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CHAPTER VI.

SPAIN.

“ Of Point d’Espngne n rich cornet,

Two night mils mill n scarf besot,

With a large luce and collaret.”

Eeelyn, Voyage to Marry-land.

“ Hat laced with gold Point d’Espogne.” 1

Wardrotte of a Pretty Fellow, Roderick Random.

The Count. u Voglionnn pnnta di Spagua, largo, maseiccin, hen lavorata. Deldisegno, della ricehezza, ma niente di luccicante.”— Goldoni, L’Avaro faxtoso.

Spanish point, in its day, has been as celebrated as that of Italy.Tradition declares Spain to have learned the art from Italy,whence she communicated it to Flanders, who, in return, taughtSpain how to make pillow lace. Be that as it may, Spanish pointwas highly prized, extensively made, and Spain had no occasionto import the products of Italy. Many reasons exist why Spanishpoint was less known to Europe in general than that of othernations. The dress of the court, guided not by the impulse offashion, but by sumptuary laws, gave little encouragement to themanufacture; while, on the other hand, the numberless imagesof our Lady and other patron saints, dressed and re dressed dailyin the richest vestments, together with the albs of the priests andthe decorations of the altars, caused an immense consumption forecclesiastical purposes. “Of so great value,” says Beekford,“ were the laces of these favoured Madonnas that in 1787 theMarchioness of Oogallmdo, wife of the eldest son of the semi-royal race of Medina Ornli, was appointed mistress of the robesto our Lady of Li Solidad, at Madrid, a much coveted olHce.” Itmay be surmised then that the supply scarcely exceeded thedemand, and that the rich points of which we have lately heardso much were entirely employed for home consumption. At that,early period, too, Spain, on wdiose empire the sun never set, had

“ Point tVEftpngne hats.”— Connoi^enr

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