e appeared,
but these have been poorly reproduced, and in the most unsuitable
combinations of color. Old Roumanian rugs are not in the market. They
are owned by private individuals, and are not to be procured except at
very high prices, if at all. These rugs differ from the modern ones in
their better workmanship and designs.

_Bulgarian_ rugs, as a rule, are very coarse in texture, loosely woven,
and unattractive. Occasionally Bulgarian rugs are seen with finer
weaving and well-chosen colors. Both men and women take part in
preparing the wool, the former setting up the simple looms, preparing
the darker dyes, and arranging the warp. The women choose the designs
and colors, and weave the rugs. The colors commonly used are yellow,
blue, brown, black, white, green, and red.

ENGLISH RUGS

In England the introduction of tapestries as hangings for walls was made
by Eleanora, sister of Alfonso the Tenth of Castile, when she became the
wife of Edward the First. In her journeyings these fabrics of the loom
were carried as part of the royal baggage, and must have given some
sense of cheer, particularly when they clothed the bare walls of the
dreary castle of Caernarvon.

Edward the Third (1327-1377) invited Flemish weavers to settle in
England. At that time England produced wool in large quantities,
although very few fabrics were woven there, nine-tenths of the wool
being sent to Ghent or Bruges to be manufactured; for the Flemish were
the first people in the northern part of Europe who advanced in the arts
and in manufactures. Throughout Northern and Western Europe rugs were
seldom used, except for wall hangings and table covers, until the time
of the Reformation in Germany.

Great Britain is now quite active in the manufacture of rugs with
certain designs, a decided impetus to the improvement of this industry
being given by Mr. William Morris, the English poet and artistic
decorator, who was born near London in 1834.

[Illustration: EARLY ENGLISH RUG

_Centre portion of a carpet woven in wool, with a continuous pattern of
carnations, and a border of wavy floral design. In the diamond-shaped
panel of the centre are the Royal Arms and the letters E R (Elizabeth
Regina)._

OWNED BY THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF VERULAM.]

_The Morris Rug._ With strong, firm texture, fine vegetable dyes, and
with purely artistic designs, the Morris rug bears testimony to-day to
the honesty, perseverance, and skill of the man for whom it