The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-19
OBJECTS TO MARKS
BUTTE MAN PROTESTS AoArNsr
LAUNDRY METHODS.
CUFFS AND COLLARS SPOILED
Ornamental Designs Of All Kinds and
Numbers and Check Marks Galore
Spread Upon Fine Linen.

"HO SHalI save US from the deSecra-
ton OF our laundered linen? When shall
our washable garments cease to be the
billboard of the washerwomans hero
glyphics?
And how long shall we be compelled to
go about with our habiliments branded
as II we were Texas steer that had
changed ownership a dozen times from
car TO packing house, each owner en-
bellishing it with his own particular
brand?" FIJI
The speaker was Butte man, who has
patronized the various laundrymen and
the Chinese of the city for long time.
Before me- he added, ARE pair Of
cutfs. having emblazoned in good-sized
script and block letters the makers name.
his trade mark, and the size uOls), to-
tai Of 81 letters and figures A fair crop
OF reading matter for me to wear on
each wrist.
Laundryman's Fine Work.
But now the laundryman gets in his
fine decorative work. He has used the
best of indelible ink and broad nibbed
pen with which to display his talents.
This particular pair of cuffs is known
to ME and the laundry world as 1920"
"t6)' ''3395.o"-a lower case o-"x9xx3"
''157.13" "R X 81 ''111111' "441. %" III x,"
with an TX" over the three figures,
grand total of 1872 marks on one cuff
In some cases the laundry writer has
erased all previous records with that
broad-nibbed pen until that cuff looks
like a dirty proof Sheet
My collars bear written evidences of
this diabolical nenwork, often extending
from the lower base of the collar nearly
to the upper edge thereof.
IF l change my laundry few times
on the outside of my collars and cuffs.
New Decorator Appears.
Recently l changed my residence and
laundry, and a new linen decorator has
turned up.
He evidently at some period of his
life was attached to the late queens gov
ernmental service, for my clothing now
bears the British broad arrow with the
shaft supported on either side by a fairly
good-sized X
The arrow measures a tritle over
half inch on the barbs, the shaft being
just an eighth of an inch longer.
Il shall not dare take this marking into
British territory. lest the clothing be
seized as the lawful property of his ma
jcsty, Edward VII. and T. the innocent
victim of an imported laundryman, be
sent to some penal settlement to end my
days where they don't wear DOlleO SNlTlS
and linen collars.
Look Like Ticker Tape.
The neckbands of my shirts are be-
ginning to resemble a ticker tape or
numerical cipher code message, except
that there are Intersections of evident
ancient as we'll as modern heiroglyphfcs
that no type founder could produce.
Perhaps all this marking has some
hidden meaning. Possibly these signs
convey from one laundry to another
particular garment is-that he don't want
too much starch in the bosom or he wants
Just so much of his standing collar
turned down at the front. Who knows?
I don't.
Il have Undertaking laundry marked
in display type, especially on the top,
so that l dare not appear as shirtwaist
man or leave off my vest lest by some UNI
fortunate mishap the display lines
might appear to public gaze and people
seeing my number might say to their
friends that that fellow has done time
at the works. See he wears his number
YETI
Not the Only One.
Il am not the only sufferer at the
hands Of the marking pen of ,.le laundry
man. There are thousands of us in this
city, all kicking, some growing, and
many using ranch language at this eff
Placement of the beauty of spotless linen.'