The Dickinson press., 1913-03-15
FEW FACTS OF LINEN
Of Late Years Weave Has Been
Largely Replaced by Cotton.
Snowy Whlteness, Obtained with
Some Difficulty In Bleaching, 10
Quite Permanent-How Article
May ee Distinguished.

(By C.. M. GIBBS, University Of 1llinois.)
Linen was formerly the most impor-
important vegetable nber, and wa
commonly used for all household pur-
poses. OF late years It has been,
largely replaced with cotton, with
which 1t may be compared, although
there are still uses for which we de-
mand linen, and others for which We
prefer linen to cotton.
The linen fiber is long, smooth and
quite lustrous, when spun into
thread. 1t is very strong and there
are not 80 many fuzzy ends as arc
found in cotton. Cloth made from
It 10 not only lustroua and rich look.
ing, but because Of Ito snhoothness.
stays clean longer than cotton. The.
snowy Wilderness Of linen, obtained
with some difficulty in bleaching, 10
quite permanent, and since the nbef
takes dyes. with difficulty, and parts
with them quite readily, 1t also does
not retain stains as p~ersistently an
cotton does.
Linen is much more expensive than
cotton, and when linen prices are paid
linen should be demanded. Since
the two flbers are rather hard to dis
tinguish, especially when heavily
starched and given a good finish, It
is quite easy to deceive the buyer.
Linen" collars are frequently large
ly cotton, linen" handkerchiefs may
not have a thread Of linen, "a is apt
to be the case with rather inexpen-
sive embroidered handkerchiefs, and
table linen" may be mercerized cot
ton, cotton and linen, or even ordi-
nary cotton.
To distinguish linen from cotton, ex-
anime the threads carefully; cotton 10
made up of short fibers which project
from the surface of the thread, and
become fuzzy when the thread Is rub
bed between the fingers; when broken,
cotton has a tuffted end, while linen
fbers break more unevenly and leave
a more pointed end. The linen thread
should be stronger than the cotton;
it has more luster, and is usually more
Uneven. Some kinds Of linen have
fiat threads, but cotton is frequently
finished in imitation of fiat thread
linen.
The old test of moistening tho
finger and putting it under the cloth
Is not always a sure one, as the moist
ure will not come through q heavy lin
en-, or one with much starch In 1t, and
it will come through q sheer. tightly
twisted cotton. A better test Is to
put a drop Of olive oil on the cloth
and press between plotting papers.
The linen becomes more transparent
than the cotton.
There is a peculiarly eathery feel
about good table linen, which cotton
will not give, and the luster is differ
ent, although the difference is hard
to describe.
The typical weaves used for linen
are as follows: The damask, satin or
sateen wea used for table linen and
towels Is especially good for the for
mer because Of the very smooth lus-
trous surface it affords, but not so
good for towels as it does not alb
sorb moisture very readily, although
it is very attractive. Huck, an I'm.
even weave, giving a good surface for
the absorption of water, makes splen-
did towels, and decorated with de-
signs In damask eav may be very
handsome. Many linens in plain
weaves are available for clothing, I'm.
broidery, etc., while the coarse Rus.
sian crashes are becoming quite pop
ular for decorative purposes.
The texture Of linen is such that the
heavier kinds hang we'll in folds, lie
nat on a table, and are very artis-
tic for many purposes.