New-York tribune., 1910-05-08
What the Silk Is

SURGEONS silk-the thread that IS used for
- sewing up cuts and wOundS-is soft, round
strand OF pure white silk which IS woven. not
twisted The weave, when viewed under
ulagnIfVIng glass, closely resembles that of fine
silk braid and IS capable OF only a small degree
Of expansion. This thread IS produced III sew
eTal dIameters or grades. which makes II all the
more desirable for pearl stringing. These are
numbered. instead OF being Iettered ike
binary sewing silk, and are wound on small
cards like darnIng cotton
When the Young wonan's idea was first
adopted II seemed as though It would prove I'M
practicable owing 70 the quantity OF surgeon 5
silk manufactured being insufficient to meet
the new demands from the jewelers.. II was
also very expensive But the idea was such
good one, and the surgeons silk was so much
superior TO anything ever tried before, that IN
time L was found possible 70 secure II IN sui
hcient quantities and at wholesale prices.
The principal safeguard against loss, however,
IS II the method OF StrIngIng. An intricate
system OF knOttIng the thread between each
pearl IS employed. This prevents the escape OF
more than one Jewel should the thread break.
This knOtting Is done with tweeZers and IS
task that requires great skill There must be
no unsIghtly gaps between the knots and the
pearls, and the whole when finished must be
immaculate n It's WhItenesS. The tiny knots,
instead OF detracting from the beauty OF the
necklace. enhance It. Tor they look ike seed
pearls alternating with the larger ones Knot
ting Iengthens the necklace also, and IS often
resorred 70 Tor that purpose.
When strand OF 4 certain length Is desired
and the number Of large pearls Is not SIttIcleTt'
imitation pearls Of the exact size and color are
often substituted Some Of these limitations
Will deceive the eve Of any but the most expert
OF course the knOtt1ng between each pearl
means a lot u extra trouble and expense.
Some owners Of pearls object 70 this additional
cost-3ccasiOnalIv TO their sorrow.
! rich New Yorl woman started on to spend
the week end with some friends IN the country
not long ago. 1t was midwInter and the snow
was deep She decided at the last moment TO
wear q valuable string Of pearls and put II on
outside her dress: but OF course beneath her
cloak. The pearls were strung N the old way
loose. without knots between.
She noticed that her pearls were safe Wheh
she got INTO the sleigh at the end OF her TalI"aE
tourney: but when she entered the house ana
took of her wraps she discovered that they
were gone. By that time the coachnan
hid driven 10 the stable, which was some
r7-ee hundred wards from the house ne
hostess releDhO1ed Immediately 70 the StaDie' >
F,-,- . careful search Of the cutter revealed no
trace OF the missing jewels. As the string was
worth forty thousand dollars, a systematic
search was started for them At once.
Tbereupon the servants began shoVelng
the snow Al each end OF the llne and melting Il
- fa-gl kettles. This labor took several DAY
hui was rewarded by finding the pearls. one by
one. along the path OF the sleigh
The next time this woman had her pears
strung she had them knCtted N the most aP
proved fashion
Drilling and StrineIns