The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-03-30

II ! a..
-.e..turrr of linen is one of the
The ns sna,ii Of which We have any au-
earliest Inrord. and it is supposed to he the
thenu "ncient OF all our textile fabrics. In
tho reign OF Pharoali, King of Egypt, when
Joseph was made ruler over the land, the
people in that country were skillful in the
production of linen cloth of the finest quail
~. The bible refers to this fabric in the
And verse of the list chapter of Genesis, in
the following words
"And Pharoah took of his ring from his
hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and
arrayed him in vestues of fine linen, and
put gold chain about his neck.n
The use of linen was imperativeiy deman-
ded by the laws and customs of Egypt. The
priest were forbidden to enter the TEMPLES
unless ubed in linen garments, and the
dead were always buried in shrouds made
OF this material. The inner wrappnus of
the mummies, found in the Pyramids. are
always of coarse fibre. but the outside GOV.
ering is much finer. There are preserved in
the British Museum, specimens of mummy
bandages that are thin and TRANSPARENT. like
the muslins of India. Some of these sam.
pies contain $40 threads to an inch in the
warp, and ITO in the wool, while much the
greater share OF the fine cloth woven on the
Dacca looms has only 100 threads to the
inch IN the warp, and "a in the wool. The
best cloth made on the rude Egyptian looms
is equal in texture and delicacy to the finest
productions of modern times. The coarser
linen tbres were used for ropes. nets. and
sails; but the linen goods were exported
from Egypt into Greece, and other countries
bordering the Mediterranean.
Inc Jews were also acquainted with the
manufacture OF linen, and they spun fax and
made 1t into garments which were used at
their most imposing religious ceremonies.
These customs and the clothing worn on
such occasions, arc infinitely described in
many portions of the Bible. 1t SAYS that
Aaron, the priest, had robe, an embroitler-
cd coat. mitre and girdle These we're
holy garments, made of fine twined linen,
with cunning needle work, in guild, blue,
purple and scarlet The teo curtains of
Ihc Tabernacle were also made of line
twlned linen, in blue, purple and scarlet,
with cherubims of cunning work in en-
broidery.
The patricians of ancient Rome wore linen
clothing of extreme fneness. These gar
ments were made both plain and decorated,
and the latter were interviewer with flow.
ers, feathers and gold. The best linen
cloths made in Tyre and Egypt were trans
parent, dyed with purple aud very richly
embroidered.
In modern times, the greatest excellence
IN the production of linen fabrics has been
achieved In great Britain, Ireland, Holland
and the United States, and this trade is an
important feature in the commerce of the
three former countries, The best cambrics,
lawns, and other dress goods are made in
Europe; but in table linens, sheetings,
shirtings, handkerchiefs, gloves tape. and
several other articles the domestic manu-
facture is equal to any other in the world.
Hollands are variety of fine linens, which
originated in the country from which it
fakes its name. Osnaburgs are coarse dress
goods, made at Osnaburg, in Germany.
Cambrics and lawns are each of very fine
texture, and the former was first made at
Cambray, in Flanders Damasks are kind
of wrought linen, of great beauty, made in
limitation of damask,, or Damascus silk
These goods were first made in Flanders,
and the style is distinguished for its raised
work, which represents flowers and foliage.
Huckaback is alsn made with raised figures,
.'"o 10 uSSN iOl tdDIC-ClOiuS duu lUWGlo. IL
Is OF a very fine and firm texture, and is the
most serviceable of this description of
goods. 1t is considered very elegant, and is
used for towels, napkins, and variety of
purposes.
In the line of linen dress goods are EN-
braccd embroidered frocks, morning gowns,
dressing robes, and aprons, coating cloth,
vestings, hosiery, gloves, scaris, nsck-ties,
cuff, and many other articles. England and
Russia are extensively engaged in the man.
ufacture of a cloth called duck, the finer
qualities Of which are used for clothing;
while the coarser material is made into light
sails, sacking, nets, etc. England also pro-
duces a coarse cloth called Dowlas, suitable
for common wear by the poorer class ofpeo-
pie.
Formerly, linen sheetings and shirtings
were considered indispensable by all classes
but, of late years, factory made cotton goods
have, to great extent, suppanted them fol
general use. Linen thread is made oil
doubled yarn, which, on being bleached oil
dyed, is made up into skeins and hanks, OF
is wound into balls, or upon spools>a
l is made of the best qualities of
.1n1A Al. ~. u. l.