News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-11-03
BETTY AT THE FAIR
Letters of the Panama Pacific Expo.
sition by Florence Livingston
LETTER XIII

LETTER XIII
SAN Francisco, CAL, Oct. 81, 1915
| Dear Father:
Do you remember the Queen of Hearts
and how charming she was when she
was cooking? Well, 1 believe half ths
secret was the fact that she was making
something. I have noticed here at the
Exposition that whenever the process oil
manufacture is going on. we all stop
form spellbound line, and watch with
an absorption that bulges our eyes and
paralyzes the motion from our bodies
until we are promising subjects for the
chance observer who had kodak for
| Christmas.
The other day saw gauntlet gloves
| being made in the Manufacturers Build
ing. A phlegmatic blond man was d4ing
the cutting, process fascinating in it's
simplicity. lie spread the buck XII in
smoothly on block of wood, set a die on
it, struck the handle with sort of pile
driver. removed the die,-and there was
the glove with the exception of the
thumb, which was cut with another die.
He stamped the number on the gloves,
folded them with their respective thum BIS
and gauntlets, and passed them on to
one of the girls.
The first girl had rather the best of it,
1 thought. It's easy enough to run the
gauntlet as she did it, for her machine
accomplished feather stitch in colors
instead of the usual plain seam. 1 believe
could manage it myself, and that is my
test as l watch these various operators
who are highly trained in speed and ac-
curacy. 1t is only now and then that /
see one whom think could ever equal,
and it is fostering an attitude of humility
that may be becoming but is uncomfort-
able as we'll.
If should be thrown suddenly upon
my own resources, am not sure that l
could even wash dishes fast enough for a
third-rate restaurant, -although as 1
think of it, that would require more
speed than high-class place. wouldn't
it? However, 1 don't intend to dwell
upon this, lest you realize what an in
competent daughter you are supporting.
1 will tactfully withdraw your attention
from this topic and return it to gloves
and the girl who was sewing them.
She had one of those machines that
runs by electricity and stitches with a
growl like thunder. 1t whizzed so rapid
ly that it destroyed my belief in the nee
dies being thrust up and down for each
stitch. She began with the gauntlet,
such is the symmetry of the. die, and
sewed deity around all the many curves
and joints and angles of which the HUI
man hand is capable. Not even thread
was wasted, for it wasn't cut until the
endless chain of gloves was removed.
Now, daddy dear, what 1 want to know
is this: Why can't have die made
that will cut me gown in one blow? OF
course 1 should have to have another die
for the sleeves, but this would be mod
est outfit, and then l should be willing
to do my own acknowledgement of
it, too, which is more to the point.
In a corner of Varied Industries /
found Swiss embroidery in the process of
making. Two large machines were at
work: one initiating bandkerchiefs; the
other scattering clover leaves over wide
piece of sheer muslin. If you have never
seen an embroidery machine, recon-
mend one to your investigation, especial.
ly as may not be able to describe it
wildly.
A stationary upright frame contains
the cloth. On each side of it is a movable
frame, holding the threaded needles,
may be set as desired. The operator sits
at the left, with the pattern, many times
enlarged. traced on paper in front of
him. But only think. father, the poor
operator has to do three things almost at
oncel He moves a marker from point to
point of the pattern, these changes being
communicated to the series of needles by
means of bars and levers; with his other
hand he releases lever; and with his
foot he works treadle. These motions
command the movable frames. One of
them is drawn foot or more away from