The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-10
INTERVIEW WIrH Il G1ovE-mAKER.
Methods Used TO Obtain softness and Deli.
cacy ofTcxture.

cacy ofTcxture.
MANY Of the gloves that arc sold in this
country under the comprehensive title OF
kid" said a glove manufacturer, "are really
made of goatskin There is hardly a country
in the world that does not supply some sort
of materials which are made up into gloves,
and many of which pass for kid in the retail
stores. The supply of kidsklns of the finest
quality is naturally limited. The greater
part is absorbed in the manufacture Of
wOmen's gloves. Mems gloves. therefore. are
frequently made of fine lambskin, which IS
better than the secOnd-rate kid The gen.
ulne, fine kdskns are mainly of French orr
gin and those obtained from mountain slopes
Of southern France are wOrld-famed for their
excellence All the best conditions Of climate,
air and diet appear 10 unite IN exactly the de-
gree required 10 secure perfection IN this dis
trict. Nowhere else are the conditions equal
ly favorable, although kidskins of great eX-
cellence are produced throughout the noun
tain ranges of southern Europe. Their pro-
duction is the principal i.,9"stry among the
mOuntaineeIs.
Great pains must be taken to secure the
softness and delIcacy OF texture and freedom
from blemish which form the value Of the kid
skins The diet IL the most important factor
and mothers milk Is required 10 keep the kid
in perfect condition. If the animal is allowed
% eat grass. its value declines. as the skin i'm
medlately begins TO grow harder and coarser
IN texture To keep the skin IN perfect cOndi-
ton the young kid is kept closely penned. and
carefully guarded against INJURY from
scratches, bruises and so on. As soon as the
kids have reached the age at which their SKINS
are in the best condition for the glover, they
are killed and the skins are sold TO travelling
peddlers. who bear them 20 the great centres
of the tanning industry at Grenoble. Ammo
nay. Milhau. and Paris.
tfEiua lam 10 lripg ara raised IN GREAT Ou9Ott-
ties in Southern Europe and throughout
Hungary, Servia, Bulgaria and Roumania.
The American glOve-makcrs buy most of their
lambekins at Vienna or Muhlburg.
London is the chief market of all tho mis-
cellaneous skins Here may DO found the
Cape shecpskIns, tough and durable, from the
Cape Of Good Hope; colt and calfshns from
BuenOs Avres and other cities of South
America: hogskins from Mexico and Brazil;
antelope from India. Brazil, Colorado and
Africa. OF late years many of these skins
have been brought directly TO New York and
American buyers 10 longer find 1t necessary
20 90 70 London. While hne lambsklns are
the staple in mems gloves, cOltskins are rap
idly coming into favor, and fine caltskins are
also extensively used. Each has a grain pecu-
liar TO itself, which. while not visible to the
ordinary buyer, can be instantly perceived by
the expert.
"Caifskins are good looking, soft and phi
able. but are apt TO crack. This fault IS not
found in coltskins. which are durable and
handsome. and in many respects make model
gloves The wrinkles are Objectionable, but
these disappear when the glove is on the
hand The Jacks of Venezuela contribute
the majority of deerskins at present The
castor comes from the antelopes Of the West
Heavy leather gloves are obtained from elks.
Hogskins are used 10 "a moderate extent. Pat
mas or Calcutta OK hides are also used.
Every invoice of heavy skins contains more
or less curiosities, and the kind of leather that
viii be evolved from q stray moose, muskOx
lima or kangaroo skin depends upon the skins
that accompany 1t. Dogskins are occasionally
made up into gloves. but their use is very un-
common. Everything that goes by the name
of dogskin nowadays is likely TO be Cape
sheep Batskin gloves are about as frequent
as rat sautes in Chinese laundries. New
Y Ork CYu