Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-02
SILK CULTURE.
IBy Mrs. t. Il. Hitten.

the discovery of this most beautiful and
richest Of materials for human adornment.
Concerning its early discovery, culture and
manufacture We have no certain knowledge.
1t is related, however, of the Empress 81.
Ching-Chi that, observing the glossy fla
ament of the silk-worm, she was so greatly
delighted and excited that she determined
TO investigate the matter. She carried
some of the worms into the palace, where
she domesticated and bestowed upon them
her imperial care, until she was rewaded
with the honor OF discovering the mystery
concerning the production of the material
for this lustrous fabric. The knowledge Of
the secret was carefully guarded. During
many centuries the Chinese enjoyed mo-
nopoly of silk culture and manufacture ;
and they made It an offense punishable
with death for any one to reveal the know
edge to others outside of their own coun-
try. Its very existence seems scarcely to
have been known in Europe until about
1000 years ago. We frat hear of it among
the Romans in connection with some of
those magnificent triumphs of Caesar by
which he astonished the people. lie made
lavish display of silks as portion of the
richest spoils OF his victorious legions re.
turned from the East. To the people of
Rome these silks were described as belong
ing to the wonders Of the world. For many
years after this, their first introduction into
Europe, their cost was equal to their weight
In gold. Wealthy Roman matrons held
these silks from the Orient in highest es-
TEEN. Sometimes even men INDUCED in
their use, until, in the reign of Tiberius,
grabbed la y was passed that no man should
disgrace himself by wearing silk gar
ment. The use Of silk was thus restricted
60 women, FOR whose adornment it is so
well adapted. The first man to break the
law, and SO disgrace himself, was his I'm
psrial Majesty Heliogabalus, whose profit
gate extravaganza led him to wear gar.
ment made wholly of silk. The royal ex-
ample was quickly followed by others, I'M
til the use OF silk garments by the wealthy
of both sexes was common at Rome and in
the provinces. This caused large importa-
tions from China Wealthy merchants
competed for q share In the profits of the
trade prices were reduced, and eventually
some Of the poorer classes were able to
wear silk.
SILK CULTURE IN EUROPE.
Such an industry as this could not for
ever be confined TO the Chinese About
the year $50, A. D., the long-covesed
secret became known in Europe. At the
,,a--I oE F-,roo 4-r-o IJo.1.o,, ,,,,,,l-,
after a long residence in China, having
acquired knowledge of the secret, brought
a quantity OF eggs TO Constantinople, con-
cealed in hollow staff. 1t is not the only
instance of hollow staff from China being
used for contraband purposes. These
monks had the patronage and encourage
ment of the Emperor Jus5inian. Under
imperial protection they watched over the
Matching, feeding, spinning and propaga-
ton of the worms, and instructed the peo-
pie in all the branches of this new industry.
Mulberry trees were planted the culture
thrived manufacturing followed and the
Chinese themselves, soon after, acknowl.
edged that the silk of the Romans was not
inferior to their own.
The industry soon extended to Greece.
Theces, Corinth, and Athens became cele-
brated for their silk fabrics. In the twelfth
century the culture was introduced into
Palermo, by Roger, King of Sicily. Thence
1t reached to Italy; and, during the mid
die ages Florence, Lucca, Milan and Ven
ice were celebrated for their splendid silks.
In the sixteenth century the new industry
reached France and Great Britain. Henry
". encouraged the most successful silk
workers by granting to them patents of
nobility. Queen Elizabeth fostered the
enterprise among her people she was its
wise and helpful patron. The climate of
England was found to be too cold for Gull
tivating the worm but manufacturing
took on immense proportions, raw silk
being imported for the purpose. In 1866
there were 90, 600 persons at work IN
British silk factories; the number was
subsequently greatly increased and had it
not been for unwise legislation English
looms might have kept pace with the looms
of France. Other European eountries-Ger-
many, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzer-
land, Spain, Hungary and Poland-all
added silk culture and manufacture to their
other industries. Their people have, for
many generations, been reaping rich re-
wards from the enterprise.
SILK CULTURE IN AMERICA.
In South America, Brazil has made good
progress in both the culture and manufact-
ure of silk. In North America, when
Virginia was a British colony, the planting
of ten mulberry trees for every 100 acres
was required by law. English societies
offered liberal rewards for the successful
considerable business sprang mp
all along the Atlantic coast, from
Massachusetts to Florida. In ITO silk
factory was established IN Philadelphia.
After the war Of the Revolution the indus
try was revived, and silk culture became a
favorite pursuit. 1t offered such great in
ducements that quite speculative fever
swept ever the country. Immense fields
of the mulberry were planted men went
into the business, wild with excitement,
aud reckless and, Tor a while, q great i'm
petus was given TO it. Bat the speculative
excitement was unhealthy the results
were disappointing. Speculation in silk
culture, ike that in mining or railroad en-
terprises, is al evil. When the excitement
passed, leaving many OF the wild adventur-
ers bankrupt the{business suffered for q
time; gradually it returned to its normal
condition healthy progress was made
and, during TIE last twenty years, the adj
vance has be very rapid. There are now
nearly 100 600 persons engaged in silk cult
ure and Manufacture In the United States.
In New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachu.
sets and Connecticut there are several
large silk factories doing prosperous bust
ness. In the manufacture of spun, OF
g waste silk, as it is called, America now
leads the world. This is due to the in.
genuity and patient industry OF the Cheney
Brothers, at South Manchester, Conn,
where others had failed. Their establish
ment is the largest on the continent; theil
productions are known all over the world
They began in an humble way, making
sewing silk from the raw material, imported
mostly from Italy. They encountered and
overeame many difficulties, persevering un
til they finally discovered methods for do
ing with machinery what, for ages, the Ole
world had done by hand. This was tn,
beginning of their great success. Business
increased, new buildings were needed, mor'
operatives were employed, until now th'
old farm at South Manchester is dotted al
over with happy homes, blessed with al
affluence of domestic comforts, and usually
favored in all things needful for intellect
nal. social and religious progress. 1t is one
oe tho most attractive and prosperou.