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HTSTORY OF LACE.

The armorial shield of the family, coronets, monograms, thebeasts of the Apocalypse, with lleurs-de-lys, hearts, Ac., for themost part adorned those pieces destined for the rise of the church.If, on the other hand, intended for a pall, death’s-heads, cross-bones, and tears, with the sacramental cup, left no doubt of itsdestination.

As late as the year 1850, a splendid cutwork pall still coveredthe coffins of the fisher tribe when borne in procession through thestreets of Dieppe, a votive offering, worked by the hands of somelady saved from shipwreck, and presented as a memorial of hergratitude.

In 1866, when present at a peasant’s wedding in the church ofSt.-Lo (Departement de la Manche), the author observed that the“ toile d’honneur,” which is always held extended over the headsof the married pair while the priest pronounces the blessing, wasof the finest cutwork, trimmed with lace.

Doth in the north and in the south of Europe the art stilllingers on. Swedish housewives pierce and stitch the holidaycollars of their husbands and sons; and careful ladies, drawing thethreads of the fine linen sheets destined for the “ guest-chamber,”produce an ornament of geometric design.

Scarce twenty years since an expiring relic of this art mightbe sometimes seen on the white smock-frock of the Englishlabourer, which, independent of elaborate stitching, was enrichedwith an insertion of cutwork, running from the collar to theshoulder crossways, like that we see decorating the surplices ofthe sixteenth century.