p1easute in the Work, ahd it is such that individual skill •and workmanship come largely into play. Altogether it is just such an industry as is suited to the rural districts of Ireland. No steampower is required, and there is therefore no handicap on the commercial side by the absence of ·coal, and, the production being necessarily slow,: a large proportion of the ultimate value comes from the labour. Moreover, the chief charm of these Carpets when finished is derived from the very fact that they are hand-tufted, and have that stamp of individuality and irregularity that no p~wer-loom can give. The manufacturers: who have undertaken this venture make many varieties of Carpeting by powerloom, 1and it was owing to strong demand from high-class customers over the world for a production of more individual character, that they were led to resort to this primitive method of weaving. The difference between a Carpet produced in this way and the ordinary smoothlyshaven power-loom production is much the c·ame as that between a real oil painting and ia smart coloured - lithograph. The real article has dignity, individuality, and with the increase of good taste and wealth the demand for the genuine daily grows. Unlike "Homespun" tweed and similar fabrics, the method is one requiring human. thought in the process. lt i~ therefore an industry which in its own way cannot be superseded by power-loom, and can be approached only by mechanism of a highly-complicated and uneconomical sort. In· 421. Cteed it is this individual art character which has kept the Persi•an and Turkish Carpets in steady demand for hundreds of years, and makes them more sought after to-day than ever. It was also the appreciation of this quality that led William Morris to establish hand-tuft Carpet and Tapestry looms •at Hammersmith some 20 to 30 years ago, and the Carpets being made in Donegal are of similar weave and character, though they do not aim at such exclusiveness. "The first year's experiment with the Irish girls has proved that they are admi:•ably adapted for the work. T•he experience for generations of the little "Homespun" and lace work that are a~. ways to be met with in Ireland has been a first-rate -education, for the girls show a nimblenes:; of finger and sharpness of eye for colour a·nd form that have quite astonished their teachers and they take to the work with a spirit and cheerfulness that is quite refreshing. So . convinced are the promoters now of its ultimate large success, that they have planned out a broad scheme that wi)l spread this work •all over the West of Ireland, and give employment to many hundreds of girls and boys. In addition, and this is a most important feature, these goods being made entirely of wool, the scheme embraces the rearing of sufficent sheep on these ·Western Highlands to supply the entire requirements of the Industry, and as this will be spun and dyed on the spot, the composition of these high art productions that are ultimately to find their way into
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