Evening star., 1902-08-04
HISTORY OF PAPER
PROGRESS FROM THE DAYS PAP9-
RUS TO AGE OF SPRUCE.
People of Ancient Egypt, China and
Japan Were Expert-Varlous
Plants Used.

Fr,m the Ashtonu under-Lyne tEnglandl Reporter
Eevpt. China and Japan are the countries
in which the earliest manufacture OF paper
is known to have been carried on. l lie
Fgvptian paper was made OF the plahl
called papyrus, a kind Of grass. Accorulis
10 the Information handed down to us the
delicate inner fibers were separated lroih
-. b1ada or the grass and spread upon the
.ohrs IN such a manner that they overlap
ned one another. The table was sprlnKIeu
Dtth water from the Nile, which had' no
doubt. the effect of moistening the natural
gum Of the plant SO as to make the npers
adhere. When the first layer Of papyrus
fiber was complete, successive layers were
placed upon one another until the paper
was thick enough. These layers were then
pressed together, and the sneet ot p%p ,Ie
was dried In the sun. The pest quallty wa
preserved for religious uses, and not al
lowed TO be exported.
The Romans, however, discovered pro
the marks of writing; and after this dls,
coverv they imported from Egypt sacred
hooks written on this material Which lheS
used for their own purposes after the oFls-
inal writing had been erased
Inner Bark of Trees.
Besides the papyrus ancient paper was
made Of the inner bark of trees. Egyptian
paper was in general use in Europe until
the eighth or ninth century. 1t then Slowly
began to give place to paper manufacture
from cotton and other materials, which ART
was apparently learned by the Arabs IN
Asia. and introduced by them into Europe.
This manufacture had apparently spread 70
western Asia from emma "nele - rs
known 10 have existed at a very carry pc
rIof Paper was made by the Chlnese from
some material or other as early as tne pc
ginning Of the first century, ana accorulhg 3
70 their own account, the making OF paper
from cotton appears to nave Deeh ii4NeN
by them about 200 A d. .,,os
The materials that have at various tl1IIes
and in various places been USED lot @ lhe
making Of paper are very numerous. 1eNl
and linen ra gs are now used in one part OF
CHINA the inner bark of the mulberry tree
In another. while the bark Of the elm, stra"
and bamboo find favor for TINS purpose
elsewhere.
The Mulberry Tree.
The Japanese show a marked preference
for the mulberry tree, and the paper Haue
nv them Is not to be equaled anywhere for
strength and softness- qualities which en-
ab1a II 10 be used for many purposes for
which here in England we use leather,
such. FOR instance, as in the manufacture
~ nurses ladies' bags, &C. After the In
PRODUCTION into Europe OF cotton and linen
rags as material for paper-makins. the
use Of other vegetable flbers was for many
centuries almost entirely given up-chiehy
because rags proved as cheap as they were
suitable
A method Of treating straw so as TO make
AZ capable OF being made into paper was
Invented as comparatively recently as the
beginning Of last century. various I'M
movements have since been effected. ana
there are now many mills which turn out
nothing else than paper made mostly from
straw and wood pulp, but the best and
most important feature of these materials
As the stiffness they impart 10 the paper
Spanish Grass.
Fsparto, or Spanish grass, has been ap-
piled 10 paper-making only within the last
few years The use OF rushes for this pur-
pose belongs TO our country and dates from
1896 The paper made from this material
Is white. firm and of good quality. and
considerably cheaper than that made from
wood.
Nothing is more remarkable than the
great number and diversity of new uses
that have been lately found for paper. Be
sides being largely employed for making
collars cuffs and other articles Of dress. 1t
Is sometimes used for making small houses
in the baCkwoOds of the western states OF
America which are found to be warTut-
than those made Of wood and sheet iron.
1t is used also for making boats, pipes
tanks and pals for water. armor firm
enough TO resist musket balls, wheels for
railway carriages, and even bells and can
mons have been made OF II.