New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-24
AN EXAMPLE OF HEREDITY.
A Great Silk Dyer, and the Monumental
Works His Genius Reared.

The people of these United States. tie most in
dependent thinkers and the least precedent tram
melled Of all the earths fifteen hundred millions.
yet bound-to extent-by tradition. In the
very moment of outstripping the civilization that
gave birth TO q particular idea IT industry, they
yield-as to q superior-an interiors Understanding
respect and difference. and only when the outside
world turns to them to those who have achieved
the leadership in a given field OF human endeavor,
do they awaken TO the fact that they have sur
passed what they have been accustomed to regard
the standard. Thus. long after they them
selves making the best cut glass. they were
asking in the for the European; long after
they We're making the most elegant and taste@Hl
jewelry. they seeking the French; long
after they were manufacturing the best silks they
would buy only that labelled imported!
And when, eventually. they do recognize their
superiority. they like the rest of the world
slow TO place the credit for their triumph
where il justly belongs.
To-day we lead the world in the silk industry;
that is while abroad they produce some superior
fancy fabrics we. on the whole, make better goods
ours fully good in appearance, and wear
better than those made abroad-as we DO better
looms and better throwing machines: and yet,
although taking the goods on
their merits without asking if they foreign or
domestic. one mas traced to its true source
the secret of our suecess-the supremacy Of Amer
lean dyers, the achievements of whom have
eclipsed the age-taught methods Of their foreign
competitors They are the quiet lnconspicuous
forces that have enabled our silk manufacturers
TO wipe out tradition, and 10 make American
eign products.
The coIors of the artist-dyer are TO the woven
silk what the clay image of the sculptor is to the
marble effgy hewn by the artisan. Lacking the
initial inspiration. the machines product,
like the artisans handiwork is dun. cold and
attractive-not shapeiess. worthless it's true.
but Ifeless for the dye is the life. the spirit, OF
the Siiken fabric. The silkWoTm spins the cocoon
nature; the THROWING" machine spins the thread
and the loom weaves the fabric-mechdnics; the
dyer gives light, and life, and coor-art To that
art the chemists science is handmaiden
And the dyer is born, not made; ne cannot pick
up make a choice of it, with most
trades and professions. because perChance one has
some aptitude leaning toward this that.
list his inheritance from generations OF dyer
ancestors. And. with evolutions of other kinds.
the products of these generations vary IN degree
and stature: thus. there are dyerS VINO can match
all colors, all shades of coors. unerringly OF
these there few in the world to-day. And there
are dyers who can match some certain colors and
many. Il may be explained here that the manu-
facturer furnishes the dyer with the silk and
the samples OF the colors he wishes to obtain. and
that that's where the artists eye in; that
strength and hexbiity and the workable quality OF
the SILK. that when made into the fabric IL VIII
be soft and shining. and that that's where the
chemists science is required
BORN IN A DYE HOUSE:
The subject of this sketch Mr.. Jacob Weidmann-
for Jacob Weidmann" the ''Wedmann SILK Dyeng
Company" and that fruit of a lifetime of thought.
OF research, OF labor and of splendid natural gift
for organization, the famous works that bear his
name synonymous-was born In a dyehouse
which, though II a big dyehouse for those
days. employing go worknen. also the family
residence. So. besides coming into the world
gifts that, descending from sire TO SON. had deep-