GLASS AND GLASS-MAKING 



during those centuries when so very many of the es- 

 sentials of progress, to say nothing of comfort, were 

 forgotten. In the place of glass, primitive wooden 

 shutters were used in the poorer class of dwellings; 

 while in the better class, transparent stones, oiled paper, 

 and skins were made to take the place of glazing. 



Even as late as the fifteenth century panes of win- 

 dow glass were seen only in the dwellings of the wealthy. 

 Among the records of the brilliant court of the dukes of 

 Burgundy is an order, dated 1467, which calls for 

 "twenty pieces of wood to make frames for paper, 

 serving as chamber windows." And even a century 

 later, glass windows were so much of a luxury and so 

 expensive that we find the steward of the Duke of North- 

 umberland ordering that the lights of glass in the castle 

 be "taken out and put in safety when his Grace leaves. 

 And if at any time his Grace or others should live at 

 any of the said places, they can be put in again without 

 much expense ; whilst as it is at present, the destruction 

 would be very costly, and would demand great repairs." 



By the eighteenth century, window glass had be- 

 come common enough so that even the dwellings of 

 people in moderate circumstances were fitted with 

 small panes small indeed, and so unevenly made that 

 objects seen through them were distorted into fan- 

 tastic shapes but nevertheless light-giving window 

 panes. Small panes of good quality were obtainable 

 at fabulous cost, to be sure, but it was not until late 

 in the nineteenth century that plate glass in great sheets 

 was manufactured, and brought within the reach 

 of the generality of people. 



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