McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-12-18
Buying American Silk.

An advertisement appeared in a
daily paper lately, emanating from a
large wholesale silk dealer, in which
the following assertion was made:
1--WE claim the privilege of saying to
the public that we have been manu-
featuring silks for the wholesale trade
for many years that have been sold and
worn as imported silks, the dealers
making large profits on them, and not
| giving us credit for our work as Amer
lean manufacturers.
A Press reporter endeavored to find
| out if this accusation was true so far
| as this city was concerned. The in
| variable answer he received was that
no respectable house would do such a
thing, and that the American silks
were always sold at much lower
price than the imported qualities. The
head of a large silk emporium in Broad
| street Indignantly denied the imputa-
ton of the New York manufacturer.
He said that Imported silks were sold
in much larger quantities than the
home productions, and that generally
lady who has made up her mind to
indulge in a good silk dress will ask
for the imported article"
"Can you give any reason for this?"
eyes; the French silks are more
highly finished; there is a mellowness
and richness in them that cannot be
found in the native article. Besides,
there is great difference in the
price,
"What are the prices?"
,,ft oil lyS oh in,
and heavy, vary from So to $40 a yard.
French silks vary from 81 to So, and
American silks average about 81 a
yard. The highest priced American
silk we sell is $1S.05 per yard.
"Oh, yes; within the last ten years
the industry has made giant strides.
There are large manufactures in
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, and Delaware. Paterson is
quite celebrated in turning out fine
silk goods. There is no doubt that
eventually we shall produce both
OF atty and quantity sufficient to salts
fy the demands of the most exacting
customers.
sis the industry of long standing in
American
Gas far back as 1856 Mrs. Pinckney,
the mother of the revolutionary gen.
erals, took to England silk raised and
spun near Charleston. This was made
into three dresses. One was presented
to the princes dowager of Wales, an
other to Lord Chesterfield, and the
third is now in Charleston, in the pos
session of Mrs. Harry. The texture is
of great beauty, firmness and strength.
In 1874 there were but 1S0 silk manu-
factories, employing 141, 479 operators.
No statistics have been lately pub
lished, but there is no doubt but the
industry has more than doubled itself"
"What are the prevailing colors
that are asked for this fall?''
"Mostly neutral tints, dead greens,
myrtle green's, browns, VINE shades,
carmelite brown, and brocades for
combinations in silk and worsted."
lis extravaganza in dress still the
fashion?''
'sOh, dear, no. Ladies are much
more economical than they used to be,
the cost of costumes is not nearly so
great as formerly, and the style of
dresses is not so elaborate, silk dresses
especially being made quite plain
s.What are the usual tastes of the
ladies who put themselves under your
skilled direction?''
''Great amusement is often caused
by the peculiar wants of our customers,
but they are regulated by the size of
the fair creatures. For instance, a
tall, big blonde with blue eyes, will
Invariably require dark colors OF
black, which is earnest. But a petite
blonde or gushing woman will banker
after bright colors and something
elaborate in the way of costume.
Petite brunettes also long for cherry
colors, bright garments, and countless
furbelows, entirely forgetting that
the palmer a silk dress is made the
richer and more appropriate it looks.
1t is the tall, dark stately brunettes,
with flashing eyes and stately carriage,
who are usually the most correct in
their ideas. They indulge themselves
in wine colors and dark green's. We
always manage, however, to advise
our customers to purchase the best
colors to suit them. But we should
not be able to do without the ladies of
small stature, otherwise we should
never get rid of our pinks, blues,
and other bright and
glaring colors. So you see that the
general taste finds its own level, and
we are enabled to get rid of every
shade and color. But black silks are
sold ten to one of the others. "-NeWark
IN j. Press.
The Ancients and Silk.
The ideas of the ancients upon the |