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SILK IN FRANCE. 
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the last decline of old age, whose cypher everywhere inscribed teaches 
us that Love can conquer Time, Diana de 
Poitiers, in her profound art, did exactly the 
opposite of what our imprudent ladies do, 
who, incessantly changing, as if to amuse 
the passer-by, leave no trace upon the soul, 
and produce no permanent impression. She 
permitted the Irises to delectate themselves 
with their fugitive rainbow; but, like the 
celestial Dian, always wore the same costume, 
black or white, and invariably of silk. 
It was to please her that Henry II. wore 
the first pair of silk stockings, and the fine 
silken close-fitting vest, which indicated all 
the gracefulness of a muscular yet slender 
figure. We know how ardent an enthusiasm 
Henry IV., at a later period, showed in pro¬ 
moting the growth of the silk-manufacture, 
planting mulberry-trees everywhere,—along 
the highways, in the market-places, in the 
courts of his palaces, and even in the gardens 
of the Tuileries. Coloured silks, for decora¬ 
tion and furniture, and silks with flowered 
designs, were soon afterwards manufactured 
at Lyons, which provided all Europe with 
them. 
Shall I say it, however ? These coloured 
and ornamented silks do not by any means 
produce a great and profound effect. Silk 
in its natural state, and not even tinted, is in 
much more intimate sympathy with woman 
and beauty. Amber and pearls, the latter 
slightly yellow, with rich falls of lace, the 
latter not too yellow, are the only suitable 
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accompaniments of silk. 
