Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-10-17
TURNING PELTS INTO LEATHER
The Cost Of the Genuine and Imitation
Arficlaa.


Articles.
Very few people have any idea of
the number of different animals which
contribute their skins for the adorn-
ment of pocketbooks, purses, ETC., and
make up the large number of odds and
ends which people find SO useful.
Monkeys, pigs, goats, snakes, lizards,
alligators, sheep, calves, fish, seals and
even birds, all contribute. The great
majority of these skins are imported.
The one thing of Importance in leather
for fancy leather goods is the grain,
SAYS the Trunk and Leather Review,
which influences the price to a very
great extent. The number and varie-
ty of grains is large, and the different
feathers are classified when received
according to the size of the grain I'M
der these several headings-fsh, Mo-
rocco, gros grain, Levant, Turkey,
monkey, pig and seal. These grains
are all different sizes, the monkey be-
ing the largest, although the pig and
seal are very pronounced. The fish
grain is the smallest of all. Besides
limitations made-bufing which is
split cowhide, and a skiver, which is
split sheepskin. But these can be cas-
lily told, as what is called hand grain
is the natural grain of the skin touched
by hand, whereas the ordinary imita-
tons are embossed by machine. Sew
eral other grains made by machinery
on skiver or buffng are called boarded,
being made by a brass tool which
gives fine straight lines close togeth-
er; the others showing wavy effects
or water lines on the skin and dice
grain.
The most expensive leather sells for
from 800 to S11o per dozen skins This
is the genuine Russian leather, which
has of late temporarily lost popularity.
1t is in gros-grain. Levant goatskins
sell for $50 dozen skins. Seal sells at
from $50 to $50 dozen, and pig skins
are sold by the skin at $3.50 or 81 each.
Monkey skins are cheaper, selling at
So per skin, but these latter are hard
to procure at any price. They are
made up by only one or two manufac-
turers that we know of in America
into the finest grade of leather novel
ties of the imported skins. With the
exception OF the sealskins, which are
tanned in England, nearly all these
skins are tanned in Germany, although
sheepskins are tanned in France.
A very ingenious imitation of Rus
sian leather has been made of calfskin,
perfumed with oil of birch. It is a
dangerous counterfeit, for the reason
that the color is exactly the same, and
the appearance and odor very much so,
often puzzling the untutored buyer.
Time, however, destroys the false odore
and reveals the imitation. The most
important thing now, and the latest.
is to have the leathe- ovelties which
women carry to match their dress in
color. The houses which import leath-
ers to this country used to send sam
Piles of feathers to Germany and else
where to match, so as to strike the ex-
act color. Now silk, cotton stuffs,
plush, etc., are sent instead. Lizard
skins come largely from Borneo, as
well as Germany.
SOME CURIOUS CULPRlTS.
Anathemas of the Church Have Been
Hurled at Mosquitoes and Caterpillars
History supplies many instances of
curious culprits. Vermin have in all
ages proved prolific devastators. It
was the custom in medieval times for
sufferers by their depredations to have
recourse to the church which, in due
| time, Illuminated anathemas against
the culprits. The procedure in such
cases resembled that in vogue in the
ordinary legal tribunals. The plaintiff
appointed counsel, the court accorded
one to represent the defendants, and
the ecclesiastical judge summed up
and gave sentence. Bartholomew de
Chasseneux, noted lawyer of the six
| teenth century, was great authority
in this department of law and custom,
being the author of an exhaustive
treatise on the subject, said to combine
remarkable skill with vast erudition.
| He was also a successful advocate in
these peculiar trials. On one occasion
he was appointed counsel for the de-
tense in case where a horde of rats
were sued for devastation committed
in the harvest fields of large portion
of the province of Burgundy. Chas-
seneux's defense in this important
trial was considered very clever,
although to modern ears it sounds
like tissue of nonsense. He showed
that the rats had not received formal
notice, and obtained a pronouncement
that the parsons of the afflicted par
ishes should announce an adjournment,
and summon the defendants to appear
on a certain day. On the adjourned
trial, he complained that the delay ac-
corded his clients had been too short
to allow of their appearance, in conse-
quence of the road being infested with
cats He succeeded in obtaining a
second adjournment, and finally no
verdict was given. In early times there
was superstition that coo ks laid eggs,
and that from these eggs sprang bas-
ilisks, or horrible-winged serpents.
Gross, in Petite Chronique de Bale re-
! lates that in 1474 an abandoned cock OF
that town was accused of having laid
one of these eggs, and was tried, con
victed and sentenced to death. The