P. Le Quesne (x-x)
Writers who deal with the subject of lace invariably allude to its cobweb structure, but it may be questioned whether the majority of them are aware of the actual relation between the weaver of the web and the weaver of the lace, as it was established in mythological times. According to the classic legend, Arachne was a beautiful young maiden of Lydia, who particularly excelled in the art of lacemaking. The creations of her skill were so lovely that they ensnared the hearts of all her sex, for even in the Golden Age, when beauty unadorned waas supposed to be adorned the most, the congenital love of women for objects of person adornment made itself felt. By an accident the goddess Minerva happened to destroy one of her laces which Arachne esteemed to be her masterpiece, and the poor artist, rendered frantic by despair, committed suicide by hanging herself. Minerva, in atonement for the wrong she had done her, converted her into a spider, and to this day Arachne weaves her mystic web as she did in the past, and as far as their love of lace goes, all women worship her now as they did of old. In Le Quesne's picture, the nymphs of his artistic Aracdia are enjoying their entanglement in the silken toils of their transformed sister, and those who are not already entangled hurry eagerly forward to seek the same filmy bondage.

[I admit myself completely flummoxed by this one. If anyone could help, I'd greatly appreciate it.]

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