Smyrna times., 1893-03-01
MAKING LACE PAPER.
MINNEAPOLIS HAS THE ONLY FAC
TORY OF THE KIND HERE.

MINNEAPOLIS HAS THE ONLY FAC
TORY OF THE KIND HERE.
How New Industry In Which Germany
Excels Came to BE Established In This
Country-As Yet 1t Is In It's Infancy
Nice Work For Women.
Minneapolis can claim monopolv in
at least one industry There is none like
1t in the country. Germany is the near
est competitor. The lace paper factory
here IS the only one III the country. How
the industry came to be established
here and the development of certain
possibilities in regard to it make quite
an original story.
a certain business man tolerably well
known in Minneapolis once upon a time
loaned some money and material to a
Russian immigrant who was trying to
start a greenhouse in st. Paul. The fo-
rlst was very grateful for the help, but at
the end of six months had not repaid any
OF the loan. The business man hunted
hlm up and inquired wherefore this neg
ngence. The florist explained his difficult
ties at some length, and sorrowfullv
averred that in addition to other bur
dens he had to support his brother.
Why doesn't your brother go to
work."
Pardon, sir. He is honest and indus
trious, but can find no work at his trade"
What trade can that be-"
He is lace paper maker and there
are are no factories Of that sort here, and
he has not much chance at other trades
where he has no skill"
An interview with the paper maker re-
veaIed some interesting facts, and after
some investigation several Minneapolis
capitalists concluded to start a factory
to evolve the dainty confectiOns that
modern ingenuity says may be made
from paper The industry is still so new
that its present condition may be re-
garded as only an earnest of the future
The fad for fancy lamp shades makes
special department which was not at
first contemplated. Grape paper devel-
ops IN all the soft, dainty sheen of silk.
Women are specially good at this branch
OF the industry, as it requires patience
and that peculiar "knack" which no man
ever had, and the woman who possesses
1t IS lucker than if she had beauty
though she never thinks so herself.
Now, this business of making lamp
shades and flower pots and paper flowers
and dolls is light, clean work and paws
well If a woman has the bent for that
kind of work.
The prettiest lamp shades l ever saw
were being made at the factory. The
tobacco leaf forms the latest model.
Two contrasting shades of Grape paper
form the leaf. 1t is cut in the proper
shape, and a delicate wire forms the mid
rib of the leaf and makes the shade sub
stantial enough to stand wear. Four
long leaves and four shorter ones droop
from common center and make the
daintiest shade imaginable. l saw tiny
one of this same pattern for an incan-
descent light. The red leaves were lined
with pale yellow, and how the electric
light did glow through the blended col
orsl A skillful workwoman can only
construct four or five Of these shades a
day. Their price consequently doesn't
exactly bring them within the reach of
all, but they promise to largely take the
place of silk and illusion. The operative
earns from So to $40 a week in the shade
department
Lace paper for lining the edges of
boxes really forms the important part
of this industry. Look at bit of this
dainty paper and see how faithfully il
reproduces every thread of the lace from
which it is copied. When people are
told that these delicate patterns are
stamped from engraved metal plates,
they are apt to look incredulous. Still
that is the process.
For many years Germany has con-
trolled this industry. The consul at
Berlin in his last annual report states
that 1000, 900 pounds of lace paper are
exported annually to the United States.
One fine day good fortune befell the
industry. A man came in and asked for
employment. He was a designer and
engraver of plates from Germany. He
declined to give any information as to
how he knew the factory was in Mime
apolis or why he came. He simply said
they could try his work, and if they were
satisfied he would stay. He has re-
mained ever since. / saw him several
times and didn't wonder that there was
some hesitancy about engaging him. He
weighs about 1926 pounds Tho face is
intelligent and refined, but the bushy
beard and long hair, combined with the
muscular frame, give the man the ap-
pearance of one used to vigorous manual
labor. Appearances are deceptive in this
case, for he is an artist as well as an en-
graver, and knows every detail of the
business.
He first sketches the design on paper,
then takes a block of lead composition,
similar to that used for newspaper cuts,
and draws the exact pattern with a sharp
steel point. Then, with finely graded
chisels, he hammers out every little de-
tail so exact that the tiniest thread of the
finest lace pattern is visible
To see the workman hammering out
an intricate pattern one would think it
an endless task. 1t is not, however,
nearly so tedious as it looks. This en-
graver will make a plate 20 inches long
by 2 inches wide in four days. All the
edges Of tho pattern have to be made in
sharp relief instead Of being cut into the
plate, as in ordinary engraving. This
has to be done so that the sharp edges
will perforato the paper when the cylin-
der passes over the plate.
Lace paper has its styles Just the same
as the real article. The young lady who
gets her daily box Of bonbons from the
confectioner wants the lace edged holder
to be in the latest mode. She can also
select torchon, valenciennes, spanish,
guipure, breton or any other style in
the paper just as she can in the thread.
Among the pretty imported notions is
that Of a cornucopia with deep lace
edge and closed with dainty bows of
satin ribbons. This is to hold matinee
or theater allowance of candy and viii
probably be very popular. Eva Nc
Donald ~Valesh in Minneapolis Tribune.