The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-08
FAcTs AHOUT GLASS.
Tho Romans Knew How to Stain and Blow

Tho Romans Knew How TO Stain and Blow
1T.
Long before glass vessels were made in
vrelord Furoue was we'll supplied with
most beautiful glassware from SPAIN
France, Bohemia. and particularly from
NwanO. q little place near Venice when
became renowned during the middle oges
for its wonderful works I'm glass. Evelyn
Saws. out Of the years gone by, 1 passed
over to MuranO. famous for the best glass;
cs I'm the world when having viewed thelr
furnaces and seen their works maze
collection Of divers curiosities and glasses.
which 1 sent by long sea 10 England
10 must have been beautiful sight IN
those times children. 10 have seen col
lection Of such rare and beautiful glass.
u was one Of the wonders OF the other
countries how anything so deicately beau
tlful could be made by human hands.
The Venetian Senate was very proud or
their glass works at MuramO. and sought
in every way TO encourage the Industry
by comforting the title Of nobility on those
who were most skinful, the Doge himself
often paying visits 10 the works and tax
ing the greatest interest I'm ali their
efforts. A French writer speaking very
enthusiastically Of these workmen and
their classes SAYS "This beautiful treasure
causes the wine to laugh when IT finds
itself enclosed i'm its mysterious and NOR
fal enemy water. fashioned into cups
and into "a hundred thousand other shapes
and figures. MuTano and Venice may well
play with thirst by filling Europe with
thousands OF pretty courtesies in glass
and crystal, forcing people TO drink be
cause they possess them
The Romans knew how TO stain and
blow class. 10 work II on a lathe and to
cncrave IL. We learn from Pliny that
there were a great many varieties OF
colorad class i'm his time. Colored window
glass was used I'm churches as early as
the eight century. In fact the art OF
Painting on glass has come down TO us
80 mixed with ecclesiastical architecture
OF the middle ages. that 1t rs almost i'm
possible 10 think Of one unconnected with
the other II is almost exclusively con-
nected with gothic architecture. The sub
t.ct of stained glass, however is too vast
n one for us 10 try and study In one chap
ter or column OF a paper but sincerely
hone. BOYS. when you grow older You VIII
e4ye n a little thought. l am sure II you
have any fondness for such Things you
viii enjoy IL immensely. Some one mas
said that the richly stained glass WINDOWS
o. the middle ages were the Illustrated
Bible OF the time. Many or the people
could not read from books, but they could
study from these glowing pages the story
o. The martyrs and saints. the miracles OF
Christ as they shone forth from the OLD
cathedral walls. But colored glass was
no, confined 20 ecclesiastical architecture
Tor it gradually stole into halls. country
mansions and sometimes even into hostel
riea IN the form OF heraldlc signs" Then
700. many specimens may be found OF
mosaic glass work. This also is study
IN nsef and we cannot even begin TO
touch upon Sc. but / would suggest, hPys'
u's' you look this up also as you grow
o'der GO. ~ YOU ever have the chance. 10
.ne south kensington museum and 10
81 Peters IN Rome for some rare speci-
mems I'm this art Stained glass was also
USED Tor bric-a-brac. a most beautiful
Piece or what we cali coated glass white
on one side and coored on the other is
u ~-otNand Vase, which an insane visitor
70 the British meseum smashed all TO
DIS however. after two years OF patient,
oAreiu labor II was almost perfectly re-
s.Ved This wonderful vase was discover
90 IN marble sarcophagus near Rome
ana Is supposed TO have belonged 10 Alex
hider severus. IL is beautifully formed
OF deep rich blue with graceful figures
out IN white relief upon It's surface, like
nameo-kathaI1ne Smith.