The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-21
FROM OTHER PENS
TITE. sILK INDUSTRY.

line On1LoQ SoIaLGS uses 66zyUUV.
pounds of artificial silk year, yet
does not make pound of what it
uses. All of it is imported. France
is the home of natural and artificial
silk. 1t has five mills devoted to the
latter industry One mill turns out
daily. viscose silk II made from
wood pulp and water. It is used for
the wood in goods manufactured for
the Orient, where brilliant colors are
admired. 1t is also used for Innings,
for scarfs, skirts, mixed cottpns and
for upholstery. It has even been en-
ployed in taffetas and umbrella COW
ers, which is a complete answer to
the objection that 1t cannot stand
water. !.
According to the American Consul
at Lyons, there is at present q heavy
tulle made of artificial silk, The ma
teriaI will be fashionable next season.
and will be used as a trimming over
foundation of satin or taffeta-
About $4,000 persons are employed IN
the French artificial silk industry.
Some Lyons silk manufacturers think
the artificial silk industy would thrive
in the United States, notwithstanding
the high wages prevailing here. me
Consul also says that there are enter
prising Frenchmen who would be will
ing to embark in this industry in the
United States in cooperation with
Americans.-Boston Globe.
O.
TOO MANY HOLIDAYS.
The Russian idea of reducing the
number of enforced holidays with
which that empire is overburdened is
In the line of enlightenment Too many
holidays are worse than too Few. Io
close the banks and exchanges ana
cripple business 81 days out OF the 800
is a Reminder of the days of strongly
| intrenched feudalism and serfdom.
Russia. which has been considered,
with good reason, the least enilgnteneu
and progressive country in the world
| has had the largest number or mondays,
England has only So, including sun
davs Tn this country We now have 90.
| including Sundays, not to mention sat
urday half-holidays in summer. Whlcn
are common all over the land- our
| state legislators should bear in mind
| that in their frequent efforts to create
new holidays they are following the
custom Russia is now trying TO ger
| away from in it's struggle to free ltseI.
| Our people are not serfs. They do not
need more relief from their daily lapors
| by statute. Individuals may rest, When
| it is convenient for them to do SO, with
out compelling the banks to close and
checking the course of law the sim,
| pie peasantry of old, the nlnoS ano
| clowns of Shakespeare, had many nom
days allotted to them when they maze
| merry on the bounty of their masters
/ who did nothing for their living the
year round-New York Times.
| NAVAL NERVOUSNESS.
! Lord Charles Beresford, who recently
hauIed down his admiraPs flag, wrote a
letter which was read at meeting OF
| the Navy League in London, and III
which the blunt-spoken sailor said tha'
'.if the country knew the real truth re-
| garding the present condition or the
/ navy. there would be panic. Oi
| course, this startling declaration made
an immediate stir, and the gallant ad-
n1iral explained that what he wrote
| was private and not to be repeated II
| looks as If he intended to put his foes
| in the government in a nasty position;
they forced him out of the service, and
at once his immense popularity was
again made clearly evident.
France is also agitated over the dis
closures of imperfections in her navy
! bad powder and boiler graft. The
American people are hardly over their
state of nervousness caused by the
criticisms hurled at their warships by
| experts and near-experts-
| It is hard on the taxpayers OF the big
nations, after they have furnished the
funds for gigantic ships, to be told that
perhaps they will be useless in war
Probably the truth about the nayies OF
the world will not come out till the
1 great general war takes place.-Mex1-
can Herald.