But it is remarkable how much earlier here pomp and splendor are considered than convenience. The Spanish _romanceros_ of the 12th century display wonderful splendor in their descriptions of the Cid, and the trousseau of his daughters. But, on the other hand, the wife of Charles VII. seems to have been the only French woman in the 15th century who had more than two linen chemises. Even in the 16th century, it frequently happened that a princess made a present to a prince of a single shirt. At this time the German middle class were wont to sleep naked.[227-4] Even now, half-civilized nations look more to the outward appearance of commodities than to their intrinsic value. Thus, for instance, in Russia, we find large numbers of porcelain services extravagantly painted and gilded, awkward, the material of which is full of blisters; damaskeened knives, gilt sad-irons and candle-snuffers with landscapes engraved on them: but nothing fits into anything else; the angles are vicious, the hinges lame, and the whole soon goes to pieces. And so, among export merchants in Bremen, for instance, it is a rule, on all their wares intended for America, to put a label made of very beautiful paper, with their coat-of-arms or firm-name in real silver, and to do the packing in as elegant a manner as possible.[227-5] Cloths intended for America are usually exceedingly light, destitute of solidity, but very well dressed. The cotton-printers who work for the African market prefer to employ false but cheap and dazzling colors.[227-6] [Footnote 227-1: The use of window-glass in churches in England dates from 674, in private houses from 1180. (_Anderson_, Origin of Commerce, s. a.) Even in 1567, it was so rare that during the absence of the lords from their country seats, the panes were taken out and stored for safe keeping. (_Eden_, State of the Poor, I, 77.) As to how Scotland developed in this respect still later, see _Buckle_, History of Civilization in England, II, 172.] [Footnote 227-2: In our day, at the breakfast of a German of the middle class, may be found East Indian coffee, Chinese tea, West Indian sugar, English cheese, Spanish wine, and Russian caviar, without any surprising degree of luxury. Compare _Gellius_, N. A., VII, 16.] [Footnote 227-3: In England, the transition is noticeable, especially under Elizabeth: _Hume_ History, ch. 44, app. 3. In France, under Louis XIV.; _Voltaire_, Siècle de Louis, XIV., ch. 29.]