The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-02-15
TO the Editors Of the Newbcrry Herald:

To the Editors of the Newbcrry Herald:
Travelling through this district close and
practical observer is forced TO the conclusion
that many Of the people have no proper
appreciation OF the science Of painting; many
of their buildings though taStefuly construct
ed and with q view to utility, never have
been painted, and many Of them have not
been painted for so long period as that the
memory of man runneth not to the contrary.
Painting is one Of the Oldest Of the sciences;
traces of its existence as one of the fine arts
having becn found among the ruins Of the
olde7: dynastes. 1t has two fold object
Upon its use our houses and the majority Of
all articles produced by the industry of man.
kind depend for preservation from decay and
20 s.,lnc extent for beauty. 1t ranks next to
focd, !Yiment and shelter, among the ncces-
saricS of life; while the laborS connected with
lis numbcrcSS applications give daily en-
ploymcnt to thousands Of people. Yet, not
withstanding all this and much more that
might he said upon the subject, there is no
one of the sciences SO little understood by the
people at large; many believe that any per-
son can mix and apply paint equally as good
as any painter.
Now, while it may with truth be conceded
that the mere application Of the material after
it has been properly prepared is only mcchan-
ical, and requires but little effort of the men
= ho rrIpr.tnn1 hat in
The choice of material and the process Of
compoundinS the same so that ;hey shall be
not simple mechanical mixtures of oil and
mineral substances, but true chemical com>
pounds, endowed with that cloxeness and in>
,imacy Of union which will prevent them
from separating when thinly spread out up
on q surface. Il is but reasonable then to
SAY that to c,;abe person TO do this proper
ly thorough knowledge Of the materials oo-
tainahle, including their chemical properties
AID elective af.initeS and the nature Of the
substance 70 be acted upon, is necessary 70
tue prosecution of the work. This pr0posi>
ton seems sclf-evidcnt when We say that to
paint iron requires % very different prepara-
tion 70 wlIa, ", u,d be good for wood, but II
is not 50 evident when the closer observation
and practical experience is necessary 10 ena-
BILE the mechanic to properly compound the
material for different kinds of wood under
different circumstances Of exposure 70 wealth
er, and in different stages Of decay. And
here comes in the objection that exists to
ready mixed paints. sO-ca!led: they are most
Of ;her. manufactured in the North and rem
Lcrcd suitable for that climate and the differ,
ent stages Of decay incilen, thereto. But to
the consumer this is not :hc only o- most 'i>
tai objection. they are in fact the most costly
as :: fair comparison will show; 100 lbs. lead
will take gals oil to mix, and will make
about 10 gals. paint. Cost-l00 lbs, lead,
Sl3 90, S gals. oil. Sd IS; total Sl925 for 10
gals. Price of Cremical Paints. $500 TO
S375
therefore dare 20 say that the experience
of all scientific and practical painters will en-.
Gorse the sta:cmcn: tha. the carbonate Of lead
or white lead, and the oxide Of zinc, known ss
zinc white, are the TWO principal bases now