadian, having been born
in Chatham, which isn't far from De-
trot. She had local reputation be-
fore she was twelve years old for her
remarkable work in the sewing line.
Her people were well to do and there
was no particular reason why she
should apply herself to needlework,
but she had so much love for making
pretty things and so much patience
that her parents determined to in
dulge her to the fullest and give to
her every opportunity to learn all there
was to be learned about the art. After
she got through school on this side of
the water, they sent her abroad. She
finished her regular studies in ia
nous educational institution and then
she took sort of postgraduate course
by travelling all over Europe. She
didn't travel as most women travel,
but went to live among the peasants
to study their work with the needle.
There she got more knowledge about
lace making than she ever absorbed
through books or regular teaching.
Through France, Belgium. Switzer-
land. Italy. Sweden and Ireland she
went on her mission of study. 1t
took years of earnest work. but they
were happy years.
Was Forced Into Business.
When she returned to this side OF
the Atlantic she had no intention Of
making business use OF her accom-
plishments. Some persons are forced
into business.
Miss Hadley couldn't help sewing.
1t was second nature to her. Women
who saw her work or heard about it
questioned her. Then they told 9TH
ers about her. That led to a lot of
visitors. They made all sorts OF sug-
xestions TO her as to what she should
do. Some of them wanted to take
lessons from her. She went to New
York and had the same experience
she had In other cities. She was in
duced to give lessons in embroidery
and the most delicate Of needlework
to a small class OF women. That paid
her 30 well that she took another
class. Teaching was easy for her.
A little later she began to write
about lace and as result of that
writing she became editor Of a mag
azine known as the Lace Maker. Col
lectors consulted Miss Hadley when
seums asked her judgment and en-
ployed her to search the history
of such laces as they possessed. The
government recognized her officially
by using her writings and her exam
pies as the basis for instruction in
needlework in the government schools
in Porto Rico. the Philippines and
elsewhere. Then she got to buying
laces and displaying them.
Probably no woman who ever lived
has had more influence on needlework-
ers than Miss Hadley. She has in
vented all sorts OF stitches, and ere
ated a multitude OF new designs. 1t
was she who introduced the dolly and
table laces generally. The inserting
OF lace into linen for table laces was
her work. She can copy any picture
In lace. She can represent any style
or any period with the deft touches
Of the needle.
Now Great Lace Dealer.
From her start as teacher and her
work as editor and adviser to collect
ors. Miss Hadley has grown gradually
to be one of the great lace dealers of
America. Many Of her treasures the
public never see. All the more beau
tiful Of her laces are hidden away in
great safes. guarded as jealously as
the Maiden Lane diamond merchants
guard their most precious jewels
And why not? Some of these laces
are eight centuries old. There are
pieces OF gowns worn by priests. bish-
ops and princes Of the church ages
before Columbus was born. There
are collars that were worn by the
doges OF Venice In the time of Vene-
tlan greatness. They are very thin.
very frail, very filmy. They are worth
a hundred times their weight in gold.
They are the very finest examples Of