346 HISTORY OF LACE. The principal branch of the lace trade was the making of “ baby lace, as those narrow laces were called, most specially employed for the adorning of infants’ caps (Figs. 126', 127, 128). The “ point ” ground was used, the patterns taken from those of Lille and Arras—hence the laces of Buckingham and Bedford- Fig. 128. “ Baby ” lace. Northampton. Fig. 127. Fig. 128. “ Baby ” lace. Bucks. sliire have often been styled “ English Lille.” Though the fashion in the mother-country has passed away, the American ladies still hold to the gorgeously trimmed infant’s cap ; and till the break ing out of the Civil War, large quantities of “baby lace” were exported to America, the liner sorts varying from five shillings to