DEVONSHIRE.

367

should bo made for her. The order was given to Mrs. Hay-man, of Sidmouth. Fig. 142 is one of the honeysuclde sprigsselected.

The Idoniton lace-makers show great aptitude in imitating theBrussels designs, and, through the skill and perseverance of Mrs.Treadwin, have succeeded in reproducing the ancient laces in themost wonderful manner. Fig. 143 is a lappet in the Brusselsstyle, and in the International Exhibition of 1874 Mrs. Treadwin 25produced admirable specimens after the pillow-made lace ofGenoa and Flanders, and also a most successful reproduction(Eig. 144) of tlie Venetian point in relief, thus opening to thelace-workers a new branch of industry, which will probably provemore remunerative than their own guipures.

Much trolly 26 lace was made in Devonshire until thirty yearsback. Trolly lace, before its downfall, has been sold at fiveguineas the yard. 27 Unlike the Iloniton, it was made of Englishthread, at first of a coarse quality; the ground generally double,similar to that of the Flanders laces, from which country itdoubtless derives its name.

Trolly lace was not the work of women alone. In the flourish-ing days of its manufacture, every boy, until he had attained theage of fifteen, and was competent to work in the fields, attendedthe lace schools daily. A lace-maker of Sidmouth, now verging onforty-five, learned her craft at the village dame school, 28 incompany with many boys. The men, especially the sailor returnedfrom sea, would again resume the employment of their boyhood,in their hours of leisure, and the labourer, seated at his pillowon a summer’s evening, would add to his weekly gains.

Mrs. Treadwin recollects in her younger days some twenty-fourmen lace-makers in her native village of Woodbury, one of whomworked at his pillow so late as 1820.

The writer’s brother succeeded in finding out a man of sixty,dwelling in Salcombe parish, near Sidmouth, who had, in his day,been a lace-maker of some reputation. “ I have made hundredsof yards in my time,” he said, “ both wide and narrow, but never

28 “ Honiton Lace,” by Mrs. Treadwin.London, 1874. “Honiton Lace-making,”by Dovonin. London, 1874.

28 We have this yenr seen at Paristho needle-made laces of MademoiselleDngrenot, the best reproductions of theItalian retieelln that have been oxcculed.

The firmness and precision of the workis most remarkable, and of exceptionalbeauty.

27 See p. 342. Mrs. Delany, in one ofher letters, dated 1756, speaks of a11 trolly bead.”

28 Of Ollorton.