Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1922-03-24

at His Wheel.
| and 200 big yellow chimneys In the
city. 1t Is said that Ching-teh-cben
in her most fiourishing, days boosted
several thousand kilns.
Most Conservative Of Cities. a.s o.
The most unusual feature of the
city Of Porcelain Is Its conservatism
''Bu k'ait'ung" (n0t open to commu.
4 nications) Is heard on every hand.
| Although China Is the home of the
printing press, there Is not a single
newspaper. either daily or weekly,
published In this city of more than a
| quarter of q million inhabitants. The
reason given for this unprogressive
state OF affairs is that the magis-
trates have always opposed the
press, on the one hand because they
are afraid of Its political influence,
and on the other because of the finan-
cial support that would be involved.
Ching-teh-chen is devoid OF electric
lights and telephones. The few rick
shaws which now facilitate cOmmuni-
cations are fighting for existence. A
number of workingmens guilds have
| petitioned the chamber of commerce
! to abolish the rickshaws on the ground
| that they interfere with traffic. le
The geographical location Of Ching
teh-chen Is not accidental. 1t became
| the pottery center Of the country CEN
| turtles ago because Of the enormous
quantities of excellent clays in. the
district around Pc Yang lake. All Of
these clays are brought to Ching-teh-
chen in the form of soft, white bricks
4 by small, fiat-bottomed boats. Thou
sands OF Chinese boatmen are engaged
in this work.
After the clays are thoroughly
cleansed, sifted. and refined they are
kneaded together in varying proper
tions usually by barefooted. boy, un-
til they are ready for the potter. The
wet lump of clay Is then placed on
the knob of the p0tter's wheel.
The potter is perched above the
wheel, with one foot on either side,
in order to allow sufficient space for
! the movement OF his hands. After re-
volving the wheel swiftly with short
pole, he deftly and with mechanical
precision fashions a plate, bowl or
vase After years Of practice he can
estimate to within a hairs breadth the
proper size.
The piece is then removed and
placed on long tray in front of the
potter, where it awaits the next ar
tisan. Handles and other decorations,
made In molds. are added, and then
the whole is scraped smooth and al
lowed to dry until 1t Is ready for the
next process-the underglaze decor
alton.
4 Several basic colors, like blue and
red, can be painted on under the glaze.
The glaze Is next applied In various
ways-by dipping. by blowing on with
tube, or by sprinkling. After the
mark has been added the piece is
ready for the furnace.
Firing the Porcelain.
Porcelain placed in the kiln to be
fred has to be protected In strong,
cylindrical clay vessels, called saggers.
: These trays can be used from three
to six times before they are ready for
, the scrap heap on the river bank,
Every piece Of porcelain, as 1t Is set
into the sagger. is placed on a small,
, round, clay chip, sprinkled with straw
ashes This prevents the fusing to
gether OF the two pieces.
: The fuel for the furnaces at Ching
( teh-chen is Of two kinds-straw and
= wood. Coal has been tried, but 1t was
) found that Its fumes discoiored the
: porcelain, and accordingly its use was
!, discontinued. Straw Is used to burr
l only the coarser ware.
( The kflns are large, egg-shapet
: ovens Of brownish brick, fifty feet Ions
i and twelve feet high at the highest
point. Because Of the intense heat
9 both the kilns and the chimneys mus
I be rebuilt annually. Sd
III There Is no unemployment II
Ching-teh-chen. Work is plentiful. bu
!. Industrial conditions are bad. Loni
a hours, poor food, no rest days, and un
: sanitary living conditions cause a grea
d deal Of Dissatisfaction among the Ia
! borerS. fe
Ell Wages range from ten cents to ON
. dollar per day, varying not according
4 to the number Of hours. but according
. to the number and quality Of thu
:. pieces produced. But no artisan mus
4 work too long. II man is found do
! ing too much and working beyons
l. the time limit. he II set upon by hi
o fellow workers and severely beatsn-