130 HISTORY OP LACE. of sending it out. Well miglit lie say that “ Fashion was to France what the mines of Peru were to Spain.” 21 Boileau alludes to the success of the minister in his “ Epistle to Louis XIV.”:— “ Et nos voisins frusti es de ces tributs serviles Que payait b leur art le luxe de nos villes.” The point de France supplanted those of Venice and Flanders; hut its price confined its use to the rich, and when the wearing of lace became general, those who could not afford so costly a production replaced it by the more moderate pillow lace. This explains the great extension of the pillow'-lace manufacture at this period—the production did not suffice for the demand. Encouraged by the success of the royal manufactures, lace manu factories started up in various towns of the kingdom. The number of lace-workers increased rapidly: those of the towns being in sufficient, they were sought for in the surrounding country, and each towm became the centre of a trade extending round it in a radius of several miles; the work being given out from the manufactory to be executed by the cottagers in their own homes. 22 from purchasing those of other conn- 22 “ Knpport sur les Dcntelles fait a la tries.” The king agreed with the mi- Commission franijaise de l’Exposition nister, whom he made chief director of Universclle de Hondres, 1851.” Felix the trade and manufactures of the Aubry. One of the host histories of lace kingdom. published. 21 A favourite saying of Colbert.