The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-09-21
THE HOUSEHOLD.
TESTS FOR SILK.
If 1t Tears Easily it is of Poor Quality

If 1t Tears Easily it is of Poor Quality.
An expert writing in Harper's
Bazar, gives valuable hints for test
ing the quality of silk. The first
thing to do with your sample is to
try and tear it, both 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,
properly dyed, is the strongest
known fibre. Nearly all the cheaper
dyes, particularly the dark and
black ones, have a basis of metallic
salts that eat into and weaken what
they color.
"Next test the firmness of weave
by scraping diagOnally across the
fabric with the thumb nail. If it
is durable and worth buying, the
threads will not slip for any amount
of manipulation. Otherwise, the
thumb nail will soon make space
of loose threads as big as itself.
"After that ravel out a bit of the
silk and look carefully at the quality
of both warp and woof. Some
times pure silk warp has heavily
loaded woof. AT others, especially
in satin weaves, so much of the
woof as comes on the surface is of
pure silk, with inferior backing.
The pure silk, unloaded, is of a
lively lustre and very soft to the
touch. If the lustre has been arti
fically produced, the fibre feels
harsh and brittle. If it 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 a
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.
If it parts so difficulty that there
are FUCKERS along the tear, it is
proof that it will wear decently
well.n
The most valuable of the tests for
either weighting or adulteration of
fibre is to burn a fragment of the
and also some ravelings of
it. eff it is pure and properly
dyed, it will take fire with difficulty.
even when held directly in flame.
1t will go out almost as soon as the
flame is withdrawn, leaving ashes
that are nearly jet black. On the
other hand, weighted silk is almost
dangerously intlammable. 1t takes
fire readily, and once burning, will
through the piece, leaving
ashes that keep the shape of the
cloth and are of a light yellowish-
red color. If there is cotton mixed
with the fibre, the smell of the
smoke will betray it. The requisites
of a thoroughly good silk are
smoothness, lustre and
without weight, no matter
how thick the texture. Adultera-
tion invariably causes a harsh feel
ing. In heavy weaves, such as
brocade, it is particularly important
to see that the foundation is of
sound, firm silk, as otherwise the
fabric will not repay the cost of
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 well made mixed
silken and woolen fabric will not
only usually last longer than pure
silk when applied to furniture, but
it will hang better when used for
or pOrtieres.
Small i'll size, great i'll results DeWitts
7 title Ear1yy p icerc Rest Mill Co..