The San Francisco call., 1909-10-31

1T 10 a matter or considerable disap-
pointment TO many who visit the
city Of Dresden and admire the
dainty ware which takes its name
from this city when they are informed
that the factory where it is manufac-
tured is not located in the city. The
eewn OF Meissen, where 1t is rnanufac-
kured. is located Is miles from Dresden.
and as 1t is not on the main line Of
travel many who would be otherwise
anxious to visit the place forego this
trip and content themselves by admir-
Ing the many beautiful. specimens ON
display In the shops Of the city.
The royal mandatory maintains
Arge salesrooms both IN Dresden and
ksipzig, where a good opportunity is
presented 10 inspect the modern pro-
auctions OF the factory. To the mere
aomirer or casual enthusiast this is
HuMcient and the historical romance
which surrounds the story Of the estab-
nshment does not serve as an attrac-
non 70 visit the spot where the indus
Try was started and has been progress
eively carried on for more than 200
years. For this reason the factory.
which is to the student one Of the most
interesting places of its kind in the
world, takes its place among the out Of
the way places visited by but few of
the many who cross the pond each
year, and but little has been written
about the factory or fits history
Although the history of the present
factory dates only from 171o, when
Frederick August II, elector of
6axony, formally established the in
custry IN Meissen. preliminary work
had been under way IN the laboratory
OF the royal palace in Dresden for nine
years. Bottger, the alchemist who had
been driven TO seek refuge in Dresden,
believed that he was near his goal, the
conversion Of clay and base metals into
gold. Augustus. who was in sore need
Of gold at the time and whose country
had become Impoverished through
plague and the levying Of exorbitant
taxes upon its people, took him under
his protection and afforded him every
facility for carrying out his expert
ments. In company with another emil
nent chemist, Tschirnhausen, he was
kept practically prisoner. as his work
was kept a secret and every preca utfon
was taken TO prevent either from leav
ing the country. During the nine years
OF experimental work much earthen
ware was produced from the different
ciays gathered from all parts of Sax
ony. This ware was of a fine, hard
quality, different from anything that
had heretofore been produced I'm Eu-
rope, but not suitable for decoration.
Many specimens Of real china ware.
brought by travellers from China, were
procured and efforts made to produce
real porcelain, but il was only through
sheer good luck that Bottger finally
came upon clay which was suitable
Tor bis purpose.
'Tbile having his wig dressed one
me grain OF the powder used by the
barber. His curiosity was Immediately
aroused ana upon being informed that
st was secured from a deposit of finely
powdered white clay found near Aue
In Saxony, a quantity wac Immediately
secured and pottery produced from 1t
gradually with greater degrees Of sue
cess The ware produced was pure
hard porcelain like the specimens pro-
cured from China and Japan.
Augustus Immediately established
the factory at Meissen. with Bottger
IN charge The clay was secured at
Aue in large quantities. placed IN YES
sells and bags and taken TO the factory
with great secrecy. The factory was
more like a prison, as every precaution
was taken to preserve the secrets and
the workmen were under penalty of
life imprisonment If they betrayed
them. The news of Bottger's achieve
ments soon reached all the courts