Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-11-21
DRESSING ruas.
New They Are frosted Prom killing 10
Articles o. Wear.


New they Are frosted Prom killing u
Articles o. Wear.
In going through afur-iressing estab
iishment a reporter who was on toul
OF Investigation. had noticed the bcdrag
glei. faded, repulsivo-looking skins
from which the dye was dripping. as he
went up stairs. and was sarprised to sec
there also the same process. only thu
mixture was eolored with yellow
froth. This was tho "moriant" or. In
every day parliancc, KILLING IT." Nc
fur can DO changed in color without this
treatment. which lasts for ton days OF
moro. until the hair Is dead--or In other
words. has bcsome mere abor which
will absorb any shade.
Eyory body has noticed smooth.
soft, brownish-black fur in muiis that
looks like seal. II they ask, when told
tho rathcr low price. ''Is 1t real or imi'
tation?" thoy are told 1t is American
seal 10 is nothing in the world but tho
common little muslrat
A fur really 10 bo much admired Il
that OF this same little muskrat Tho
skins arrive at the factory In packs con.
taining many hundreds, which arc still
and rough and inside out These arc
thrown into huge bin. which revolyes
about forty times pcr minute. Two
hammers beat tacm continually, and,
quito soft and warm with tho friction.
tLey are taken out, rubbed with seal
oil or butter, and returned 10 tho hop
per. Often the beating turns them tho
other side out Twice Is tho operation
gone through. Then they go to a
man who sits astride OF block. on
which IL firmly flxcd long, up
right knifo; over this two skins are
passed. thus scrAping OF all the super
fiuous hide. leaving thom much thinner
Now they sro ready to bc cleaned. A
sort OF dough Is mado OF the sawdust
and put into close cylinder, the greasy
skins arc put In. q charcoal are IL
lighted and thc wheel evolvoA The
sawdust absorbs tho grease and moisture,
but, Of course, remains Ia the hair. To
got that out wheel similar 10 this, but
with latticod ends. Is employed, tho
revolutions are much more rapid and
tho sawdust dies out through tho lat
tice, leaving tho clcan. soft fur--for such
it has bocomo-inside. II not sufficient
ly cleaned this process Is repeated.
The muskrat Is now ready for tho
'cvcner." This man has big, round
log in front OF him. over which he
throws tho polt fastening II with q
rope drawn taut by his foot On
his right thumb is thick rubber
tube six inches long, and the hand
draws back and forth sharp stool
comb. Tho 'mordant' is now gone
through. and the pclt is taken down to
the dying rooms Here 1t is dipped
constantly until 1t Is deep. rich dark
throughout and finally passed through
a ringer, from which 1t is thrown out
almost dry.
q Tho skin Is now ready for the final
touch or shade. The black fur must
have that brown shade so much ad-
mired in sealsklns. A man stands at a
table with pile In front OF him. A
rather still brush he dips into q yellow
bowl filled With the color; he lays the
pclt fur side up on the table, and runs
tho dye over IL several times. Not one
drop must touch the leather. for 1t would
rot tho skin. The fur has now the de-
sired shading. and possesses the true
soal color. A visit to the dyeing-room,
through an Inspectors hands, and It Is
roady for. the market -.lIoston Herald.