430 THE MODERN IRISH LACE INDUSTRY. 



trefoils similar to those used in Fig. 21. The heart-shaped forms contain 

 ornaments which alternate, thus preventing monotony ; and above these, 

 six-leaved flowers or -parterce alternate with floral forms arranged on the 

 diagonals of a square. These heart-shaped forms are difficult to render 

 properly in crochet. Forms which depend upon beauty of curve alone, such 

 as scrolls, etc., cannot be well rendered in crochet, and should be avoided, 

 or only introduced when excellently made ; even then, the bars or ties 

 frequently pull them out of shape when the piece of work is released from 

 the pattern. In this specimen the ground is prettily enriched by the use of 

 little star-like forms which occur at the junction of the bars, a device which 

 may be seen in some of the Venetian laces of the seventeenth century. 



Fig. 23.— This collar of Cork crochet affords another example of the 

 effect which may be secured by good arrangement. There is evenness of 

 distribution, the forms are well shaped, and have evidently been carefully 

 made from good drawings. Observe the pretty effect gained by the intro- 

 duction of the seven star-shaped forms which occur on each side of the 

 conventional ornament in the narrowest part of the collar, also the well 

 arranged sprays which compose so well into the angles at top and bottom 

 of the illustration. The Cvdging also is worthy of notice ; the small five- 

 leaved stars suspended, as it were, by chains from the edge have a rich 

 effect. The barring is well arranged, and the forms have been put together 

 with great care, testimony to which is borne by the photograph, inasmuch as 

 it has been taken directly from the lace. 



It would be very remiss of me not to mention the efforts which have been 



made for the development of the lace industry by Mr. 



Efforts to dpvelon -^^^^^ S- Cole. He has given considerable time and 



attention to this question. To him was due the 



the Industry. formation of a Committee in London, in 1885, the 



raising of subscriptions for the purpose of offering 



prizes for good designs, and the giving of orders to the lace centres for 



pieces to be made from these patterns. In this way the sum of ^^500 was 



expended. From 1884, Mr. Cole paid visits once or twice a year to the 



most important centres, in order to report on their progress, and spur them 



on to fresh exertions. I rejoice to say that these visits, after having been 



discontinued for the past three or four years, have now been resumed, for i 



well know what a stimulating effect they had upon both workers and 



designers. 



To the Countess of Aberdeen great credit is due for her practical efforts 

 to help this along with other industries. After Air. Ben Lindsey's death, 

 she purchased 76, Grafton-street, for the purpose of enabling the lace 

 centres to have an opportunity of disposing of their work ; and those who 

 know of its working can testify to the fact that, if the shop had closed, 

 serious injury to the lace trade would have resulted. 



There is ample reward for willing workers. The Royal Dubhn Society, 

 by its annual exhibition of Art Industries at Ball's Bridge (in which lace 

 takes such a prominent part), and the liberal prizes it offers, is doing its 

 utmost to stimulate efforts and draw public attention to good work. It is 

 spending over £200 per annum for this purpose. 



The Committee of the Branchardiere Fund devotes the whole of the 

 income arising from the interest of that fund to the following purposes : — 

 It gives aid towards the cost of trial pieces of lace made from new patterns ; 

 it gives rewards to the workers of those pieces of lace and crochet which 



