The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-10-27
AIR, MD. FRIDAY MORNING. OCTOBER o. 1865.

tue crew were Obliged to remain there
some length of time In process of cook
ING, a fire was made on the ground,
wherein was abundance of the herb "kale."
That plant burning to ashes, the saline
properties became incorporated with the
sand. This using vitriication, the COM
poand we call glass was the result. The
fact becoming known, the inhabitants of
| Tyre and Sidon essayed the work, and
brought the new invcntion to practical
use. This is the tradition but modern
science demonstrates the false philosophy,
! if not tho iucorrcctuess, of Plinys ac-
count aud the modern manufactures
will readily detect the error, from the
imposSbiiity of melting sick and soda
/ by tic heat necessary for the ordinary
boiling purposes.
1t is we'll authenticated fact, however,
I that there were whole streets in Tyre en-
tircly occupied by Glass-works and his
tory makes 10 mention Of any works Of
this character at an early period than the
time mentioned by Pliny.
1t was during the reign Of Nero, so far
as VIC can discover, that the first perfectly
clear glass, resembling crystal was manu-
featured. phuy states that Nero, for two
cups Of ordinary size, with handles, gave
SIX thousand sestertia, equal in our currcn-
I cy to two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars; aud that rich articles of 6 lass were
in such general use among the wealthy
Romans as almost to supersede articles Of
gold and silver
1t is not strange that the strict secrecy
with which the business was conducted in
the Middle Ages should have Invested the
art with an air Of romance and legends,
probably Invented for the purpose created
a maximum Of wonder among the un-
initiated. The government Of Venice also
added, by its course, to the popular no.
tons regarding the high mystery Of the
art, coutcrring, as it did, the title of
"Gentlemau" Ono idle title in those days.
Oh all who became accomplished in the
manufacture. Howell, in his "Faniliar
Letters dated from Venice In 1921,
says "Not without reason, it being a
rare kind Of knowledge and chemistry, to
transmutc the dull bodies Of dust and
saud, for they are the only ingredients, to
such pellucid, dainty body as we See crys
tai glass before US.
A French writer, who published an
elaborate work in twelve books upon the
subject OF glass manufacture, after it had
been introduced INFO France, gives an in
teresting account Of the rise and progress
OF the art in that country, the encourage
ment it received, and the high estimation
in which it was held After stating ,hat
it was introduced in France from Venice,
he says:
"The workmen who are employed in
this noble art are gentlemen, for they ad-
init none but such. They have obtained
many large privileges, the principal
whereof IS to work themselves, without de-
rogating from their nobility. Those who
obtained th> Sc privileges first were gentle
men by birth; and the privilege running,
that they may exercise this art without de-
rogating from their nobility, as sufficient
proof Of it; which has been confirmed by all
our kings; and in all inquiries that have
been made into counterfeit nobilites, never
was any one attainted who enjoyed these
privileges, having always maintained their
honor down to posterity." Baron Won
Lowhen states in his "Analysis of Nobili,
ty in its Origin, THAT $50 useful were the
glass-makers at one period in Venice, and
SO considerable the revenue accruing to
the public from their manufacture, that
to encourage the men engaged in it to re-
main in Murauo, the Senate made them
all Burgtsses of Venice, and allowed no,
bles to marry their daughters whereas,
if a nobleman marries the daughters Of
any other tradesmau, the issue is not repu-
ted noble"