ve no seams, and are from one to four inches thick. Although
this material is of far more ancient date than the days of St. Clement,
a legend connects his name with the discovery of felt. The tradition
is that while on a pilgrimage the Saint, having put a wad of carded wool
into his shoes to protect his feet from blisters, found at the end of
his journey that the pressure and moisture had converted the wool into
felt.

HUNTING RUGS

The hunting rugs of Persia are the most remarkable and interesting rugs
in existence. They had their origin in the Chinese pictures of hunting
scenes, from which they were copied. They were undoubtedly made as early
as the sixteenth century for the Shah. Exquisite in their weaving,
marvellous in coloring, and of rare sheen, they are worthy of the
closest attention. Nor is this their only merit; they serve as records
of ancient customs, depicting the method of the chase, and portraying
the mounted hunters in pursuit of the elephant, lion, phoenix, deer, and
other creatures, fabulous and real. There are perhaps twelve of these
precious rugs in existence. One, in silk, belongs to the Imperial House
of Austria, another to Baron Adolphe Rothschild, a third is in the
Palace at Stockholm, and a fourth, in wool, smaller than those
mentioned, is in the possession of M. J. Maciet, Paris.

V

RUG-WEAVING IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES

In the preparation of this section of this work, there has been no
attempt or desire to slight in any way the weaving industry of the West.
It has not seemed advisable, however, to go into many details on the
subject, for it is one easily learned from many sources by any one who
desires. There is not the mystery about Occidental weaving that there is
about Oriental, the latter perhaps appealing to our innate desire of
acquiring knowledge difficult of access. A short account of rug-weaving
in Europe and the United States will, therefore, be quite as
satisfactory to the general reader as a more lengthy description.

GREEK RUGS

Greek rugs are almost as ancient as Greece herself. Many an old
love-song of this land has praised the skill of the woman deftly plying
the hand loom. But if one expects to see the glory of ancient Greece, in
its perfection of form and design, transmitted in any degree to the
industry of modern rug-weaving he will be disappointed. From time
immemorial rugs have constituted a most important part of the dowry of a
young girl from