Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-22
STORY IS RELATED
OF COBWEB LACE
Sonora Ramirez Outlines
Something of History of
Ancient Art.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.


whose origin Is lost in the dim past Of
Indian legendary days, is woven into a
tale of her native land by
Sonora Antonio Pane de Ramirez. wife
OF the charge d'affaires Of Paraguay.
Sonora Ramirez Is of italian parent
age, but was born and educated in
Asuncion, the capital of the Paraguayan
republic. From earliest childhood she
has been a serious student and an
inveterate reader and holds degree
from the Normal School Of Asuncion.
One of her brothers, as professor of
philosophy and sociology in the Univer-
sity OF Asunci0n, wrote numerous works
Of poetry in the Indian language,
Guarani, and a volume on sociology
written by him In Spanish Is now used
In Spain In the University OF Barcelona.
The industries and legends Of her
country have been Of utmost interest to
Sonora Ramirez.
Upon entering the reception room of
Sonora Ramirez the attention Is drawn
to clay bust OF lovely young girl.
The features are classic: the thick hair
is parted and worn in two long braids,
with fancy comb and rosebuds worn
one one side above the ear. 1t Is a
QEGkdCOly byPC uiaO q va bCUA-
tiful one. That" explained Sonora
Remirez, "is a perfect reproduction of
a Paraguayan girl. 1t is the type still
found In the country, where they have
not yet learned to bob the hair. which
is very thick and black and which they
wear in two braids down the back"
This statue has been called in the In
dian language "Acara-P oty," which
means Flower From the Country"
Two Languages Spoken.
"Every one in Paraguay speaks two
languages" explained the sonora.
Although Guarani the Indian tongue,
Is not taught in the schools, Spanish
being the Official language, 1t Is spoken
from infancy by every one In the coun-
try. They do not study it-they just
pick 1t up-I suppose 1t is In the air.
Many very fine poems and some excel
lent literature has been written by
Paraguayan authors in the Indian Ian
guage.
Now that you have seen portrait
of our ParaguAyar women" Sonora
Ramirez said nodding toward the statue
of the Flower from the Country /
should like to show you some OF the
exquisite lace which Is made by them"
Going into an adjoining room, the
sonora brought forth numerous dainty
articles Of silk underwear, trimmed with
a lace so fine, that 1t might have been
patterned from the tracings left by Jack
Frost on the window pafles on a cold
Autumn evening. In addition to the
silk pieces, were numerous lengths
of fine, homespun cotton, deliberately
trimmed with cotton laces. of a finenesS
of workmanship equivalent to that Of
the silk. These latter, which were at
first believed to be bureau scarfs or
covers OF some sort, were explained to
be towels.
"These laces are made entirely by
hand" explained Sonora Ramirez, pick
ing up q dainty piece of cobweb which
upon ~ folding proved to be an evening
scarf. 1T takes much time and In
finite patience to make this lace and
only those who have known the art
from mother to daughter, really know
how to do, It,"
twas this lace making introduced
from Spain?" the sonora was asked.
mo" she replied, 1.-The Spanish found
the Indians making this lace when they
first colOniZed the country. A very
pretty legend Is told. which has been
handed down In Paraguay for many
generations.
There was once a beautiful Indian
princess whose. lover went forth to hunt
and never returned. After sending OUT
many parties who sought him without
success, the princess herself went forth
into the wood. After many hours she
saw before her beautiful white veil
which hung from the trees. Going up
to 1t the princess found that beneath It
lay her lover-deAd He lay as though
asleep, and the little spiders to protect
him had woven a lovely veil of the most
intricate and exquisite pattern. The
princess stood grief-stricken but In won
derment before the veil woven by the
spiders. Oh she exclaimed. II these
little creatures have been able to do
such lovely work FOR him. I will learn,
too Whereupon, the princess returned
to her people and gave herself up to
studying how she could make lace
that would resemble the beautiful veil
which had been woven by the spiders.
After many years, she learned to make
the lace, which to this day is known by
the Indian name, Nanduti."
Found Only In Paraguay.
"This Lace continued Sonora Rairii-
reg, lis to be found only in Paraguay.
No other country makes 1t, and many
buyers are sent from other countries
in South America to purchase it. In
my country, frequently, whole villages
are employed In the manufacture of
these lacas. II you pass the half opened
door OF one of the homes In these viii
leges, YOU will see all the women OF the
family. from the young girls to the old
grandmothers, bending over the frames
making these laces."
In addition to the lace making, the
women OF Paraguay are adept In other
forms of needleWork. Embroidery Is
taught to every young girl from baby
hood and practically ali fine clothing
is trimmed with nandutl lace or EN-
broldery.
THE country women even embroider
their mems Shirts" explained the
sonora, showing one Of these articles OF
q gsntlemens wardrobe, with an elabo-
rately embroidered front and attached
cuffs.
while your senoritas embroider and
make the laces. what do the country
men do for amusement" Sonora Ranli-
reg was asked.
With moments hesitation she
answered: "They make very fine harps,
The Paraguayans are very fine harpists
and everywhere YOU go In my country
you near Jne Aafp, IL IL Dig inSITu-
ment, but does not have pedals. It Is
Is made everywhere by the countrymen
themselves, who play 1t very beautifully
Instead of guitars, as In Spain, the
harp is played for the country dances,
where they dance the. polka and a
dance called the 'Sante Fe' The polka
is not unlike that danced in European
countries, but the music Is composed
in Paraguay and we have famous
air, which is called the Paraguay
polka"
II am afraid we are going to leave
Washington very SOON" said Sonora
Ramirez regretfully. MY husband has
recently received cablegratn saying
that he was to return to Paraguay
we love America and think that your
country has the last word In every
thing will carrv bark many finn