FLAX, OR LINE. 205 



Greeks, or Romans, as any part of their or- 

 dinary dress : their under-tunics were made 

 of fine wool or hair ; and hence arose the 

 occasion for frequent bathing. It has been 

 observed that the introduction of linen shirts 

 has been found to lessen the prevalence of 

 leprosy. 



The Emperor Alexander Severus, who was 

 murdered in the year 235 a. d. was the first 

 person who wore a linen shirt : but the gene- 

 ral use of so necessary a garment did not 

 become common till long after him. 



The making of linen cloth in England was 

 probably introduced by the Romans, who 

 certainly cultivated flax in this country. 



Before Britain had become so great a com- 

 mercial nation, each town or village had its 

 weaver, and every good housewife was ex- 

 pected to furnish her family with linen 

 of her own spinning. The farmers' daughters 

 were early instructed in this art, and their 

 female domestics filled up all their vacant 

 hours at the distaff or wheel. Tusser, in his 

 advice to the farmer, for. May, says, 



" Good flax and good hemp, for to haue of liir owne, 

 In May a good huswife wil see it be sown : 

 And afterward trim it, to serue at a need, 

 The fimble to spin, and the carle for his seed." 



