Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-02-18
Calico History.

A writer in recent number, of Hail.
Journal gives au interesting pa7er on tn
history of calico tracing its origin and ear
ly introduction into the different countries
show'ne>its progress and increasing favor
from the humble cottage to the glide,
halls of pleasure.
We have no definite knowledge wher,
the art of printing calico origiuated--i
was probably practised IN the early stage.
OF the world. The word calico is derived
from Calacut, a district in India, where
this art has been known from time i'm.
memorial,
The Egyptians, according to Piny, were
familiar with it in an early era, and pos.
essed knowledge of the most refined pro.
cess of topical dyeirg. Robes and white
wells, says he, 'are panied in Egypt in
wonderful way. They are first imbued,
not with dye, but dye-absorbing drugs,
by which. though they seem unaltered,
yet when immersed in a caldron of boiling
dye.liquor, are found to become painted
Y ct, as there is only one color in the cal.
dron, it is marvellous rs see the many col
ors impaired to the robe, in consequence
of the ineipient drug Nor can the dye
be washed out. A caldron which would of
itself merely confuse the colors of cloth
previously dyed, is thus made to impart
several pigments from a single dye-stuff
painting as it boils."
This statement, which is so descriptive
of modern calico printing, shows to what
a degree of proficiency the ancients had
carried the art of dyeing at that remote
period.
The oriental methods of calico printing
were known in Asia Minor and the Levant
Tor long time prior to the Introduction
Of the art into Europe. 1t seems to have
been practsed in Franco before it was
brought into England Iu 1886. small
print ground was established near Rich.
nond, on the Thames, by Frenchman,
Who had probably fed from his native
'Ountry in consequence of the revocation
Vt the Edict of Nantes. The manufacture
md importation Of calico were most bit.
erly opposed by the silk and woolen
seavers of England, and in 1918 they at.
acked the India House for importing
ONE Of the chintzes Of Malbar. BY their
ncessant hostility they induced the gov.
rnment to pass an act to discontinue the
Importation of the goods of Calicut into
he English market.
Soon after this act vas passed, manu-,
ictory was established at BROMLEY Hall,
, Essex, and others in Surrey. This law ,
My had the effect to increase home man.
facture to supply the London market, by ,
n'tlng off the Indian importation. Many ,
'relgn calicoes, also, which formed a,luc-
'atlve trade for the Dutch and British
'ast India companies. were snuggled into
ns'and, notwithstanding the severe pen q
ties attached to the Infringement of the t
ws. {
This melted new action in the Spital. I
slds manufacturers. and intimated by b
eir incessant clamor and frequent mobs, n
e government was induced to pass IA law
the use Of foreign or domestic s
anufactnre. s
After ten years this act was repealed, s.
ID English caicoes, ifthe warp was linen. G
ere allowed to be made and worn by pay. l
9 duty of sixpence a square yard. b
nder this burden. as late as 1857, not D
orc than 10000 pieces Of mixed stuff N
IRE produced in the kingdom. a,
In l774, this duty was reduced to il
reepence per square yard, and the ro- NJ