The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-19

CHINESE ARTS.
FROM pARRow's TRAVELS.


OF Ill the mechanical arts, that in which thev
seem to have attained the highest degree of per.
lection, is the cutting of ivory. In this branch
they stand unrvalled, svcn at Birmingham that
great nursery of the arts and manufactures,
where, understand, it has been attempted, by
means OF q machine, to cut ivory fans and other
articles, in imitation of those of the Chinese -
but the experiment, although ingenious, has not
hitherto succeeded to that degree, SO as to pro-
duce articles fit to vie with those of the latter
Nothing can be more exqusitely beautiful than
tue line open work displayed in Chinese fan,
the sticks of which would seem to be singly cut
ny the hand, for whatever pattern may be reuui-
red, or shield with coat of arms, or a cypher.
the article viii be finished according to the draw
ing, at the shortest notice. The two outside
sticks are full OF bold sharp work, unIcrcut in
such a manner could not be performed any o.
1her way than by the hand. Yet, the most finish.
Ell and beautiful of these fans may be purchased
~ Carton for FIVE to ten Spanish dollars. Out
al solid ball of ivory, with hole in It not lar
ger than half an inch in diameter, they will cut
from nine to fifteen distinct hollow globes, one
within another, all loose, and capable of being
turned round in every direction and each ofthem
carved full of the same kind of open work that
appears on the fans.
The various uses, to which that elegant spe-
cies OF reed. called the bamboo, is applied would
require volume to ,enumerate. Their chairs,
their tables, their screens, their bedstcatls and
SSuuS, ana many -Other household mOveableS are
entirely constructed of this hollow reed, and
come of them in a manner sufficiently ingenious
and beautiful. tits used on board ships for poles
FOR sails, for Cables for rigging and for caulking
LIN hIsbandry, for carts, for wheelbarrows, for
wheels to raise water, for fences, for sacking to
mold gram, and variety of other utensils. The
young shoots furnish article of food and the
wicks OF their candies are made of its fibre II
serves to embellish the garden Of the prince, and
TO cover The cottage OF the peasant. 1t is the in
strumeht, IN the hand of power, that keeps the
whole empire in awe. In short, there are fe W IL
ses to which the Chinese cannot apply the BAN
boo, either entire split into thin laths or fur.
Their divided into fibres to be twisted into cor
dage, or macerated into apulp to be manufactu
red into paper
y That "there is nothing new under the sun s.,
was the observation of wise man in DAYS of
yore. Impressed with the same idea an ingeni
Gus and learned modern author has written
Book to prove that all the late discoveries and i'm.
yentions of Europe were known to the ancents
The discovery OF making paper from straw, al
though new, perhaps, in Europe, is of very anci-
ent date in China. The straw of rice and other
grain, the bark Of the mulberry tree, the cotton
shrub, hemp, netties, and various other plants &
materials, are employed in the paper manufact..
ries OF China, where sheets are prepared of such
dimensions that single one may be had To CO.
Yer the whole side Of moderate sized room
The finer sort of paper, for writing upon has
surface as siAOoth as velIum and is washed with
strong solution OF alum, to prevent the ink from
sinking Many old persons and children earn
livelihood by washing the ink from written paper,
which, being afterwards beaten and boiled To q:
paste, i5 re-manafactured into new sheets: and
the ink is also separated from the water and pre.
served fer future use.