The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-02


tiouv of SILK Worms-spIendid Fabrics
Wouarchism and immortality.
TURIN. August 90 1859.
For the last i've years this city has been very much
like Rachel weeping for her children. because they
were no more Turin weeps because 1t Is no longer
capital, the seat OF government having been trans
ferred to Florence In 1904 The indignation created
here on that occurion vented Itself In bloody
butchery between citizens and troops in the streets:
since then 1t has been displayed in more peaceful
ways, but has never been uprooted. The constant
talk in all Circles high and low. Is still about the
remova"--the bghting OF oil the ctys wen earned
honors high aspirations and commercial welfare.
They all unanimously believe ana say-had Cayour
lived this thing would not have been done And 1t
does not appear at all improbable TO those who were
intimately acquainted with the disposition of that
lllustrlous statesman that he would have violently
opposed the dminuton of Piedmont which, after
ALL was instrumental In creating the new kingdom
OF Italy. In TRUTH up to 1854 the city was making
rapid progre5s-nourishing new streets, squares.
and handsome buildings had been constructed, and
the place drew an Importance from court, aristoc-
racy and foreigners that Is gone foreyermore IL is
now an uninteresting town OF the provinces-dread-
full word, the provinces-whe Florence, the
city OF one vast gallery, holds the royal
sceptre. Withal the commercial activity here
abouts has somewhat recovered OF late, and the peo
pie are calculating largely upon the BENEFITS OF Mont
Ceni's tunnel when opened. Turin Is still unique
In certain OF its specaitesin Its vermouth, ehocO
late grtsstnt bread ana 'Fiorio' kid gloves, while
Piedmont bears the palm over all countries for the
growth Of silk, and above oil the other Italian
provinces, can boast Of better wines, more manu-
Iactures. and u healthier ana stronger population.
SILK is the great product and speciality OF the
country. Tie Pledmonte5e sk on account OF greater
strength and elasticity OF quality Ia preferred above
any Other especially in Italy and Is 80 esteemed at
Lyons and in London, WHITTIER the bulk OF the crops
IS yearly sent. The origin OF silk here Ia uue to the
importation OF the seed from Japan by various en-
terprisng societies. The crop for Piedmont for
francs; last year it brought S27, 62a francs The
principal silk factories OF Piedmont are &c Caselle.
rolo Cologne, Alesano, Bra. DESTROYS OF witness
ing in person the various preparations and opera
tions OF the silk manufacture, left Turn tho other
day bound for Caselle, the principal site ana about
q half hours ride by ran. In this tour Of In
specton, l. was expressly ACCOMPANIED by
Mr.. Louis Dupre, banker OF Turin, who
has the largest factory at the place. ana who, being
a warm admirer OF America and everything Ameri-
can tas may say IS tue case OF all itaiiansl seemed
very desirous OF granting me every possible facility
OF information. was not surprised to IND him an
Jdtt with regard TO the reputation and inAuence OF
have not yet been in any European country or city
where the HERALD does not have its regular crcua-
time financial and SILK transactions, the largest by
far beng the latter. At Mr. Dupres establishment,
the most extensive one visited, Witnessed the .'edu-
sation,' OF the silk worms, the gathering OF the
threads from tine cocoons and their final refining and
arrangemeut for weaving into those costly fabrics
which delight the eyes ana hearts OF fair ladies
and brave gentlemen all the world over, and which
cause so much detrlment at times to the COTTON
pockets OF the sterner sex. Ins estapnsnment mas
What is called the ''education OF silk wormsn Is
not only an exacting and delicate operation, but
are the liabilities of failure before success Is at
tained The seed or germ OF the worms Is placed on
floors IN large chambers, where the atmosphere Is
kept at a uniform heat OF sixty degrees. over che
seed spread light layers OF mulberry leaves 1.-THE
Indispensable and iructiiying nourishmentl In the
month OF May; the seed in forty days develops into
SO many worms and during the last eight days the
cocoons, or silk balls. are formed. The whole silk
making business from first to last is performed In
doors. The ooCoons, once formed, are gathered In
large baskets and then assorted, according to color
| appointed ad hoe. the three principal colors are
white. green and yellow, with all the consequent
| shades OF those colors. After remaining under
| quick heat to harden the shells and destroy the
worm inside during twenty minutes, or three hours,
according to quality the then spread out
In rooms for ventilation. From these c0connferes
they are passed aG will into the department where
the silk thread Is drawn from the shell. Ia this de-
women and girls were steadily ct work.
The scene was truly picturesque. The little
On peddes i to turn the spindles while the D women
drew off the fine thread and attached them to the
threadbearers to be wound. Many OF them pre-
seuted the beautiful Italian type prettlly shaped
black bright eyed, and all graceful, merry and sing
ing They all sing IN chorus as times and very we'll
In this department steam power is still absent
hence the resort to the human muscles. The
being put into small basins are subjected to boiling
water during few minutes, when the threads by
single skein, gossamer-ke, almost mperceptible to
the eye, such Is their fneness, are drawn through
delicate porcelain hooks on to 6pindles, until
there remains Of the original COCOON which Is very
| much like peanut In shape and size, nothing but
afford silk OF the more inferior quality which
Is into foulards. The single ones are the best
and vary from the size OF peanut TO that OF par
fridge egg. When removed from the spndles OF the
thread drawing process the threads are untaugled
| by winding upon bobins or large spools; from the
latter they pass to other spo0s Tor the cleansing
reguarzation OF the threads During tins operation
| only one thread Is wound, IN order 70 secure eas
| ticty and tension.
two thread5 at Time on spindles, when the two are
twisted together, whereupon the whole skeln OF
skeins, ready Tor the great weaving factories OF
Lyons which turn them out into more antique i'm.
peratrice, Lyon, foulards, &C., OF every shade and
shape. SO much for the dance Of luxury. The say
ing here is that 'cocoons clothe cocottes" The silk
sent IRON here IL also employed in the fabrication
Of the best aud costIiest velvets sent out from Lyons
When one views the tedious process OF preparation
which the growth and manufacture OF silks require
1t 10 not astonishing to watch the eagerBess with
which all these people Inquire at given moments
aoout the prospects OF the SILK crop, Its quality,
quantity and market rates.
In regard to politics things are quite stagnant.
Menabrea holds his own, but that is all. lie Is not
at all popular, nor indeed have any OF the ministers
been so since tdV0Ur'S DEATH Ihey are all TOundy
complained OF; all have been abused. The general
outcry Is against the large army maintained, the
squanderlng OF the finances and the trucking to
France. Every morning the newspapers proclaim
that the French Emperor rules In Italy, Victor EN-
manuel Is regarded as candgtta-a dough face,
head and heart-recevng 20 600 900 francs from the
State, stealing another 90 900, and contracting
90 900 more OF debts, all yearly His debts
that is par erceuence the theme for gossiping His
portrait longer honored by the side OF Cayours;
Indeed, IL longer hangs where IL was once cher
shed, many declaring to the present writer that IL
would desecfate their mansions. Decidedly the
royal house OF Savoy needs another Cavour. Yet
Italy manages to creep along; the misery does not
parent. 1t Is very clear that some time will have TO
eiapse before this people aud country become I'M
proved In morals. The prevailing depravity and
immortality In ali classes OF society (which must al
ways be attributed to previous centuries Of barbar-
ism, oppression aud i2norance is still disgusting
behold, although perhaps on the decline. Sights and
usages are found here which perhaps do not dim the
ctvti1zafinn Of any other country