

11 



imfaded for thirteen hundred years is marvellous, and proves the 

 excellence of their dyes, and the high perfection in tinctorial art of 

 their dyers. 



SCRAPS OF SILK HISTORY. 



More is known of the early history of silk in the West than in 

 the East, but dating only from Classic Greek and Roman times. 



Aristotle wrote on the life changes of the Silkworm, and gives to 

 Pamphile, the daughter of Plates, the honour of first reeling silk 

 on bobbins for weaving into gauzy fabrics, which made the Island 

 of Cos famous in history and song, for the Coan vest was the most 

 prized garment of the classic lady. It was so transparent that it 

 allowed the body to be seen through its clinging folds; and Horace 

 says of it : — 



"As if unclothed she stands confessed 

 In a transparent Coan vest. 



TibuUus speaks of a Coan vest for girls : — 



" She may these garments wear, which female Coan hands 

 Have woven, and in stripes disposed the golden bands." 



A statue to Vertumnus had this inscription on its base : — 



" My nature suits each changing form, 

 Turned into what you please I'm fair, 

 Clothe me in Coan. I'm a decent lass, 

 Put on a toga, for a man I pass." 



Plutarch dissuades the prudent wife from wearing silk. Martial 

 speaks of silken fillets for the hair and other silken goods being sold 

 at the Viscus Tuscus at Rome. Galen recommends silk thread for 

 the tying up of blood vessels ; America now parades this as her 

 new surgical invention ; verily there is nothing new under the sun ! 

 Heliogabalus was the first Roman to wear a holosericum or robe of 

 silk ; he also kept by him a silken rope of purple and scarlet to 

 hang himself with when the day of his destiny was over. In the 

 reign of Tiberius, women of rank only were allowed to wear eastern 

 silks, " oriental sericum." Aurelian refused his Empress a silken 

 shawl she coveted, because of its costliness, weight for weight in 

 gold. But Julius Caesar used silken curtains, and wore silk, when 

 he appeared in public, dyed with the purple of Tyre, the product 

 of Murex Trunculus and Murex Brandaris, two species of Mediter- 

 ranean shell-fish. There is also a third. Purpura lapilla, and all are 



