Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-09-28
INDIA INK SECRET.
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wnh all their modern Improvements
and all their science, none 0f the Nd
yanced nations has been abe TO pro-
drce the equals Of tie Chinese and
Ianapese lacquers or India inks. Chem
Jsts ink manufa1 ,rcs AMI artists
have tried for generations 10 discover
the secret that enables the Chinese.
with primitive processes. to produce
those materials In such perfect form,
hut the secrets still ere secrets.
The manufaeture of india ink Ia
particular has bail.cd al foreigners. 1t
i made I'm China today practically as
!, WAS made four centuries ago. when
chen III Sonea Invented Tie process
The oil is pressed out Of the seeds Of
a certain plant and then set to simmer,
while the workman adds mixture Of
novdered redwood. grated sandalwood
and seeds oI almonds and other pow
ders.
After the simmering is ended the re
sult Is filtered and set aside for q long
time 10 settle Then ii Is put into tiny
eorthcu dishes. each of which has
wick made out OF reed. 4 great
suantitv OF these little dishes are set
on bricks, and over each is placed 4
funnel shaped clay cover. Then the
wicks are 1T. and the SCOT produced by
the burning mass is caught on its In
side
This is so delicate an operation that
the workmen watch the slightest
change In the weather, for small diff
ference In temperature will make a
big difference in the quality of dhe
scot. The finest SCOT Is prepared in
rooms that are absolutely alright. II
there are any windows in them they
are covered with paper pasted over
them so as TO close every crack In the
walls.
Every little while tie workman goes
cautiously to dish and dusts the gath
cred SCOT OF with feather. Although
it Is SO soft and fine that it will aoat
in the air. 1t still is not fine enough for
the Cinnamon They pat il tbro@ei
sleeves. and only after 1t has passed
through them IS it considered tx Tor
mixing with the liquid material that
turns il into india ink. Nobody out
side of the Cinnamon In TIE secret
knows what this liquid substance is,
After II las been mixed II is kEcAd-
ed for many hours and then ground
fine again la tlortars. which stand ul
water baths, SO that there shall not IL
the slightest change In the Tempe
ture.
Then the stuff Is shaped Into TIE
sticks that we know, and 1t is beaten
with little hammers until each stick IS
perfect. After this the sticks are plac
ed into wooden forms to harden. Tie
forms have raised letters cared on
them, and these Impress themselves
ON the sticks. making the trademarks
which are familiar to all users Of in
tlla ink.
Even after the sticks are hard and
appear perfect the ChiuamGn is not
satisfied Each stick is wrapped with
ine silk paper. and then they are laid
INTO box The spaces between thcni
are filed with ashes obtained from
rice straw. Every day the ashes are
taken out and new ashes put in unit!
every bit OF moisture has been ex'
tracted. Then the sticks are unwrcy-
ped, brushed. rubbed and finally POI
lshed with a polisher made of agate
After that the india ink il consid
cred ready for the market.
Courier-Journal.