eighteenth century: "The foundation ground is of ivory coloured cloth,
and applied to it, almost entirely covering the ivory background, are
designs cut from crimson, cinnamon, pink, black, turquoise, and
sapphire coloured cloths, all richly embroidered in marigold and green
silk."

The following is a quilt anecdote, typically oriental, which contains
a bit of true philosophy. It seems that the hero, Nass-ed-Din Hodja,
was a Turkish person who became chief jester to the terrible Tamerlane
during his invasion of Asia Minor. He was also the hero, real or
imaginary, of many other stories which originated during the close of
the fourteenth and the beginning of the fifteenth centuries. His tomb
is still shown at Akshekir. The story is given entire as it appeared
in "Turkey of the Ottoman" by L. M. Garnett:

HOW THE HODJA LOST HIS QUILT

"One winter's night, when the Hodja and his wife were
snugly asleep, two men began to quarrel and fight under
the window. Both drew knives and the dispute threatened
to become serious. Hearing the noise, the Hodja's wife
got up, looked out of the window and, seeing the state
of affairs, woke her husband, saying: 'Great heavens,
get up and separate them or they will kill each other.'
But the Hodja only answered sleepily: 'Wife, dear,
come to bed again; on my faith there are no men in the
world; I wish to be quiet; it is a winter's night. I am
an old man, and perhaps if I went out they might beat
me.' The Hodja's wife was a wise woman. She kissed his
hands and his feet. The Hodja was cross and scolded her,
but he threw the quilt about him, went downstairs and
out to where the disputants were, and said to them: 'For
the sake of my white beard cease, my sons, your strife.'
The men, in reply, pulled the quilt from the Hodja's
shoulders and made off with it. 'Very well,' observed
the old man. He reentered, locked the door, and went
upstairs. Said his wife: 'You did very well to go out to
those men. Have they left off quarrelling?' 'They have,'
replied the Hodja. 'What were they quarrelling about,
Hodja?' 'Fool,' replied the Hodja, 'they were
quarrelling for my quilt. Henceforward my motto shall
be, "Beware of serpents."'"

[Illustration: JACOB'S LADDER

One of the most striking of the quilts having Biblical
names. Colours: blue and white]

[Illustration: CONVENTIONA