244

HISTORY OF LACE.

of agriculture rendered it no longer a profitable employment eitherfor the boys or the women. 12 The trade passed from the manufac-turers into the hands of the hawkers and petty dealers, who weretoo poor to purchase the finer points. The “ lace postmen ” oncemore travelled from house to house with their little leathern boxes,offering these inferior wares for sale. 13 The art died out. In 1840there were not more than six lace manufactories in Schleswig.

The old people, however, still believe in a good time coming.“ I have in my day,” said an aged woman, “ sold point at fourthalers an ell, sir; and though I may never do so again, mydaughter will. The lace trade slumbers, but it does not die.”

SWEDEN.

At a very early period, the Scandinavian goldsmith hadlearned to draw out wires of gold, and twine them round threadseither of silk or flax—in fact, to “ guiper ” them.

Wadstena, where repose the remains of Queen Philippa ofLancaster, daughter of Henry IV., has been considered from timeimmemorial as the cradle of lace-making in Sweden. The art,according to tradition, was introduced among the nuns of the con-vent by their foundress, St. Bridget, on her return from Italy. AsSt. Bridget died in 1335, we may be allowed to question the fact:certain it is, though, the funeral coif of the saintess, as depictedin an ancient portrait said to have been taken at Borne afterdeath, is ornamented with a species of perforated needlework. 14By the rules of the convent, the nuns of Wadstena were forbiddento touch either gold or silver, save in their netting and embroidery.

12 “A lace-maker earns from 3{d. to4)d. per day of sixteen hours .”—RawerfaReport, 1848.

la The Tonder lace traders enjoy theprivilege of offering their wares for saleall over Denmark without a licence (con-cession), a privilege extended to no otherindustry.

14 The early perfection of Bridget her-self in this employment, which, if we maycredit the chronicle of the AbbessMargarctha, 1440-46, may be ascribed toa miraculous origin.

When, at the age of twelve, she wasemployed at her knitted lace work, a

fear came over her that she should notfinish her work creditably to herself, andin her anxiety she raised her heart above.As her aunt came into the chamber, shebeheld an unknown maiden sitting op-posite to her niece, and aiding her in hertask; she vanished immediately, andwhen the aunt asked Bridget who hadhelped her, she knew nothing about it,and assured her relation she had seen noone.

All were astonished at the finenessand perfection of the work, and kept thelace as of miraculous origin.