The Hunting of the Snark - an Agony in Eight Fits by Lewis Carroll was published in 1876. It's a long nonsense poem. Here's a few quotes from it - the only reference to lace.
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There was also a Beaver, that paced on the deck, Or would sit making lace in the bow: And had often (the Bellman said) saved them from wreck, Though none of the sailors knew how. .... The last of the crew needs especial remark, Though he looked an incredible dunce: He had just one idea - but, that one being "Snark," The good Bellman engaged him at once. He came as a Butcher: but gravely declared, When the ship had been sailing a week, He could only kill Beavers. .... Yet still, ever after that sorrowful day, Whenever the Butcher was by, The Beaver kept looking the opposite way, And appeared unaccountably shy. .... But the Beaver went on making lace, and displayed No interest in the concern: Though the Barrister tried to appeal to its pride, And vainly proceeded to cite A number of cases, in which making laces Had been proved an infringement of right. .... |
This is an illustration to the poem. It shows the butcher and beaver "looking the opposite way, And appeared unaccountably shy". Later on in the poem, the butcher and the beaver end up the best of friends, but lace is not involved.
The picture unfortunately is not very convincing, with pins stuck in at random all over the pillow, and no bobbins at all. The pillow looks like a domed one.
© Jo Edkins 2017 - return to lace index