Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-05
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The manufacture of lace curtains said
leading wholesale dealer in such goods IN
New York to the writer recently. Up to
fifteen years ago every pair Of lace curtains
sold in this country was imported from
England To-day there a dozen large
mills and 40 laCe-n1aking machines in the
United States. These machines represent
an invested capital Of nearly SoShmO. and
turn out annually 4.59o.0sh pairs of curtains
valued at s20.Ua.HD.
The principal American laee curtain mills
are located at Tartffville. n. j.: Patchogue
Long Island: Philadelphia W,li5esharrc.
Pa: Scranton. Pa; Columbia. Pa. and Not
tinsharn, Tex. The first mill was nuilt in
Fordham N Y. in 1885. and when the three
Iace-making machines of this pioneer pant
were started the English experts declared
that only the cheaper grades OF curtains
could be manufactured here on account or
climatic conditions and the lack Of skilled
labor. As a matter of fact. the American
mills are now turning out grades of lace
curtains which cannot be exceIled by any
of the foreign mills
Few people understand the difficulties
and risks of manufacturing lace curtains
Briefly described. the process by which the
curtains are made IS as follows: First of ALL
an artist submits several designs. and these
designs are only valuable when they be
treated by the draughtsman. who. in turn.
must adapt them to the gauge of the lace
best results. This work Is both costly and
uncertain. for after the draughtsman has
spent week over the designs he may find
them worthless If he is satisfied with a
design he must pass It on to the reader.
who adjusts and adapts the pattern 10 the
machine. The complete pattern weighs
about 100 pounds. and costs anywhere from
SO to $lOo. \ years supply of patterns for
the average mill costs from $S.tRn ia 5000,
and the stock must often be replenished.
When the patterns are once decided upon
the linen is fitted to the grooves and the
machine is started The workmen who are
In charge of these machines are called twist
hands and earn 50 a week The lace leaves
the machine in pieces and then goes to the
msnding room, where skilled hands. with
the aid of needles and Garning machinr s.
mend any rip or imperfection. After leav-
ing the mending room the lace is cut into
suitable lengths for curtains, which are then
packed in eases holding from six to twelve
dozen pairs. The cheaper grades of curtains
are worth from 81 to s. per pair. while those
Of the finest quality bring from 81 to SO and
more per pair"
x x = *
There are many odd and interesting
things to be said of the quail which is
known throughout a large part of this
country as the partridge. observed a nat
Ural:st TO the writer the other day. For
instance. one cannot fail to notice the al
most complete change of habits of this bird
which attends the transition from one sea-
son IF the year to another In the spring
and summer the once shy Bob White b.
comes tame. No longer in fiocks the bird
turns IN everywhere under your feet in
the fields. especially if You haunt the vi
cinity of his nest and brooding mate. You
frequently see him running along by a
fence or even venturing out into the road,
while his CHEEKY. sweet song-for it is a
song albeit Of but two notes-rings out
again and again on the summer air.
so tame and regardless of her own
safety does the female grow in the nesting
season that not infrequently she will allow
herself to be almost trodden upon before
leaving the nest and ! have known late
breeding birds in grass meadows to sit
fearleSsly upon their nests until cut to
pieces by the relentless knives of NOW
ing machine. q.
Young quail are perfect little NEGRO
m@ncerS. Almost soon as they are on:
OF the shell they seem to have the power
o. making themselves invisible at the wave
OF wand The ground may be as bare
"a floor. but somehow they manage to
vanish utterly from the eye. And this is
a trick which they do not entirely forget
As they grow older 1t takes a sharp-eyed
sportsman TO see a bevy of quail before
they rise, even if the dog is pointing right
al them and the grass is as short as it IS
on lawn.
BY August Bob White begins to take on
different character altogether from that
he has displayed during the spring and
summer He then ceases to perch himself
in conspicuous places and sing for the de-
light of himself and his friends, both feath-
cred and unfeathered. He no longer makes
excursions into exposed and dangerous To-
calitfes. nor does he trust to the friendIi-
ness Of every human being who comes his
way
Gradually he begins 10 assemble his fam
lily and nearest relatives into a little COM
muntty. conducted on the simplest cOunlI1-
nistie principles and he is animated by one
ali-pefNddlnS dcStrc-jo get through the ter
ribIe open season without being brought 20
the grilile
Unless forced to migrate by lack of food
Convey always sleeps within 100 yards of
the nest it was Matched inland this al
though ii may have fed all day several
miles away. The sleeping is done in a
huddled ring. tails in heads out all around
AID 50 closely punched that a good sized
napkin viii cover IL. Instinct probably lies
back Of this ring making. Thus the shy
creatures hope 10 escape surprise from
creeping vermin, minks, weaseIs foxes and
In fact all other enemies which steal uDon
them in the night"
The authorities who have the manage
ment II the Paris exposition in hand NAV
be criticised for It, but there are good b,,sf-
hess reasons for making the Midway PIais-
ance a feature, and a leading feature" OBJ
served representative Of a western state
10 Star reporter. 1T happened that /
was connected with the management of the
Wor q 5 lair at Chicago, and while serving
In that capacity i found out lots Of things
dld not know before or even had
dreamed Of. One of the things I found out.
10 my entire satisfaction, was that man.
and The word includes woman, is peculiar,
and ii does not make any great difference
whether he is French. American or any
other nationality. 1t may be telling a tale
OUT Of school, but the inside history of the
worlds fair shows that If it had not been
Tor the midway the whole fair would have
gone down 10 destruction and debt fnyoly-
INK every one. The midway saved the fair
ana. besides. put lots of accounts on the
right side OF the books. The first two
months of the worlds fair were terribly
trying ones to all interested in It's uIti-
mate success, for IL was make or breaL
with many who had their money Invested
In II. ana in business of various kinds in
slde anu outside, connected with it, Inside
OF SIX weeks IL was as clear as davIfgbt
that something had to be done or me an
IRE conceTn would go up in the air fpan
cial!y- Suggestions from all sources 49,
asked, though 1t was kept as Quiet as 80
s.ble Finally Major J. G. Pangboru wb,,
had formerly been the advertising maraI,a
for a railroad and after that had gone Ut