The Queen's Carpet

For nine years Britain's Queen Mary had been diligently plying her needle. Last week she summoned reporters to see the result. A carpet measuring nearly-seven by ten feet, it consisted of twelve panels in gros point and a not-quite-finished floral border. Each panel bore a bright Victorian design of birds and flowers on a beige background.

The completed work will be shown-in London for a fortnight and then shipped to, the U.S. for further exhibition and sale to the highest bidder. The proceeds will be donated to the British treasury. "It is the duty of every individual," the 82-year-old Queen Mother explained, "to contribute something directly to help the country in its need for dollars." Her patriotic duty done, Queen Mary added one proviso in the interests of posterity: whoever bought her carpet would have to agree to turn it over "eventually" to a public institution.

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