Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-07-04
M(etbaafeal department,
MANUFACTURE OF GLASS.
IT'S HISTORY AND MYSTERY.
SELECTED FOR THE HERALD, BY H. A. KENDALL
Number Taoo.


When glass first came to be used for
windows cannot with any certainty be de-
termined. st. jerome Ca. d. 422) makes
the earliest allusion to glass windows;
and century later the windows of St.
Sophia at Constantinople are spoken of
as being covered with glass. But such
instances at that period were rare. The
ltahans were the first to employ glass in
this way, after them the French, and then
alta long interval the English, who ap-
pear to have been as slow in ayailing
themselves Of the new way Of lighting
their houses as they were in CONFORMING
to the Georgian Calendar, which had been
adopted In most of the countries of Eurone
III century and a half before it was re-
coghized IN this country. In this, as in
all other things, we showed ourselves
aferse to lnnovations;- AN obstinancv
which, while it makes US hesitate over sud.
den changes, gives stability to the i'm.
proyements we embrace. This very arti
Gle OF windows furnishes signal proof Of
the fact: for, long as we halted behind
Italy and France we exceed them both n
the solidity and ineness Of the material
we employ for that purpose. Compare
the windows OF an Italian palazzo or &
French chateau with those of private
gentleman's house, or citizens villa il
England, and our practical superiorit,
will become apparent.
In the manufacture of glass for orna
ments, or common uses, we NAV claim
nearly. as remote an antiquity as Ital,
herself. Glass was made in England be
fore the Roman invasion. In many part
Of the country articles. of glass have beer
found having narrow perforation AM
thick rim, called by the Britons glass ad
ders, and supposed to have been used a
amulets by the Druids. We owe nothin.
to the Romans, either for the introductio
or cultivation Of the manufacture, thei
luxurious tastes leading them to prefe
silver and gold for their vessels, and t
feel rather jealous of the cheaper beaut
of glass. Our early productions IN thi
way were probably neither numerous no
elaborate; and the art of making glas
windows was unknown amongst US til
the year 674, when, according to the Yer
cradle Bede, artiGcets were brought owe
from the Continent by Abbot Benedict t
glaze the windows Of the church and nor
astery of Weremouth, in Durham. Som
say they were brought over by Wilfric
Bishop of Worcester, who lived about til
same time. Both traditions agree, how
ever, as to the period. The novelty lin
gered long time in the church before
found its way into the dwellings of tn
people; five centuries at least elapsed be
fore it made any great advance, and cvel
then it was confined to public foundation
and the houses of the rich.
The windows that were in use befor
the introduction of glass must have beer
special curiosities. Poor people had NJ
windows at all, but open spaces, closed
up at night; and even amongst the gentry
linen cloths and wooden lattices were thC
chief expedients for the admission of light
The wealthy classes, who could affort
much more costly resources, had brillian
stones fixed in their windows, such al
agate, alabaster, &C., of which some inter
esting specimens have been found at Her
culaneum, where the largest houses were
lighted by means of transparent tile. II
England glass windows did not come int.
general use till the thirteenth or fourteenth
century, or rather later. Aubrey tells
us that, except in the churches and gen
tlemen's houses, glass windows were rare
before the time of Henry Will, and tina
in his own remembrance, before the civi
wars, copyholders and poor people hat
none. In Scotland, so late as 1861, W.
learn from Rays Itinerary, that the win
dows of ordinary country houses wer,
not glazed, and only the upper parts o
those Of the kings palace had glass, thu
lower having two wooden shutters, which
were occasionally opened to admit thu
fresh air.