River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-03-06
cHARLEMAGSE's TABnECLOTH,

AK la Chapelle was one Of the favorit,
residences OF Charlemagne. There wer
often assembled the lords and ladies o
his court, with his own family, which
consisted of several sons and one beauti
full daughter. He was the most intelli
gent and powerful monarch CT mis- time
his dOminions were more extensive thar
those of the Roman Emperors had eve1
been. 1t is more than thousand yeari
since his death, yet his fame will endure
to the end Of time.
In the midst Of the splendor of hi
position he was quite simple in his tastes
and particularly devoted to literature
and science. Among his most intimate
friends and admirers were men renowned
for their learning.
One day, after grand entertainment
had taken place in the palace, the guests
were amused to see page enter, and on
Blended knee, present TO his royal master
a saIver, upon which was careless!y fold
ed so ed white table-cl Charlie
mango, not in the least surprised, threw
Il into a fire, evidently prepared for the
purpose. All eyes were fixed on the
fabric, which did not smoke nor blaze,
but only assumed a red-hOt appearance.
A few moments passed, and the mOraTch
raised 1t from the furnace unframed and
white as snow.
"a miracle. miracle" they all ex-
claimed,
mo, good fri nds,'' answered the
King this cloth is woven Of substance
which the fire purifies, but cannot destroy.
Il was known to the Greeks, who named
it asbestos, meaning unchanged by fire
aud an Italian writer, who had lived
hundreds of years before our time, speaks
Of cloth made from vegetable products
which could not be injured by heat.
Another mentioned, with apparent sin
ceritv, that it was manufactured from
the hair of certain rats that lived in vol
canoes We read also, that the marvel
Gus cloth was used to wrap the dead be-
fore placing them on the funeral pile,
that their ashes might be gathered sepa-
rate from those of the wood"
Thus spoke the mighty Emperor tor
the instruction and edification OF his
guests.
While Charlemange did not quite par
take ~ the wild fancjes of the Southern
nations, it is not probable that he had a
clear idea Of the real structure OF this
mysterious substance. As time advanced,
it was fully understood; and now that it
has become of practical use, we cannot
glance at a newspaper without seeing
the advertisement, Asbestos Materials
Asbestos Is fibrous variety of a dark
colored rock resembling ir0n-ore! this
is known by the name of hornblende.
PyIoxene another mineral, also assumes
this appearance, but not so often as the
former.
We cannot understand how one of the
toughest stones can he transformed into
a substance as soft, flexible and white as
floss silk; neither can we comprehend
how the sparkling diamond is produced
from charcoal. Yet we must accept these
facts and try to earn all about them.
When the hard rock took this beauti-
ful form, il was called by the Greeks
amianthus, meaning indebted, in refer
ence to he ease of cleansing it by fire.
This name IS now used TO distinguish it
from the coarser and more impure varie-
~ known as asbestos. II occurs in mar
ally found in flores two thirds Of yard
long. These have rich satin ulster and
the slender filaments can easily be sepa-
rated one from the other. A single one,
If thrown into the fire, changes into a
drop Of enamelled glass, which can be
heated without producing any change.
The SIKH appearance of amianthus
gave to some ingenious ladies the thought
of carding, spiRning ana weaving it into
cloth of different degrees of tineness.
Purses, gloves, caps, handkerchiefs and
napkins were made of it, and sometimes
articles were knitted from the soft, equis-
tie thread The inhabitants Of the Pyre
nees wore girdles OF tins substance, min
gled with silver, which they esteemed
not only for their beauty, but for some
mysterious charm they were thought 70
possess.
When Napoieon went to battle, hC
wore a shirt woven of amlanthus. which
was easily cleaRsed by throwing itinto the
fire. In France and Bohemia fiIement
clothes and gloves for handling hot iror
were made from it. The Russians hav,
also attempted the manufacture of in
combustiable paper. At one time it WA
hoped that an important branch of in
dusIry might be established for the man
ufacture of this delicate md useful fabric
but the rarity of amiaL .hus aud the diff
Guilty of carrying it mo durable thread
in consequence Of It's brittleness, hay'
caused them now to De regarded only a
euriosities.
Asbestos, besides being of a coarse
texture than amisn nus, differs from it il
colcr; the latter is a creamy white, Will
the former is brown, green, and grayisl
white 1t sometime occurs in thin in
terlaCed sheets between the cracks an,
assures OF rocks, and feels something lik
kid; il Is then known as mountain leath
er; when in thicker masses, it is callc'
mountain cork, referring to its elasticity
Ii Is also found very hard and cOmpaC'
and then receives the name of ign'foTU
asbestos, from its resemblance to peritie'
wood.
Asbestos is found in many parts q
Europe and various localities in ia
Uninted States Staten Island, n. !
especially yielding large quantities.
Is now mined ana transported to factories
where ii is assorted, cleaned and prepare
for the various purposes for which it
used
II is made into paints OF dihereE
colors. which are used to protect surface
exposed to heat or water. Steam pip,
and boilers are covered with some prep
ration of it that prevents the escape ,
steam: 1t is also very valuable rs packin
il the JOINTS of machinery. and is extel
sively used in the manufacture of fir,
proof roofing and flooring.
Chemists find it very useful as
medium for strsining aciis, which d
not effect this substance.
Asbestos steps aside from its usef'
career to surprise us by its appearance
one of the precious stones. The peculi;
boating light in the gem known as cs
eve is due TO tilaments of asbestos passiB
through a gTeenish-sray chalcedony.
thc East it is much worn SIS an amule
because it is imagined to have the pow,
of enriching the wearer
This is q slight illustration of Il