The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-10-23
MAKING CLOTH FROM TWISE.
German Experiment OBSCURE Warmth
and Cheapness.

German Experiment toSecure Warmth
and Cheapness.
A few years ago some n who
knew how great was the warmth that
might be secured from q few news
papers employed as a bed covering in
winter tried the experiment Of fold
ing the same material under ordinary
clothing in the daytime. Then came
into use a flexible but heavy paper OF
a special kind for coat Innings and
undergarments. The paper was
called fibre channels, because, while
it was made out Of cheap fibre, 1t
was soft and flexible and looked a lit
tie like chamois skin. Much more re-
Gently the attempt has been made in
Germany to produce garments from
wood or paper fibre, not by cutting
out large sheets and sewing them at
the edges, but by spinning it into
thread and weaving it into cloth.
This plan differs from the n fol-
lowed in manufacturing a certain i'm
ftation of silk, and is apparently
cheaper. When ribbons are made by
the so-called Chardonnet process
wood is sufficiently dissolved by chem
icals to become like thick mucilage.
The substance can then be drawn out
into extremely fine and rather tough
threads and worked up into cloth
which glistens as silk does. The pro-
duct of the latest experiment is ap-
parently not lustrous, and the threads
are composed of paper which has not
been treated with fluids which alter
it's appearance or character. Xylolin,
as the article is called, can be
bleached so as to look like cotton or
linen, but, while not so elastic, it is
said to be less expensive. 1t can, OF
course, be dyed, and by using threads
Of different colors pretty patterns are
obtainable. Warmth rather than
great durability is it's chief recon-
mendation, apparently, though as it
does not attract moths it might make
a good substitute for wool.
The attempt to manufacture cloth
out of paper Irvine is said to have
been made repeatedly in the United
States. Several patents for the pur-
pose were taken out years ago, but
for some reason it was not found ad-
visable to operate under them. Now
that the inventors rights have e2-
pired, it is said that the idea is re-
ceiving a trial in this country. APP
parently, though, the principal exper-
iment with xylolin is being made in
Germany. According to a recent con-
sular report the yarn can be woven
into almost any fabric, such as dress
materials, tents, bathing suits, imita-
ton Panama hats, carpets and grain
bags. Since xylolin is odorless it may
make excellent bags for sugar, coffee
and salt.
Tapestries, not printed, but woven
in colors, as we'll as toweling Of xylo-
lin, are alike being produced. Not
only can the yarn be used in coarser
fabrics, but it has also been tried sue
cessfully in handmade cushion laces.
The yarn can be readily used in knit
ting and pleating. Woven xylolin
treated with a waterproof dressing
does not seem to crack by wrinkling
or friction, to the injury Of the water
resisting coat. One would imagine
that a fabric of paper yarn would
readily ignite and that a lighted
match falling on a paper rug could
be exceptionally dangerous. 1t is as
serted, however, that a burning
match stem will do more damage to
a wooden or jute rug and be more
likely to lead to disastrous conse-
Quences. While not uninfammable,
an ordinary rug of paper yarn will
burn scarcely easier than a wooden
floor.
Some criticism has been offered
about paper cloth, with an inclination
to compare it to sheet paper or rub
Der, whereas ever undercloth1ng
made of paper yarn has been found
by experience to be satisfactory. Mod
ern authorities on hygienic clothing
decry the wearing of garments that
are so woven as to permit only a very
slow exchange Of the toxic emana-
tions of the body with the outer air.
Accordingly, advocates Of xylolin
hope for a wider use of woven or
knit paper cloth garments, not only
among people who cannot afford to
buy more expensive clothing, but also
among well-to-do classes, because the
paper material is Clearly and readily
laundered. Even caustic soap, in
stead of injuring it, is said to make
the fabric softer.