Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1913-03-27
FEW FACTS OF LINEN
Of Late Years Weave Has Been
Largely Replaced by Cotton.
Snowy wni.eness. Obtained win
Some oifheuIty in Bleaching. 10
Quite permanent-Aow Article
May BE Distinguished

by c. ~ GIBBS University o: !llino.s)
Linen xas formerly the most impor.
importAn, vegetable fiber. and vas
com monty used for all household PUP
poses OF late years II has been
largely replaced with cotton, with
which I. 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 It is very strong and there
are not 80 many fuzzy ends as are
found In cotton Cloth made from
It is not only lustrous and rich look
ing. but because OF It's smoothness
stays clean longer than cotton. The
snowy Wilderness OF linen. obtained
with some difficulty in bleaching. is
quite permanent, and since the User
takes dyes with difficulty, and parts
With them quite readily, II also does
not retain stains as persistently az
cotton does
Linen is much more expensive than
cotton. and when linen prices are paid
linen should be demanded Since
the two fibers are rather hard to dis
tinguish. especially when heavily
starched and given good finish. It
Is quite easy to deceive the buyer.
Linen collars are frequently large
~ cotton. linen handkerchiefs may
not have q thread OF linen, as 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-
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 4 tuffted end, while linen
hbers break more unevenly and leave
more pointed end. The linen thread
should be stronger than the cotton;
1t has more luster. and is usually more
uneven. Some kinds OF linen have
nat threads. but cotton is frequently
finished in imitation Of fiat thread
linen
The old test Of moistening the
finger and putting It under the cloth
10 not always sure one, as the moist
ure will not come through heavy lin
en-. or one with much starch In 1t. and
It will come through sheer, tightly
twisted cotton. A better test is to
put drop OF olive oil on the cloth
and press between blotting papers
The linen becomes more transparent
than the cotton.
There is 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 weayes used for linen
are as follows: The damask. satin or
sateen weave used for table linen and
towels Is especially good for the for
mer because OF the very smooth lus-
trous surface 1t affords, but not SO
good for towels as 1t does not alb
sorb moisture very readily. although
It 10 very attractive. Huck. an UNI
even weave. giving good surface for
the absorption Of water. makes splen-
did towels. and decorated with de-
signs in damask weave may be very
handsome. Many linens in plain
weaves are available for clothing. en-
brotdery. etc. while the coarse Rus
sian crashes are becoming quite pop
ular for decorative purposes.
The texture Of linen 10 such that the
heavier kinds hang we'll in folds. lie
nat on table. and are very artis-
tic for many purposes.