6 



It was a careless eye that did not note a handkerchief — frt 

 accompaniment for a trousseau where coronets are broidered in 

 — that erst was a bit of plain fine fabric from the loom. By 

 the drawing of threads and the ingenuity of the needle the little 

 square had more than a finger's depth of border of curious lace 

 work, making an unique and beautiful object, fit appendage to 

 the richest costume. It was not its costliness. A field of flax 

 would have in their slender stalks the substance of myriads. 

 The looms throw off countless yards of such yearly. The bit 

 of snowy lawn, with a plain hem, would have hardly served the 

 modern school girl ; but art interwove its magic and a bit of 

 daintiness was emanated, a queen's hand would not disdain. 

 Miss Mary A. Baker, of Salem, was the exhibitor. 



Conspicuous for its isolation — it being the only thing of its 

 kind present — as well as for its fineness and perfection of 

 stitch, was a roll of knit edging. In these days when Hamburg 

 embroideries run riot — when patterns are flamboyant and tend 

 to carry the taste from chaste edges to the wide, showy, folia- 

 ted and open designs — the little bunch of hand-knit seemed 

 like the appearance of a demure Quaker maiden among loud, 

 showy, dames of fashion, or a handful of wood violets, or arbu- 

 tus from ferny coverts, laid beside a hot-house" bouquet. 



In the poetic past the fine linens of our grandames boasted 

 no prettier trimmings than these same hand-knit designs ; and 

 I believe when tastes were simpler hearts were happier. 

 There was a time when nearly every want of dress was sup- 

 plied by the farm. How concentrated must be the thoughts of 

 a family that go not beyond the home limits for its wants. 

 The farmer sowed the flax, the good wife spun and the mar- 

 riage portions were cut from the rolls of linen and flannel and 

 the maidens wrought cobweb laces to decorate, glistening their 

 shining needles in the afternoon suns, on the trellised porch, 



