Welsh Journals

A more complete description would read:- Pommel. Pear shaped of blackened iron. Grip. Plaited wire, probably modern. Hilt. Small fretted shell surmounted by two galleries. Quillons reversed and of flattened cut out section. (The whole of one side of the shell is a modern repair). Blade. Now measures 33 inches and has lost some six inches. It is of Italian manufacture and is of considerably better quality than the hilt. Its upper portion is fenestrated with a series of circles, etc., the whole having suffered much from an attempt to grind out the rust. In a grove can still be traced the letters .ILENT and on the reverse .MAS. This no doubt is all that remains of the inscription INTER ARMAS LEGES SILENT. BOOK REVIEW. GUIDE TO THE COLLECTION OF SAMPLERS AND EMBROIDERIES By F. G. PAYNE (National Museum of Wales). THE Guide consists of two parts — The first, a brief survey of embroidery and the development of the sampler in Wales, and the second a Catalogue of Embroideries and Samplers in the Museum Collection. The book has a number of clear representative illustrations. The most interesting part of the book, is, to my mind, the part devoted to the development of the sampler. The author points out its original purpose-that of recording stitches. In early samplers there was originality of design based on natural units-leaves, fish, etc., which deteriorated after the introduction of pattern-books in the late 16th century. It is disappointing to find no special peculiarity in Welsh samplers. The reference to illustrations of Bible stories in later Welsh samplers is worthy of note. The rare use of the Welsh language in School Samplers is surprising -out of 17 examples in the collection known to have been worked in Welsh Schools, only two have Welsh inscriptions. The average age of the children who worked the Samplers in this Collection is 1 years and Mary Dudden did' some part of her's by moonlight "I The Sampler worked by Margaret Jones of A.P. Jones' School, Builth, Breconshire, is of special interest to Radnorshire and Breconshire readers. The Note references to work done by the same person form an interesting study. There must still be many examples of Welsh Samplers to be found in the principality. This book should foster interest in such work and perhaps be a means of adding to a very interesting collection. F. G. EADIE.