NORMANDY.

197

richest and most complicated of point lace was made has beenthe work of great patience. It is called “point Colbert,” afterthe minister to whom France owes the establishment of her laceindustry.

In 1851 there were in Calvados 00,000 lace-workers, spreadalong the sea-coast to Cherbourg, whore the nuns of La Providencehave an establishment. It is only by visiting the district that anadequate idea can be formed of the resources this work affords tothe labouring classes, thousands of women deriving from it theirsole means of subsistence. 20

20 “L'lndustrie fraiujiise depuis la Revolution do Fcviier ct l’Exj osition do 181s,par M. A. Audiganne.”

M. Aubry, in his report, thus divides tbo lace-makers of Normandy :—

Arrondissement of (Jaeni, liayeux

Department J

. . 25,000. . 15,000

Pont-I’fiveque, Falaise, and

oi oaivados

10,000

10,000

Lisieux

Departments of La Blanche and Sciue-Iuferieure .

00,000

Tho women earn from 50 sous to 25 sons,sous a day, an improvement on the wages Their products are estimated at from

of the last century, which, in the time of 8 to 10 millions of francs (320,0001. toArthur Young, seldom amounted to 24 400,0001.)-