224

HISTORY OF LACE.

day, fresh sprigs of lavender and rosemary are laid upon it untilthe day of mourning comes, when the white marriage garmentleaves its resting-place once more to deck the lifeless form of herwho wore it in the hour of joy and hope.

POITOU.

Lace was made at Loudun in the seventeenth century, but thefabric has always been common.

“ Mignonettes et dentelles a poignet de chemises, et de prix detoutes especes,” from one sol six deniers the ell, to forty sols thepiece of twelve ells.

Children began lace-making at a very early age. “ Loudunfournit quelques dentelles communes,” says the governmentreporter of 1803. 18

Peuchet speaks of lace manufactories at Perpignan, Aix,Cahors, Bordeaux, &c., but they do not appear to have been ofany importance, and no longer exist.

With the exception of the Yalenciennes-making town ofBailleul (Nord), the lace of industry of France is now concentratedin the provinces of Normandy, Auvergne, and Lorraine.

i8 <« p) escr# du Dep. de la Vienne, par le Citoyen Cochon. An X.”