19 



set-off given him by the embroidered robe, wrought by the deft fingers of the fair. 

 In the mediaeval age, embroidery was almost the sole accomphshment of the court 

 beauties, since their Hterary acquisitions rarely comprehended even a knowledge 

 of the alphabet. What was then manufactured with the needle and lingers, with 

 an immense outlay of time and care, modern progress has sought to simphfy by 

 the use of machinery, and, first in Germany, and later in France and England, the 

 same work came to be executed by that means : one machine of 130 needles do- 

 ing the work of fifteen hand einbroiderers after the old method. This has placed 

 on the market and within reach of people of artistic tastes, but of limited resour- 

 ces, products of this beautiful empioyiuent otherwise unattainable. And yet, we 

 are glad to say that the art of hand-embroidery has, of Me years, remarkably re- 

 vived in our country, and its results are more highly pi'ized than those of machin- 

 ery, from the fact, mainly, that we moot yalue that which has cost us most labor. 

 The variety of stitches is almost innuinerable, and it is a pt;zzle, even to an adept 

 in Conic Sections or ths Integral Oalcai.is, how our ladies can carry the knowledge 

 of them all in their heads. Nor is skill in this direction confined to our metrop- 

 olitan fair. They are rivalled by their rural sisters everywhere, who watch the 

 invention and publication of a new stitch with all the interest of the holder of a 

 lottery-ticket over the revolutions of the determining wheel. Every year the Halls 

 of our Agricultural Societies exhibit fresh proofs of the success of our rural ladies, 

 young and old, in artistic needlework, which we hold to be both a civihzer and an 

 educator, tending, more than almost anything else, to adorn our country homes. 

 Articles of mere utility are made beautiful thereby, and a small outlay of canvass 

 and silk or worsted eventuates in a glow of cheer, of luxury and of rejoicing. The 

 lack of costly furnitui'e of mahogany and rose-wood is more than made good by 

 the simpler native woods set oil by the subtle aesthetics of household embroidery. 

 The quaint "sampler" of our grandmothers is entirely eclipsed by the graceful 

 productions of their grand-daughters in our day of aesthetic progress. Your Com- 

 mittee are gratified to see proofs of the reign of improvement in this line, as ex- 

 hibited at our Fair from year to year, and are persuaded that the cultivation of 

 taste in embroidery — (albeit not to the neglect of knowledge in the management 

 of the essentials of housekeeping) — will greatly contribute towards multiplying 

 homes replete with beaut}'' as well as comfort throughout our land. 



With these preliminaries they proceed to announce the results of their in- 

 spection of the specimens submitted to them to-day. They found 132 articles 

 awaiting their examination, and the three hours occupied in an endeavor to render 

 them justice proved no sinecure. So many of them were wrought with the Ken- 

 sington stitch, as to prompt the allotment of a portion of the discretionary funds 

 placed at their disposal for special premiums in that species of embroidery. And 

 they respectful^ suggest to the Executive Committee a recognition of that as a 

 separate variety hereafter. The committee found also in their department some 

 beautiful specimens of decorative art with water colors on silk, done by Mrs. Mc- 

 Arthur of New York, sent for exhibition and not for premium, for which the ar- 

 tist will please accept their cordial thanks. They trust this branch of art wiU have 

 many disciples. 



Entbies, 130. Needle, Work, 30 ; Worsted Embroidery, 71 ; Silk Embroi- 

 dery, 20; MisceUaneous, 9. 



Best Needlework, pillow shams, Mrs. C. M. Wheldon, Plttsfield, $5 



2d do., 4 einb. handkerchiefs, Mrs. Horace Cluipel, Great Barrington. 4 

 3d do., chemise and nijiht dress. Miss Estelle Warner, Great Barrington, 3 



4th do., pillow shams, Mrs. Amos Baldwin, Egremont, 3 



Best Worsted Embroidery, sacque and lambrequin, Miss Martha L. Sheldon, 



New Marlboro, , 4 



2d do., sofa pillow. Miss Julia Day, Groat Barrington, 3 



3d do., sofa pillow, Mrs. John Spencer, West Stockbridge, 2 



4th do., lambrequin, Mary J. Kenyon, Otis, 1 



Best Silk Embroidery, skirt, Miss Kate L. Pixley, Great Barrington, 4 



2d do., infant's dress, Mrs. Thomas G. Sabin, Lee, 3 



3d do., skirt, Mrs. E. H. Sexton, Great Barrington, 2 



4th do., skirt, Miss Mattie Bridges, Pittstield, 1 



Best Kensington Stitch, chair back. Miss Lulu lloardman, Sheffield, 5 



2d do., coat, Mrs. J. A. Bryan, Great Harrington, 4 



3d do., afg-han and tidy, Mrs. Frank Walker, Pittsfield, 3 



4th do., embroidery, Mrs. A. N. Chapin, Pittsfield, 3 



