Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-08
THE ORIGIN OF SILK.
Some staple Facts About The issensiu OIL
the Heather ChiEee.

Some staple Facts About The issensiu Of
the Heather ChiEee.
IL We put any trust in tradition, SAYS an
English journal, there IL legend that
Tcbin. the eldest son OF Japhct. father Of
the Asiatic race, taught his children the
art OF pTep.ring silk. as well rs the arts oil
painting and sculpture. BE this as II may,
il is certain thst about three thousand
wears before the Christian era Chinese
book, the 'Ghou-King," describes silken
cords which were stretched upon musical
instrument invented by the Emperor fo-
HI. One Of his successors. Ching NOng,
reunited inventor Of the pillow, explained
to his contemporaries what beautiful stuils
could be obtained by the cultivation OF
the mulberry tree, and about the year u.
{. 1000 an empress, to whom srateiui
uosieriiy assigned place in celestial con-
siellatlon. perfected the art oil unravellinS
the cocoon and weaving. From that time
silk culture had its principal seat near the
northern portion Of The Yellow river. ID
tic Province Of Chan Tong. There Wa
produced silk for the royal household.
Yellow was The chosen color for the EN-
ueror, empress and pIiacc imperial, violet
Tor the other wives OF The emperor. blue
for DISTINGUISHED officers, red for tnDsc iess
conspicuous. and black for every one else.
In the book OF rites. " Li-ki, the ceremonies
performed at the harvest are carefully de-
seribed. Rven the empress did not DIS
dam 10 gather the leave, Of the mulberry
with her own dainty fingers, aud watcAe0
over the rearing OF the busy teiiers oi las
ssceon. For long time this individual
isdu:sS remained tbe exclusive ry9DtFl,
Of Due Chinese .Mpire. bui about the third
css,ry before the Christian era military
s1nfdjtion t.0m China bore the resuils Oh
IFS siviiizatisn 10 The startled Oeeldeut.
SIX became known in Persia and India
sad was ST last brought TO Europe. me
solsieYs Of Crassus. II. {. 10. saw s'lkeu
standards among the Parthians. hs lev
years later an immense vclarium OF shA
protected the spectators in the Roman
circus from the RAYS oil th- sun. From
this time Romans were ALWAYS prs''ded
With NE beautiful textures which were
the admiration Of their legends. Yet sl'A
was still the privileged possession OF the
rich. and in The time OF Aurelian, who
| fiourisbed in the third century. was worth
about forty times IT. present value. Inc
enormous price. when considered WIN Tue
effect that there was At that time no com
merce between Rome and the orient, goes
far toward explaining the great hoarulns
OF treasure and iewcirv which has since
that time gone on in India. There IS as
pate between tradition snd history as TO the
| period when the genuine cocoon was
brought frou China TO Europe. How wa
The vigilance OF Celestisls thwarted, since
the expectation Of the silk-worm from tne
Flowery Kingdom was forbidden under tbf
ssversst penalties. One account states ma
in 4. u. $50 msnks sent ~ koihsm e!JhS'
tiniss succeeded in bearing away lnru
booty conceded in stalks OF BAN boo. nc
legend ssys that once upon TINE "hei
kOiham did rot vet possess the preclou'
hOpbyx. the King Of ore OF the province
sought asd ebtained a daughter Ol th'
Chinese Emperor in marriage. beior,
quitting ber native land ske hid seehs %
ihe mulberry and siIk-worms' esgs IN he'
hair. where II woHld escape the vigilance
The eu'teps-onieers ON the frontier. "hei
she reached her new home she planlec
seeds OF the mulberry ia order that sui,ao'
nsurishment might he provided In the YEA
Ter the worms.