Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-09-10
TESTS FOR SILK.
If It Tears Easily 1t is of Poor Quality.

If IL Tears Easily 1t is of Poor Quality.
An expert, writing in Hdrper'S Bdzdr,
gives valuable hints for testing the
quality of silk. The first thing to do
with your sample is to try and tear it,
buth lengthwise and crosswise. IF it
gives way readily in either direction. be
sure either that the dye has destroyed
| the strength, or that the thread is COM
posed in part of what is technically
known as silk waste Pure silk, prop
erly dyed, is the strongest known fibre.
Nearly all the cheaper dyes, particularly
the dark and black ones, have q basis OF
metallic salts that eat into and weaken
what they color.
Next test the frmness Of weave by
scraping diagonally across the fabric
with the thumb-nail. II it is durable
and worth buying, the threads will not
slip for any amonnt Of manipulation.
Otherwise. the thumb-nail will soon
make space of loose threads as big as
itself.
After that rave out bit of the silk
and look carefully at the quality OF both
warp and wool Sometimes pure silk
warp has heavily loaded wool. AT
others, especially in satin weaYes, so
much Of the wool as comes on the sur
face is OF pure silk, with inferior back
ing. The pure silk, unloaded, is OF
lively lustre and very soft TO the touch.
If the lustre has been artifcially pro-
duced. the fibre feels harsh and brittle.
If il is silk, but loaded with metallic
dye, the fibre looks like cotton, but is
somewhat softer.
Another test OF quality is to pull out
threads both ways and try their strength
between your fingers. That is, catch
them with both hands about an inch
apart, give quick outward jerk, and
note the force necessary to break them.
Then try TO tear the silk along the lines
that the threads came out of. il 1t
parts so difficulty that there are FUCKERS
along the tear, ii is proof that it will
wear pretty we'll"
The most valuable OF the tests for
either weighing or adulteration of fibre
is to burn fragment of the sample,
and also some rawlings OF it. IF 1t is
pure and properly dyed, it will take
fire with difficulty, even when held d.
rectly in flame. 1t will go out almost
as soon as the flame is Withdrawn, leav-
ing ashes that are nearly jet black. On
the other hand, weighted silk Is almost
dangerously inflammable. 1t takes fire
readily, and once burning, will shoulder
through the piece, leaving ashes that
keep the shape OF the cloth and are Of a
light yellowish-red color II there Is
cotton mixed with the fibre, the smell
OF the smoke will betray 1t. The
requisites of thoroughly good silk are
strength, smoothness, lustre and rich
ness, without weight, no matter how
thick the texture. Adulteration invari-
ably causes harsh feeling. In heavy
weaves, such as brOcade, it is partcu-
larly important to see that the founda-
ton is OF sound, firm silk, as otherwise
the fabric will not repay the cost Of
making" The writer, Of course, refers
especially to silks that are sold as dress
goods. For drapery and upholstery,
one seldom wants to buy pure silk; a
fabric will not only usually last longer
than pure silk when applied to furni-
ture, but it will hang better when used
for curtains or portIeres.