Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-05-20

this purpose n hammer with q broad.
slightly rounded face, fully inches In
diameter and Weighing 10 pounds. Il
used Every three minutes the
"kutch" IL taken from the envelopes
and the leaves "rlffed" to loosen them.
The nfst beating lasts between one
and two hours. The gold II then taken
out leaf by leaf, and each leaf II cut
Into four squared. ana In the same man
ner na before each square IL placed In
what n called "ehudnr." which II
made Of Roidbcatcrs' skin. but for this
purpose only old skins are used. which
have served their turn In the final
bentings. AZ this stage the original
10 squares Of rold have become $50
and the thickness has been reduced
from i.iocth TO i.ss00th Of an inch.
The gold II now ready for it, second
beating, which II administered with a
smaller and lighter hammer. weighing
from TO ? pounds. and which lasts for
two hours. the shodar being frequently
removed from the parchment envelopes.
the leaves rifiied and the gold examined
10 zee that ~ II being evenly beaten.
once more the gold leaf h removed
~ before. and after being again cut
into quarters. IN placed In mods. q"
made ~ new Eoid.beatcrs' skin. zach
mold consisting of ~ skins. The gold
leaf Il now Iii. l00ths ~ an inch In
thickness, and the original 40 squares
have become s.5eo. but owing 10 waste
and damage ~ the thin leaves. the
workman IN only required 60 produce
2,QOo leaves. The ao-cniled waste and
clippings are carefully preserved 10 be-
melted down IN the next beating"
The rold leaf ~ now ready for tho
flnal beating. for which n hammer
weighing from 20 pounds. II used.
and then the leaf u reduced 60 IT, COM
fta.e.4laI
nccnfdlnr To the uses n II 90 be- put TO.
whether for gliding book leaves. signs
o. other purposes. Gold leaf ran b.
beaten 10 the eNtrum. thinncss ~
i.2itgisth Or an inch. and expert work
men have succeeded In reducing ID to
i-3Gs .to0th OF an inch.
The leaf IL then carefully removed
by a sort Of plant cane fork. leaf b.
leaf, and by blow u the breath care.
fully delivered IN the middle IL nnitened
on the Workbench. II IL then cut intn
squares by what IN called n carriage"
made " reed or cane with Hharpened
edges. The squared leaves are then
placed IN books" made ~ very thin
paper. previously treated with red
ochre laid an With n rabbits foot Ia
prevent tho gold from sticking. Tho
leaves and NIL spoiled leaves are kept 10
be melted down again. There arr
TWENTY-FIVE leaves. Weighing 5vgruins.
10 each book. and beating 81 20 pen.
nywelghin must yield eighty books Of
u grains each.
Great care IL necessary In handling
the finished leaf The workshop must
be- protected by storm doors In an sea-
sons. nor can windows b. opened IN tho
hottest weather. white this part of tho
work II being done. worknen must not
even walk rapidly by bench where
the leaf IN being cut a. the slightest
disturbance Of the air will WAIT the
transparent leaf away and spoil II. Fine
particles ~ gold leaf and dust float IN
the air, ana settle on the fioorH. aud
this aggregation ~ particles constitutes
quite nn Item. Tho nwccplnEn ~ tho
shop are kept. and at Intervals are
pounded In a large mortar. Tho crushed
product Il then carefully washed by
hand. and enough sold IL found TO re-
pay this trouble. Occasionally n cru
chile Of melted gold break. In the fur
mace, or II cnrrleHaiy overturned In 70.
moving Il. Nothin- can be done az
that time. but before the fire " started
the next morning every particle Of Gin.
der and ashes within and under the
furnace Il gathered. pulvcrixed IN