NEEDLKWOllK.

9

Till a very late date we have ample record of the esteem in

which this art was held.

'■uivu v uiu ^ *11

In the days of the Commonwealth, Mrs. Walker is describedto have been as well-skilled in needlework “ as if she had eenbrought up in a convent.” She kept, however, a gentlewoman

for teaching her daughters.

Evelyn, again, praises the talent of his daughter, Mrs. Draper.

“ She had,” writes he, “ an extraordinary genius for whateverhand can do with a needle.”

The gay queen of Charles I., followed by the consorts of theyounger Stuarts, wrought a change in the simple habits of theirroyal predecessors, for when Queen Mary, in her Dutch simplicity,sat for hours knotting fringe, her favourite employment, BishopBurnet, her biographer, adds: “ It was a strange thing to seea queen work so many hours of the dayand her homely habitsformed a never ending subject of ridicule for the wit of Sir CharlesSedley. <0

From the middle of the last century, or, rather, from theFrench Revolution, the more artistic style of needlework andembroidery fell into decadence. The simplicity of male costumerendered it a less necessary adjunct to female or, indeed, maleeducation; for, strange to say, two of the greatest generals of theRepublic, Hoche and Moreau, added to their pay by embroideringsatin waistcoats long after they had entered the military service.

The needle now became replaced by trumpery fancy works,which the better taste of the last few years has happily exploded.

We may look on the art as almost at an end. The sewing-machine has added to the exigences of the distressed needlervoman,and those who could once gain a fair livelihood now 7 fear starva-tion. On the other hand, locomotion and cheap travelling haverendered the life of our countrywomen so much less stay-at-home;they have little time for the homely employment of theirancestors. We may verily say, with the prophet Daniel, of thepresent generation, “ Many shall run to and fro, and knowledgeshall be increased.”

,0 See hia epigram, “ The Royal Knot- XIV., a contemporary writer states of

ter,” about “ the Queen: ”— Madame de

Madame de Maintenon that, “ h peinevoiture, avant que leles chevaux, la dametira de Touvrage qu’ellc

i

Who, when she rides in coach abroad,Is always knotting threads.”

Describing her daily drive with Louis avait dans son sac.’