Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-12-04
Sara Had|ey Knows All There Is
TO Know About the Deli
cate Fabrics.
e CONSULTED BY UNCLE SAM
Unborn Skill, Study Abroad, and
reaching Have Made This Cana
dian Woman One Of the Great
est Lace Connoisseurs In
This Country.
Nv RICHARD SPlllANE.


scDuyrisht. Mcclure Newspaper ,syndicate.)
whenever the United States Gus
toms authorities at one of the large
uorts along the Atlantic have laces
or other delicate fabrics about the
value of which they are in doubt, there
a 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-
IN In America. She Is Americas great
l,ce expert. There is not stitch that
a Known to woman that she isn't mis-
ness of. There isn't q thread that
ever was made that she doesn't know
he history Of. There isn't precious
niece Of lace work handed down from
former centuries that she doesn't
know a. well az the most famous of
art experts know the work of Michael
Angelo. Rubens. or any of the other
nest masters. Whatever she says
about the product Of the needle Is &C.
copied as gospel.
Some girls take naturally to needle
work Sara Hadley was one of them.
She II a Canadian, having been born
IN Chatham, which isn't far from De-
troit. 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
vas no particular reason why she
should apply herself to needlework.
but she had 80 much love for making
pretty things and 50 much patience
that her parents determined to in
Aulge her to the fullest and give to
her every opportunity to learn all there
was to be learned about the art. After
shs got through school on this side of
The water, they sent her abroad. She
finished her regular studies In q IA
nous educational institution and then
che took sort Of postgraduate course
b travelling all over Europe. She
didn't travel as most women travel,
but went to live among the peasants
70 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 1t
questioned her. Then they told 9TH
ers about her. That led to a lot Of
visitors. They made all sorts of sug-
sestions 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 small class of women. That paid
her 20 well that she took another
class. Teaching was easy for her.
A little later she began to write
about lace and as q result of that
writing she became editor of a mag
asins known az the Lace Maker. Col
asctors consulted Miss Hadley when
ever they wished to buy fine laces. Mu-
ssums asked her Judgment and en-
ploysd her to search the history
q such laces a. they possessed. The
eovernment recognized her officially
~ using her writings and her exam
~ - the basis for instruction In
needlework In the government schools
= Porto Rico. the Philippines and
elsswhere. Then she got to buying
noes and displaying them.
Probably no woman who ever lived
~ had more influence on needlework-
- than Miss Hadley. She has in
waited all sorts Of stitches, and Gre
80 . multitude Of new designs. It
vee she who introduced the dolly and
oels laces generally. The inserting
= lace into linen for table laces was
- work. She can copy any picture
= nee. She can represent any style
g any perioc with the deft touches
q the needle.
Now Q Great Lace Dealer.
nom her start as teacher and her
vofk - editor and adviser to collect
~ Hiss Hadley has grown gradually
g % enc Of the great lace dealers of
america. Many Of her treasures the
.seuc never see. All the more beau
va OF her laces are hidden away In
safes. guarded as jealousy a.
Aaiden Lane diamond merchants
es.u their most precious jewels.
80 WY not! Some of these laces
ssent centuries old. There are
OF gowns worn by priests. bish-
and princes of the church ages
Columbus was born. There
collars that were worn by the
- OF Venice in the time OF vene-
eatness. They are very thin.
TAI. very fllmy. They are worth
nared times their weight in GOLD.
are the very finest examples h
lace making. but Venice
only one part in the history of
s1ng. The Belgians are a.
tor their work. So are the
~ 30 are the Irish. So are
People 90 to see Miss
o1~ aces as they 60 to see old
,sS or a. people 90 to the Metro
museum to feast upon its