Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-06

From the Dorcas Magazine
The thimble is il Dutch invention that was
mr. st brought to England in 1895 by one John
Lofting. who began its manufacture at Isling-
ton, near London, gaming thereby both honor
ana profit. Its name was derived from the
words thumb and bell. being for q long time
called thumble. ana only lately thimble. Old
records say that thin bles were first worn on the
thumbs; but we can scarcely conceive how they
could be of much use there. Formerly they
were made of brass and iron only. but of late
years steel, silver. gold. horn ivory and even
pearl and glass have all been used for making
thlmoles. | saw some very beautiful ones in
China that were eXquisitely carved, of pearl
and bound with gold, and the end also
OF gold. These pearl thimbles are quite
as costly and far prettier than those made
entirely Of gold. Usually there is pearl sheath
for the scissors. and dainty needle-oook of
pearl. edged with gold, to accompany the Thin
Bile. and the whole is Enclosed in an exquisite lit
tie pocket case shaped like book and bound in
satin and pearl
A thimble owned by the queen-consort Of Siam
ls shaped like lotus bud. this being the royal
flower OF that country. and almost everything
ABOUT the court bearing. in a greater or less de-
gree. some impress of the lotus. This thimble
is OF gold. thickly studded with diamonds that
are so arranged as to form the lady's nameand
the date OF her marriage. It was a bridal gift
from the king. who. having seen the English and
American ladies at his court using thimbles took
this method Of introducing them among his own
people.
In Naples very pretty thimbles, composed of
lava from Mount Vesuvus are occasionally sold
out rather as curiOsties than for real utility be-
ing. from the extreme brlttleness of the lava.
very easily broken. | have heard also of Thin
bes made OF asphaltum from the Dead Sea. and
OF one composed of fragment of the O d elm
tree at "a nbridge. Mass. under which General
washington stood when taking command of the
United States army. in July. ITS; but do not
suppose that any of these were ever intended to
be used in sewing.
In the ordinary manufacture of gold and silver
thimbles thin plates of the metal are introduced
into the die and then punched into shape But
In Paris the French have way of their own
quite different from ours. for making gold thim-
bes that are said to he much more durable than
those made in the usual way. Pieces of very
thin sheet-irOn are cut into disks OF about tw o
inches in diameter. These after being heated
to redness. are struck by means OF a punch into
succession OF holes of q gradually increasing
depth to give the proper shape. The thimble Is
then trimmed, polished, and indented around
Its outer surface with tiny holes. 1t is next con-
verified into steel by process called cementa-
ton, then tempered. secured and brought to a
blue color. After all this is completed thin
sheet OF gold is introduced into the interior and
fastened to the steel by mandrel. while gold
leaf Is attached firmly by pressure to the out
side. the edges being scanned in small groove
made to receive them This completes thethim-
Die that will last for years The steel used in its
construction will scarcely wear out in a long
lifetime. and the gOld if worn away, is easily
replaced