Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-05-20
Interesting Lecture at
Library Hall.
nof, E, F. Hitchings Entertains
Large Party, Friday Evening.
,.e.ue Given Under Auspices Of the
geprebec Historical Society.


was athored last evening, to listen
"'y ~ lecture of Prof. E. +. Hitchings,
o,a entomologist, on the subject OF
elk culture. The lecture was one oi
~" -. of natural history talks given
"nlar the auspices of thise department
=: ,ba Kennebec Historical Society
~, the movement is arousing a live
a. interest among the people OF Au-
gusta. 49,. aorrto,d;ne of
49,, lights talk. Prof. Hitchings eX-
n;hitad fine collection of insects, the
nnonartv of Pres. F. #. Noble. and
.nocimens of the cocoons and raw SILK
~. raeled from them. At the close OF
,ho lecture a large number OF those
,ras4nt signified their intention OF De
,ino members of the class for TINS
,,e of study, which will be under the
.o,sonal direction OF Prof. HitchinSs.
THO teyt of tie lecture was as follows:
In Introducing our subject, we must
,ore a backward fight of $500 years. or
rs.rIv leo years r. c., about the time
of Joseph's rule in Egypt.
According to Chinese history Si-ling-
chi wife of Hoang-ti was the first per-
son who discovered AMI raised the silk
worm.
cbe was honored by Deirg named the
Goddess of Silk Worms" and the feed
ing Of the worms on the annual return
of the festival by the reigning princess
is still observed
The word silk occurs twice in the Old
Testament and may have been known
and used at a much earlier period than
the above named date, Dat we have no
definite record.
What seems to be the first authentic
account of the weaving of the fibre IS
that given by Aristotle, who says thar
lady Of Cos wove such transparent
silk fabric that it was called woven
wind" but this thread must have cOmr
from China.
If we look for the derivation of the
word silk. we find it must have come
from class OF people called Seres, or
from the Greek word serikon.
For centuries China was the only silk
producing country in the world, and the
art was guarded with Jealous care. rs
Il brought a rich revenue to the empire.
1t was exported to the countries of
southern Europe. But it was not until
after the year 500 that she had worked
lp the industry to any extent. and for
sAme time in Rome it was such n
luxury that only the nobility could use
it. as it was worth its weight in gold:
but for fifteen centuries it was sup
posed to be a vegetable production
similar to cotton or flax.
In the thirteenth century Lyons had
given such an impetus to the industry
that for centuries later placed France
in the front ranks rs the leading silk
country Of the world.
Turning I" our own country we find
That the conquest If Mexico by the
Spanish and the colonization of New
SPAIN was the initiatory step to the
orAring of this industry in the New
World
In l32H Cortez. in preparing n plan for
th' n"W government. included officers
to oversee this new department.: and in
1919 the Colonial assembly. in its short
session Of only five davs. regarded it of
so much Importance that il passed an
act ordering the planting of mulberry
t:Hos and the raising of the worms.
King James in the same year issued
his famous decree and proclamation
against tobacco and favoring silk cul-
ture
What blessing to this country if it
could have been carried out through the
ages that have since intcrvened.
rs our country becama coloniZed the
INDUSTRY spread and most of the
"i"nles We're actively engaged.
IN l134 Gen. OrglethOrpe presented
eight pounds Of raw silk to Queen Caro-
INA, ani on the kings birthday shc
favored the colony by appearing at Z
FF"e IN dress made entirely Of Geor-
gin silk.
The first coat and stockings made Of
New England silk wera worn by Gov
Law Of Mass. in 1747, and the first sill,
arNss by his daughter.
ne revolutionary war was serious
mNdrance to the progress CT this indus
wy nut at its close 1t received an i'm
it'us that carried it far beyond its
l"'mer growth.
N 1881 the Massachusetts legislature
PASSED an act authorizing the prepar.
ZION of manual on silk culture. an7
al New England went wild over thi.
'Ndi to all other business.
Large orchards of mulberry trees
Ve planted in every state: the pro-
'ucuon of silk in Massachusetts. alone
III oHe year. amounted to over $3.50 600
SPECULATION ran high hut in 1899 the
iNeh bubble burst. and every thing
H swept away: notwithstanding il
'h started on firmer basis. being
V''iihed more to the manufacturing
'h 10 the raising: the silk being i'm
Jaran. "''
>. II" greatest silk growing country OF
uie Whole world is China, producing
Se'fiy OYER 23.OOO,OOO lbs. valued al
dhont 100000
me production Of the whole world is
nued at s26S.0OO. 900. China producing
0aO t "ne-third: Italy nearly $50. .OOO.-
0oo m' India s35,OOOOOO: France. ss1. .OOo.-
WV WV and Japan $4,000. 900: while Amer
produces only about 100000.
me United States pays annually fo,
any anorted silk about 100000 every
co "r OF which might be saved to this
on "try as we have ample room and
,ha chmate is just as favorable as is
ru ,n, OF China or India.
s.ae ,nefe are. at present. in the United
ht.a,es. tra four purchasing stations con