Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-02-16
A Visit to o Chinese Silk Factory.

A correspondent of the Cincinnati Com
assTcidl writes from Canton:
directed my guide TO take me into the
silk weaving streets. We soon entered
them. l at once dismounted to make a
careful note OF the ntodus operancG for the
LrUda'tIon OF this renowned fabric of ORR
rutsl looms. All around me was nothing
but silk, silk, silk. In small dark houses
little better than novels, were seen people,
chiefly women, dyeing this delicate textile.
Out side, In little filthy pig styes, over the
ground where the family of swine we're wal
lowing, were placed banbo poles, whereup-
on were hanging skeins of colored silk, lust
from the dye, glowing with the most vivid
Eues, as they hung for drying in the SUP
shine oTer the loathsome pools below. /
visited several Of tEeir weaving shops They
were quite similar in their fixtures and ar
engagements. spent some ;ine Ill exsmin
ing oas Of tie largest. 1t was perhaps, one
hundred feet long and sixteen feet wide
The walls were of coarse clay blocks, sun
dried, unpiercei by single aperture for air
or lishr, save at the front which was entire
ly open tbs whole breadth Of the building
The floor va. sinIply OF trodden clay uneven
aud untidy. An aisle ran down the centre,
Just vide enough for Que person to pass, on
either -iie of this was ranged the nearest
iYpms, aud standing close together as they
could be placed.
iso or three persons were employed on
th5 work OF cash loom. The looms are
plain, common looking affairs, almost pre-
cisely of the ,ame kind, as to appearance
znd mode Of manipulation, as We're those
upon which oar grahimothers in Ohio used
IL weave the linsey wooisey for til: wear of
our Western boys, when even the preacher
vas almost stranger to broadcloth. Squat
ting myself down by one of these friendly
looking acqusintances of my boyhood, |
lessurely watched the delicate and differen,
pianipulations of the weaver and his assist.
ants As their shu;tles 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 fabric
which those skilitul worknen were there
creating under my eyes. So complex were
the movements OF the men on these simple
looking machines. aud 80 narvelously beati
iul we're the products resulting therefrom
that gazed with unbound auazement upoI
this work OF silk weaving as 1t progressed
before ME.
The weather being warm and the shop
crowded, the workinen were almost naked
My visit interested them manifestly, yet moi
loom ceased its clicking, clacking noise
not a man lett his employment to gaze, but
detected them giving furtiye glances and
exchanging mutual smiles among themselye.
htthe curious stranger who had thus uneer
eAonIousiy squatted himself down In theil
Midst. by oae of these humble looking
looms, on . common dirs floor, within home
clad walls where, nevertheless. are pro
aueed those magnificent fabrics which fol
ages, and throug hout the world. have been
TIE pride Of wealth, the envy of beauty, and
sae admiration and desire of royalty. Far
down, and nearly to the extreme limit of this
long room, was a plain board counter ex
ieudlng nearly across the room. Behind it
ODD the proprietor Of the fac.ory,a smooht.
laced richly clad Chinaman Directly over
him the building was unroofed, thereby af
ioTding spacious skylight; except this,
S'udow there was more Through this sky
hight, and down upon the counter below, the
sunshine tell upon the finished work OF thi:
e'0sy, dirty, squalid looking workshop. The
Proprietor was busy measuring off and pack
ing up the products of his Looms Aud a.
the sunlight streamed full upon the gorgeou.
coiors OF those magnificent silks, satins ane
brocades which the proprietor was tossing
about in biilowy radiance, it seemed to m,
eyes, as stood far up in the feeble light o
the centre of the room, as though he wa
t'ssing and toying with rsinbows. From
places so humble and surroundings so squal
ID as this come the royal fabrics which ar
to decorate palaces and to adoru the person
OF princes and monarchs of the earth.