The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-12-06
W0NDR0US FABRICS.
The Many Colored Textures of Amoy-Cloths
Made ofSplit Bamboo and Finest Silk.
Correspondence Philadelphia Times.

Correspondence Philadelphia Times.
Annoy, Nov 16.-One of the most interest.
ing collections I have ever seen contains
nearly every textile fabric peculiar to the
Monaghan empire A large number are
comparatively unknown outside of this
country. One is known as pineapple
cloth" and is made from the hairs and fibres
of pineapple leaves. These are gathered
and oleached in the tropical sun until
they are dazzling white. They are
spun and woven by hand and made into a
tissue lighter than tarletan or bishops
lawn, silver in sheen, strong, durable and
translucent If not transparent 1t has a
gloss somewhat like silk, but is finer,
whittier and suffer than the latter. 1t comes
from the island of Formosa, where it is
made by both Chinese and Indians. 1t
costs from twelve cents yard upwards.
according to it's width and finish.
a second fabric worthy of mention is
the SoratoW grass cloth, a Chinese linen,
made from the fibre of aplant like fax. 1t
Is as white and strong as the latter, but
much sitter and harsher to the touch. 1t
is employed to make dresses, but not I'M
derwear, handkerchiefs or bedclothes. In
price 1t ranges from eight cents to thirty
cents per square yard.
| For comfort as well as beauty are the
cloths made from split bamboo, rattan and
reeds. These are left in their natural
color, grayish yellow, in order not to i'm
pair their strength and durability. They
are used In numerous ways; one is for
sheets and pillow cases in the summer; al
lowing the air to blow through them, they
are cool, clean and very comfortable In
washing them you simply rub the surface
with wet sponge. In two minutes they
are dry and good as new. AS they do not
absorb moisture, they are invaluable for
people who perspire violently in the dog
days.
A second variety is used for making
shoes. slippers and hats. 1t bears rough
resemblance to Panama straw cloth, being
similar IN texture, but more openly woven,
heavier and stronger. The labor required
in making is considerable and justifies the
prlce-which is about % cents square
yard.
The prettiest of all are the silks and robes
known as bamboo silk. In their simplest
work they are strong textures whose sep.
arate threads are as large as the famous
gros grain of Lyons. They differ immeas
urably from the latter in that the threads
are almost as far apart as in lawn or lace
Inc air blows through them so readily that
even IN the warmest weather it is neces-
sary to wear some finely woven under
garment Inc unpatterned goods are not in
great vogue. Nearly all have patterns
which are worked in at the loom on the
principle OF carpet weaving.
There are no less than two thousand five
hundred different styles known to the
weavers of this cloth. They are usually
women and display marvellous ability in
their workmanship. The trouble involved
in making the borders is marvellous.
a woman skilled in the work is more than
satisfied on 10 cents day 1t takes five of
them at least to attend to the dyeing, meas
uring, spinning and weaving. Upon basis
OF sixteen hours a day work, one, two or
even three years labor are required to
produce finished robe of the highest class.
No lace in France, Belgium or Italy can
compare with these fabrics in beauty and
splendor. Some of the designs were Gre
ated by artists before the time of Christ
and are still known by the names of their
inventors.