The sun., 1903-11-05
ON the Treatment or Linen.

This question, submitted by a corre-
spondent whose good faith is beyond
question, betrays in him an utter lack of
knowledge of the metropolitan habit;
TO THE EDITOR OF THE suN-si,: Is there a
laundry in New York where llncn--shit,s, collars
and the nkc--is washed, and then Ironed' have
been unable to lnd II II there Is one here.
NEW YORK Nov. g. Fl. S. L."
In some parts of the country laundries
exist for the sole purpose of rejuvenating
darkened garments. 1t is evident that
H. S. H." ia not born New Yorker,
but one whose earlier days were spent
in a remote hamlet, untouched by Metro
politan ways. There he may have ex-
perienced laundry-more likely a
Observation-Disclosures to remove the
stains of usage from his garments. He
need expect no such provincialism here
In our complicated urban life, laundries
exist as trade producers for the haber-
dashers and are conducted on the prin-
ciple of wood-polishing shop.
| In his former place of abode, H. 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 its beauty. To wear such linen
made him the equal of any man. No
white-haired snuf-taking patriarch of
the old school was his better; no man
could mistake his neck gear for crea-
ton of paper or celluloid.
But in New York he will find the
standard different one In the prspa-
ration Of 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-the destruction of
the garment in hand. and the preserva-
ton of those signs of use for the treat
ment of which it has been submitted to
the experts
In order to destroy the garment and
to impart to it strange, unnatural
shade, resort is had to the use Of strong
waters which rot the linen perfectly,
discoloring it 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 of the acids are sup
plemented by subjecting the garment to
terrific strains in machines, which tear
and rip the fabric. reducing it to useless
ness within the period of two treatments.
a,,ph al
upon the garment, an ingenious system
is adopted by which each @soled spot is
completely covered with q resisting var
nish of high polish and great endurance
If no stains appear when the garment is
received at the laundry, they are sup
piled 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--now follow the policy OF varnish-
! ing all shirts and collars. This treat
ment makes the life of buttonholes short,
and renders the garment uncomforta BILE
throughout its career Special machines
| are used to put saw edge as the tech
| nica 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, reflect
ing material, blue -yellow-gray in color,
which creaks and groans as he pro-
crosses, much after the fashion of long
disused suit of plate armor.
H. 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
amsss fortune sufficient in size to sup
port laundress within his own home.