The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-03-23

| carton tn manufactured goods. mas well
nigh become universal. All civilized, and
many barbarous people, are largely indebted
TO this material tor the clothes they wear I;
the tents that shalter their families; the beds
on which they sleep; the decorations Of
their dwellings; the binding that covers
their literature; the flags that designate
their nationality, and even the white sails
which, unfolding their busy wings, hear to
the four quarters of the Globe the produc-
tive industries Of various nations and varied
| climes.
The uses of cotton were understood by the
ancicnts in the early times. and it was man
ufactnrtd by them into cloth several thous-
and years ago. The process of weaving the
fabric was rude. and at first very imperfect |;
but its improvement progressed with the
spread of intelligence and industry. Herod-
otus describes this process as existing in
the year 450 B. c. He speaks of certain
trees of India, hearing, as their fruit. heeces
more delicate and beautiful than those of
sheep, which were manufactured into cloth
| by the inhabitants of that country.
The extension of commerce introduced
cotton cloth into the countries Of Greece and
Rene. Before the Christian era, it was used
in Sicily by Verres, as covering Tor his
tents. According to Levy, Leutulus Spin 4
| ther had the honor ot introducing II to the
caused cotton awnings to be used at the
theatre, on the occasion of the Apollinarian
games, and the new product was received
with great favor. Caesar afterward was in.
strumental in its continued used for the same
purpose. He also covered the Sacred Way
a,@ ns ~ 1Ta ees.:i ',s. sa Tie csgi,oline hill
garded by the Inhabitants as-mofe wonder
ful than even the gladiatorial exhibitions.
At the conquest of Mexico by the Span
iards, under fernando Cortez. cotton was
found growing in that county in great per-
lection. The natives were clothed in cot
ton cloth of remarkable finencss Cotton
and feathers were also interviewer, and of
those materials were made gorgeous car
pets, mantles, gowns and drapery. The
Mexicans also made servictable body ar
NOR, by the use of which the soldiers of the
Empire of Montezuma were rendered more
secure against their enemies. Cotton ia
hrics were also made in Peru. On the ad-
vent of Europeans, the Inca and other royal
personages wore colored vestments, with
which they made grand display.
Cotton derives its name from the Arabic
word kotun, which corresponds with word |
in Ethiopic and Syriac, which signifies fine |
gossypium or gossamer. The production |
is described as growing in the capsules. or |
pods of gossypium the modern cotton |
plant. The similarity of the Arabic word |
kotun, and analogous words for cotton, in |
other languages is quite fully exemplifcd, |
when we bear in mind that the French |
word is cotton the Italian cotonc; and the
Dutch, katoen.
All our ordinary cotton goods are similar
to the original manufactured fabrics of In |
dia. Many of them bear the names derived |
from the places where they were first manu-
fnctured. Calico is the generic name ior all |
printed,cloths made from cotton. II was |
originally produced at Calcut, in India, |
and was first exported from that city in |
1881. Chintz is u superior calico, having n
variety of figures, bearing ut least five diff |
ferent colors. As the quality and strength |
of calico increase, it is called respectively, |
long cloth, duck and double warp Muslin |
is distinguished from calico by its superior |
fineness. The name is said to be derived
from Masulipatam from which place mus \
lins were first imported. The various styles |
of European and American muslins are
known us Organdic, PercaIe, Jaeonets, Main.
socks, Victoria Lawns, Bishop Lawns, Cam
brics, Brilliants. Piguc, Book Muslins
Dimity, Swiss Mnslins, etc. These muslin !
embrace the white, colorcd, dotted, figures
fancy and striped varieties
In England, white cotton goods &c
called calico. In this country, the vols
calico and prints are Synonymous.
India muslns are made nf a tissue so eli
cate us to appropriately bear the nnes
given to them in the East, where the are
known as woven Wind" and "Evhing
Dew" Tavernier describes some speonens
as so exquisite that they were hardly III by
the hand that held them; the thrca5wben
spun was scarcely discernabIo.- pMIslin
tissue in the East India Company s lH-eum,
of twenty yards, weighed onis one film /.
Some of the finest of these prodt lions !"
make transparent garments, and Nsbric
made for turbans, containing one huared
yards, weighed less than four ounces Iccn
muslins, made at the city Of Dacca, inIas.
tern Bengal, have been for years impded
into England. Their recommendationarc
superior softness, richness, and durabhy.
The English also formerly imported larliy
of the calicoes, chintzcs, and ginghams IN
uhcturcd at CorUmandel. These goods re
now seldom never seen in Euiopeanr d
American markets, in consequence of beg a
supplantcd by cheap limitations. The 81 "
uine are still preferred in the east, who II
they arc regarded, both in color and tex I,
urc, as unsurpassed. Ii
The Dacca shirt staple is so delicate tina d
it can only be spun into yarn in the morn W
ing, before the dew has left the grass orr Il
if spun at other hours of the day, it is nccl
essary to place it over tanks of water, thd "
evaporation from which will yield sufficient l.
moisture to prevent the fibre from becoming Il
too brittle to handle. With all its extreme IN
delicacy, this muslin will wash equal to any j
other manufactured. The Hindoo wcavers h,
accomplish these wonderful results on
rude bamboo loom, and so sensitive is their
touch. that the supple fingers of the opera
tivcs act instinctiyely in the production of
yarn which cannot be cquaed by the
most perfect machinery of modern times
Figured muslin is the most costly and
unique production of the Eastern loom.
These fabrics are the Woven Charms of
India, the wonderful effect and brilliancy of
their appearance being made by the ming
ling together of gold and silver threads In
the body of the material. Some of these
Woven Charms have cmbrOideries of pure
gold, which will not tarnish, can bc washed,
and both in texture and rich display have
never been approached by the woven tissues
"f any other people.-N. y. Merean. Journal