Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-05
Gales and Skttthts.
VISIT TO A CHINESE SILK FACTORY.

directed my guide to take me into the
SilkWtaving streets. We soon entered
them. | at once dismOuntcd to make n
careful observation of their m0dus Opera7tdt
for the production of this renowned fabric
of Oriental looms. All around me was
silk, silk. nothing but silk. In small dark
houses, little better than novels, were seen
people, chiefly women, dyeing this delicate
textile. Outside, in little filthy yards and
pig styeS, near the ground where the fam
lily swine were wallowing, Were placed
bamboo poles, whereon were hanging
sleins of colored silk just from the dye,
and glowing with the most vivid hues as
they hung for drying i'll the sunshine over
the loathsome pools below. | visited sew
clal Of their weaving shops. They are
quite similar in their fixtures and arrange
ment9. | spent some time in examining
one of the largest. 1t was, perhaps. 100
feet long and about sixteen feet wide
The walls were OF coarse clay blocks. sun
dried, unpierced by SINGLE aperture for
air or light save at the front, which was
entirely open the whole breadth Of the
building. The floor was simply of trod-
den clay, uneven. and untidy. An aisle
ran down the centre, just wide enough for
one person to pass; ON either side OF this
were ranged the nearest looms, and stand
ing as close together as they could be
placed.
Two or three persons were employed on
the work of each loom. The looms are
plain, common looking affairs, almost pre-
cisely of the same kind, as to appearance
and mode of manipulation, as were those
upon which our grandmotherS in Ohio used
to weave the linsey- woolsey for the wear
of Western boys, when even the preacher
was almost a stranger to broadcloth
Squatting myself down by one Of these
friendly looking acquaintances of my boy
hood leisurely watched the delicate and
diligcnt manipulations of the weaver and
his assistants us their shuttles flew to and
fro in the may mystery OF figures and
flowers that came gradually out larger and
palmer upon the glowing surface OF the
gorgeous fabrics which those skillful work
men were then creating under my eve
So complex were the movements of the
men ON these simple looking machines
and so marvelously beautiful were the
products resulting theretrom, that gazed
with unbounded amazement upon this
work of silk weaving rs it progressed be-
fore me.
The weather being warm and the shop
crowded the workmen were almost naked
My visit interested them manifestly, yet
not loom ceased its clicking, clacking
noise, not Il man lett his employment to
gaze; but detected them giving iurtive
glances and exchanging mutual smiles
among themselves at the curious stranger
who had thus sunceremonously squatted
himself down in their midst, by one of
these humble looking looms, on II common
dirt floor, within homely clad walls, where,
nevertheless are produced those magniti-
cent fabrics which for ages and through
out the world have been the pride of
wealth, the envy of beauty and the admir-
alton and desire of royalty Fardown and
nearly to the extreme limit of this long
room was plain board counter, extending
+ quite across the room. Behind it stood the
proprietor of the factory, a smooth-taced,
Chinaman. Directly over him the build
ing was unrooied, thereby atfording