The New York herald., 1870-01-02
VISIT 10 A CHINESE SILK FACTORY.
(Canton correspondence Cincinnati Commercial

[Canton correspondence Cincinnati Commercial
my Eas soo0 70 sKs me INTO e S
dismounted to make . careful observation OF their
mOdus Operdndf for the production OF this renowned
silk, nothing out silk. In small dark houses, little
better than novels, were seen people, cnleny wo-
men, dyeing tnis delicate textile. outside. IN little
tlthy yards ana pig styes, over the ground where
the family SWINE were walow ing, were placed bam-
boo poles, wnereon were hanging skeins OF colored
SILK just from the dye and glowing with the most
VIVID hues as they hung for driving IN the sunshine
over the loauhsome pools below. 1 visited several
OF their weaving shops. They were quite similar in
their fixtures ana arrangements. spent some time
in examining one Of the largest II was perhaps,
100 feet long and about sixteen feet wide. The walls
were OF coarse clay blocks, sun-drlcd, unpierced by
single aperture Tor air or light save at the trout,
which was entirely open the whole breadth OF the
building. The door was simply Of trodden clay un-
even and uniidy. An aisle down the centre
just wide enough for one person to pass; either
side OF this were ranged the nearest looms, aud
standing 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 precisely OF the same Kind as to ap
pearance ana mode OF manipulation, AZ were those
upon which our Rrandm0thers Ia ONO used to weave
the lnsey oolsey Tor the wear OF us Western boys
when even The preacher was almost a stranger TO
brOadcloth. Squattlng myaef down by one OF these
friendly looking acquamtances OF my boyhood,
leIsurely watched the delicate and digent manipu-
lations OF the weaver and his assistants az their
shuttles new To and fro III the may mystery Of
ngures and howers that came gradually out larger
ana palmer upon the glowing surface o the gorgeous
fabric which those skilful &Orkmen were there cre
atng under my eye. so complex were the move
nents oil the men on these simple looking machines
aud 80 marvelousy beautiful were the products re-
sultinX tnerefr0m, thar gazed with unbounded
amazemeny upon ths work OF SILK weaving ~ it
progressed peI0re me.
The weather being warm and the shop crowded
the w0rkmen were almost naked. My visit inter.
ested them maniIestly, yet not II loom ceased It's
choking. clacking noise, not man lett his employ.
menL 10 gaze; but detected them giving furtlvs
glances and exchanging mutual smiles among them
selves al the curious stranger who had thus
mOniously sQuatted himself down In their midst by
one OF these nnmgie looking looms, a common
dirt floor, within nomeiy clad walls, w1ere, never
theess are produced those magnificent fabrics
which for ages and throughout the world have been
the pride OF wealth, the envy OF beauty and the
admiration ana desire OF royalty. Far down and
was plain board counter, extending quite across
the room Behind II stood the proprietor OF the fac
tory, sm0Othfaced, richly clad Chinaman. Directly
over him the building was unrOofed thereby afford.
ing q spacious skylight; except this, window there
was none. Through this skyllght and down upon
the counter below the sunshine fell upon the finished
work OF TINS dngy, dirty, s1ualid looking workshop
The proprietor was busy measuring or aud packing
up the pr0oncts of his looms. And as the sunlight
streamed iull upon the gorgeous c0lors OF those
magnificent silks, satins and brocades which the
proprietor was tossing about In bowy radiance II
seemed to my eyes as ! stood far up In the feeble
Light or the centre OF the room, as though he were
tossing and toying with ranbOws. From places so
humble and surr0undings 80 squalid as this come
those royal fabrics which are to decorate palaces
ana 10 adorn the persons Of princes and monarchs
OF the earth.