parated by heavy serrated lines of ivory,
which unite at the top, leading up to and enclosing a small red lozenge,
terminating beyond this in the hook design. It is in the centre of the
lozenge that the Moslem places the stone or bit of earth when at prayer.
Other hook designs and various geometrical forms are arranged upon the
field. The wide stripe of the border is of a fine yellow, rich and
lustrous, decorated in blue, green, and maroon devices. The outer border
is in brown, and it is interesting to observe the series of nomad tents
represented, each one worked in white wool, the entrances to the tents,
however, being in reds, blues, or yellows. Alternating with each little
dwelling are figures worked in red, blue, or green. This interesting rug
is a product of Caesarea._

OWNED BY MR. GEORGE HUBBARD HOLT, CHICAGO.]

SILK RUGS

Long before other countries learned the art of cultivating silkworms,
China was at work weaving fabrics of silk. Chinese historians claim that
the origin of reeling silk and putting it to use was discovered by a
woman,--Se-Ling-She, wife of Hwang-te, third Emperor of China,--and for
that reason she has always been regarded by them as the "goddess of
silkworms," The date of this discovery is about 2640 B. C. For about two
thousand years the Chinese kept secret their methods of reeling and
weaving silk, but finally Japan, Persia, and India learned the art,
Persia having for many centuries transported raw silk between China and
the West. Very slowly grew the process of silk-weaving. Greece, Spain,
and Sicily by degrees attained the knowledge. In A. D. 550 it was
introduced into Constantinople, and in 1148 silk manufacture was carried
into Italy, and the cultivation of mulberry trees was enforced by law.
The industry soon spread into the south of France, where it rapidly
advanced.

At the present day enormous quantities of silk are produced in various
parts of the world. The principal countries are China, Japan, India,
Southern Europe, and some parts of Persia and Asia Minor. During the
Middle Ages and down to the seventeenth century, the province of Ghilan
in Persia produced very fine silk and in large quantities. In all the
countries and districts just mentioned, magnificent silk rugs have been
woven for many centuries.

The silk rug when at its best is unsurpassed in beauty; it is
distinguished by its richness, exquisite coloring, and rare sheen. But
silk rugs require the most luxurious