Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/102

 KEEDLEWORK 84 give her name, but, what was of very high value, her active help and co- operation, and this is continued to the present day. We quote from the words of a member of the council. The School of Art Needle- work was founded " with the object of reviving what was at that time an almost lost art, and, at the same time, +o find employment for women of the better class in reduced circumstances who had sufficient capacity to enable them to sup- port themselves if given a fair chance in a world where the motto is ' every man for himself.' " That the moment was ripe for such an institution is proved by the immediate success of the school, and the fact that three times it has been moved to larger premises in order to accommodate the large number of exhibits, the special exhibitions which are part of the policy of the school, and the large training school for embroideresses who desire to become professional or skilled amateur workers, receiving as thorough a training in every branch of needlework as is obtainable. Numerous offshoots of the school in all parts of the British Isles, and also in America, now flourish and help to disseminate the sound traditions of the Royal School. Gentlewomen of high birth were not slow to avail themselves of the training which enabled them to carry on the traditions Cha.r,cover worked m coloured crewel wools, and bedspread (Royal School of Art Needlework) of their ancestors in the execution of fine needlework. Perhaps one of the most skilful amateur embroideresses is Lady Carew, who, with her sister. Lady CUfford Cory, has made a very permanant con- tribution to the modern embroideries which emphasise this wonderful revival. Both at her house at Belgrave Square and also at Castle Boro in County Wexford are' to be seen immense panels in needlework, some measuring ii feet by 5 feet. At her Irish home there are no fewer than 130 of these huge embroideries in the drawing- room, and eight more in the stately old stone hall ; while chair-seats, screens, cushions, and other fine examples of needlework, mostly in early English style, abound. The patience and industry required for such labours is immense, and the fact that but recently Lady Cory had a five-hours' lesson on one stitch alone shows that, however expert an enthusiastic worker may be, she delights in perfecting herself in this exacting art of the needle. Lady Viola Talbot Is also one of the clever needlewomen in society. Her special delight is in filet lace, and she prides herself on being self taught. She inherits much of her skill from her great-grandmother, who was a marvellous needlewoman. Broderie anglaise and other white cut- works appeal to her, and, eschewing the allure- ments of coloured silks and wools, she devotes licrself to the dainty darning and white work. The daughters of the gifted Duchess of Rutland are excellent needle- women, and have contributed much to the revival of fine needlework. It is natural that with an artist- mother, Lady Mar- jorie Manners should always de- sign her own needlework, and whether we ex- amine a sachet of green linen em- broidered in ribbon work and gold thread, or a bed- spread with gar- lands of fruit and flowers, one traces the restrained beauty of design which is only a- chieved with sound artistic training and inherited talent. There are other influences at work which have assisted enormously in this great revival. These will be treated on another occasion.