New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-28
tvONG THE BiSKET MAKERS.

r.,try FORM COMM MITES To THEMSELVES IN
THE pocllEsT FAsTNEssEs OF CoNNECTICUT
!, ,re stony valleys among the hills OF Connects
or, ,rhera the bowllers lie too thicky for he
,i,robrnan ever 10 disturb the soil. one VIII oc-
.,.iorally run across = little hamlet where the
baekct-makcrs spend their quiet but useful hNes'
I, w.ul seem that It must b. 4 poor and barren
part 81 New England that cannot be turned - some
account In these little communities the craft OF
h,st.t-tnaliing has passed from father % son for
many generators. AMI doubtless Will for many
more: for In spite OF mo.ern invention the soo'
white oak basket promises 20 bee a. much IN de-
r,and in the twentieth century as now. SHeet-iIon
or aluminium paper or tropical hbre. may DO some
part in solving the basket problem OF the future
I,it alongside OF these modern makeshfts Will be
found the tough products OF the almost lrreclaina-
be stony forests Of the mountain regions
Quaint people easy-going. shrewd and philosophi-
CAL may be found IN these little basket bororshs
lri queer names cling 10 the localities themselves
as one will find in driving through the country.
Xovv he has to Journey through Devils Den"
and now he picks n toilsome way between Hard
scrabble and "Dantown." or plunges down TO
.'Woolchuck Hollow" 10 emerge a few miles further
on the top OF Shaving Ridge"
Sometimes there will be a large rude shop sur
rounded by one-story gray cottages OF the basket
makers In the shop they will carry on work IN
common. saving expense for fuel in winter. Other
families will have shop by themselves. Outside
the door one will frequently pair or oxen
hitchod to a heavy wood sled with load Of basket
timber logs cut about nine feet in length. on the
walls inside one sees an assortment OF drawing
knives some OF them polished. worn and ground
down 10 a narrow strip Of steel. ready 10 break
after many years OF use. There are wooden bench
vises where the slt to shave of the splns. and
overhead one viii OF bent white hickory
handles looking like rows Of hors shoes In black
smiths shop. No little skill is required 10 split up
the wood so as waste scarcely any, 20 shave out
the tough upright strips and 10 bend them IN
proper shape 10 split out the filling and deity
weave il I'm. The black oak is fortunately so put
together by nature that when split stick OF IL is
sldlfully hammered across "A large Hat stone the
different layers made 10y each years growth Will
separate and lie all ready for the basketmakers 70
use. White oak. black oak. pin oak hickory white
walnut, pignut. white ash and black ash All enter
into basket making more or less but white OAK 10
the standard wood
The basket-makers who prepare their own ma
teral look with contempt the baskets made in
factories. where the splints are cut out by ma
chnery. The machine necessarily often cuts
the grain OF the wood. causing a weak place in the
basket The factory baskets much cheaper. Of
course one can buy a bushe basket OF this kind
for IS cents. when a handmade basket strengthened
Of the latter may outwear ten OF the former; the
one may weigh hye pounds. the other ten to twelve
TO hold twelve TO twenty-five bushels. or dealer
may want few b hnnGred OF the conieal bqshe
island and New-Jersey. The favorte basket for
/ uicllng apples Is the round half bushe with
hickory bale. it fits in nicely between the rungs
OF Il ladder.
/ II is an exciting day in the basket village when
one of the big rick wagons is loaded up with bas-
kets TO 20 the misunderstanding or railroad sta
ton There may be consignments in IL from half a
! dozen families 10 half a dozen dealers. And there
follows an interesting suspense as the wagon rolls
! out OF sight till the check comes back from the
! New-York merchant through the mail Meanwhile
| the big wagon makes its way down to the shipping
point discharges its load and the driver about
10 Law in supplies of drygoods and groceries for the
return trip There IS saying In the village that
! load OF baskets Is sign OF rair. The reason may
| he that the basket people pick out fine a day
AZ possible in starting wagon and these especially
| nne DAYS are proverbially weather breeders
| II the basket makers could always have steady
| work they could accumulate snug little fortunes.
but the trade Is precarlous one, and It's followers
| generally make only bare living. However. one
| will find the people hospitable and kindly. Although
| hands may become calous In wrestling with hck-
| ory and hoop-iron, the workmen's hearts
open any. There is no more cheerful blaze than
| that made in shop-stove out OF hickory shaw
| ints, and your hosts not only generally glad TO
| welcome a visitor. him and chat with him,
but will II ne likes give him big armful Of shaw.
tnGs to s;-cS his own ure