The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15
LINEN AND LAUNDRIES.
How White Garments Are Washed
and Ironed in New York City.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
The question. submitted by correspond
ent whose good faith is beyond question,
betrays in him an utter lack or knowledge
OF the metropolitan habit:
ITO the Editor Of the Sun-Sir: Is there
a laundry in New York where linen-shirts,
collars and the like-is washed. and then
ironed? 1 have been unable TO find 1t II
there Is one here. II. ;. L."
New York. Nov. g."
In some parts of the country laundries
exist for the sole purpose of reJuvenat-
ing darkened garments. 1t is evident that
III. s. L." is not born New Yorker, but
one whose earlier days were spent In a
remote hamlet, untouched by metropolitan
ways. There he may have experienced
laundry-more likely washerwoman-am
bilious to remove the stains of usage from
vincialism here. In our complicated urban
life. laundries exist trade producers for
the haberdashers and are conducted on the
principle Of wood-polishing shop.
In his former place of abode III. s. L..
undoubtedly rejoiced in linen blanched to
Its virgin hue with soap and elbow grease.
and ironed with dull finish that brought
out the fine mesh of the fabric In all It's
beauty To wear such linen made him the
equal of any man. No white-haired, snuff
taking patriarch of the old school was his
better; no man could mistake his neck gear
for a creation of paper or celluloid.
But in New York he will find the stand
ard q different one. In the preparation or
linen wearing apparel for the human body
no soap or elbow grease is wasted. Under
the scientific usage of the metropolitan
laundry two objects are always in view
and the preservation of those signs of use
for the treatment of which 1t has been SUBJ
nlitted to the experts.
In order to destroy the garment and to
resort is had to the use of strong waters
which rot the linen perfectly, discoloring
1t at the same time Three treatments In
this manner alone are sufficient to render
Into rags and tatters the best material. TO
depend upon this, however, would be to
waste valuable time and decrease the sale
of garments. Therefore, the effects or the
acids are supplemented by subjecting the
garment to terrific strains I'm machines.
which tear and rip the fabric. reducing 1t
to uselessness within the period OF two
treatments.
To preserve such stains as may appear
upon the garment, an ingenious system is
pletely covered with a resisting varnish Of
high polish and great endurance. II no
stains appear when the garment Is received
at the laundry they are supplied within the
institution and for this service no extra
charge is made. The cleanest shirt can be
made unwearable in one treatment at the
more extensive establishments.
Many laundries-in fact, most OF them
follow the policy Of vanishing all
shirts and collars. This treatment makes
the life Of buttonholes short and renders
career. Special machines are used to put
a saw edge" as the technical term goes.
on collars, cuffs and the bosom edges In
every way the shirt trade is increased and
when the average resident Of New York
walks abroad he appears to be. clad In
spotted, rejecting material, blue-yellow-
gray in color, which creaks and groans as
he progresses, much after the fashion Of a
long dsused suit of plate armor.
III. s. L." must reform his provincial
notions of white linen and conform to the
metropolitan standard. If he does not want
to do this he must move away from New
York or by severe self-denial amass a for
tune sufficient in size to support laundress
within his own home.