The good old English fashion of embroidery, so fashionable now, ought to inspire artistic idlers to feats of skill. We were ahead of France and Italy in this skill with the needle when we were ahead in nothing else. In the sixth and seventh centuries we had schools of art-embroidery. Near Ely an Anglo-Saxon lady had established a number of young girls, who worked with her for the benefit of the monastery; and also in the seventh century St. Ethelreda, virgin and queen, and first Abbess of Ely, presented to St. Cuthbert a stole and a maniple which she had marvellously embroidered. An anecdote related by Matthew of Paris, 1246, shows us that the standard of this English work was maintained. 'About the same time the Lord Pope, having observed that the ecclesiastical ornaments of some Englishmen, such as the choristers' capes and the mitres, were embroidered in gold thread in a very desirable fashion, asked where those works were made, and received answer, in England. Then said the Pope: "England is verily a garden of delights for us.

It is truly a never-failing spring, and there where many things abound, much may be extorted."' Accordingly the same Lord Pope lost very little time in demanding in the name of Holy Church those embroideries in gold which he preferred to all others, by sacred and sealed briefs, a demand which agreed very well with those London merchants who traded in this work.

Panels down the whole wall, or small panels let into frames, of embroidery on velvet, in either silk or wool, would be a really beautiful ornament and occupation. Gradually the furniture might match the walls in soft, conventional designs - why not the ceiling too? A pale-blue satin ceiling, a maroon wall, with chairs and table-covers corresponding with such tints as were introduced on the panels, would be 'high art' without reproach, and the wooden frames of the panels might be fastened at their crossing by a small painted architectural rose. It could be removed bodily on changing residence.

I suggest, however, a stronger twisted silk in preference to the art-school floss, for the purpose of satisfactory wear, to repay the labour given.