The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-09
PEACE RUG WILL
COME TO j. S.
Disposition to Give Beautiful
Rug to America Has
Been Very Strong.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 9. (T3y Inter-
national News Service, The peace rug
is to be presented TO the United States
government
The rug upon which President Wilson.
Clemsnceau and Lloyd George stood to
sign the peace treaty: the rug upon
which FOch and Petain received their
swords from the French government,
which Gen. Pershing found upon the
steps Of the New York city hall to well
come him home, is to be given to
America.
Its owner. Thomas II. Kullujain, is
A century Of adventures more hi-
zarre and romantic than the magic
rug itself will be- concluded when II
reposes In a hall Of the nations capitol
| building. First, though, It will be ex-
| hibited throughout the country, pro-
ceeds going toward a fund for the cast
| ing Of an Armenian liberty bell. The
/ bell will be sent to Armenia to ring
out, with American aid, the usurping
| Turk
Once the rug was known as the liberty
| bell rug when II rested beneath that
| historic emblem during the Panama
| Pacific International exposition. Then,
| later the first loo drafted men to
| leave San Francisco for France passed
over its exotic design. Still later It's
owner took It to Europe, where all
| makers OF tTOu IL uhhy dlh
/ finally stood upon II to sign the treaty,
Its latter day adventures replete with
modern romance and history in the
| making, are not the only tales or mem
| cries 1t holds as
| A romance Of the far. east, OF Persia,
+; Is woven In It's threads. More than
hundred years ago 1t was celebrated as
the love rug.
| "A Frenchman Of royal descent had
gone to Persia, where the Shah's beau
tiful daughter fell madly in love with
him. Her affection was not returned,
One night the debonair Frenchman went
a-slumming and for his curiosity was
kidnapped Bandits held him for a
high ransom.
At the inn where he was held the
daughter of, the innkeeper also fell in
love with him. 1t was she who pro-
posed that they weave marvellous rug
| and send IL to the shah, who would
| ransom him the moment he saw the
| rug
Her reason was twofold. It gave her
an opportunity to be near the man she
loved.
Several years passed and the rug was
finally finished, 1t was sent 70 the
shah. The Frenchman was as cold to-
ward this second daughter of the east
as toward the first.
The shah struck by the beauty of
the rug, Immediately sent an escort
with the necessary gold and ransomed
the Frenchman. Now, mysteriously'
this Frenchman drops from the story
Some hint that he feared the love Of
the shai's daughter might lead to com
plications, for he had been installed in
the palace 1t was then he disappeared
Curious paradox, the rug became.
many years later, the prayer rug, Of
an English nun. The shah's son had
fallen In love with the nun, and, De-
lieving in the powers Of the love rug,
he sent II to her quarters.
| There, each night, she prayed for de-
liverance from her plight and his at
tentions, kneeling on the rug. The
queen, hearing Of her sons love, gave
the nun her freedom and permitted her
to go to England.
The nun passed through Trebson, a
Persian port where Kullujain's uncle
kept the only Inn Kullujain. then but
- years of age, heard the story OF the
rug. His youthful imagination was
fired with the tale.
In 1897 he went to England. On the
same ship was the then shah OF Per-
sia, and the tale Of the rug was revived
In his mind When Kullujain arrived
in England he traced the fortunes OF
the. rug through newspaper accounts,
which he preserves to this day, but the
wealthy New Yorker. This owner car
ried the rug to Pasadena, Cal, and
; there, on his death, Kullujain was final
, ly able to obtain 1t.
Then, during the closing days Of the
, war, the new owner took 1t to Europe,
where 1t has gone through more mo-
mentous adventures. At the palace OF
Versailles the big four stood upon 1t,
as they bent over the table to sign the
=, peace terms handed Germany.
And now the rug is about to close Its
. adventurous career. Soon 1t will be
placed In the nations capitol,
Few will know Of the shah's daugh-
ter and the Frenchman, Of the prince
and the nun.
The peace rug, or the love rug, winch.
ever way one might have 1t, Is OF
: creamy background with pastel shades
woven into tapestry designs. Deeper
browns and blue predominant Pink
, roses mean love. A cross with the pear
shaped figure representing the sun In
, dicates the combination of the Persian
tovern keener'S daughters worship anC