The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1922-04-07

and 200 big yellow chimneys in the
city. II is said that Ching-telrchen
in her most fourishing days boosted
several thousand kilns.
Most Conservative of Cities.
The most unusual feature of the
city of Porcelain is its conservatism.
Is k'ait'ung' n0t open to cOmmu-
nications) IS heard Oh every hand.
Although China is the home Of the
printing press, there Is not a single
newspaper. either daily or weekly,
published III this city of more thai a
quarter of a 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 fnan-
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 w~orkingmen's guilds have
HNNNINiI'H lIN 'lbuAlItI vi (tiIItI4tINt
TO abolish the rickShawS on the ground
that they Interfere with traffic.
The geographical location of Ching
teh-chen is not accidental. 1t became
the pottery center Of the country CEN
turtles ago because Of the enOrmOu
quantities of excellent clayS in the
district around Pc Yang lake. All Of
these clayS ora hrnupbf IN tph-
chen in the form Of soft. white bricks
by small. flat-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
tons, usually by a barefOOted boy. IN
I'll they are ready for the potter. The
wet lump of clay is then placed OF
the knob of the pOtter's wheel.
The potter is perched above the
wheel, with n foot on either side, +
i'll order 10 allow sufficient space for
the movement Of his hands. After re-
volviDg the wheel swiftly with a short
pole, he deity 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 a long tray in front of the
potter, where il awaits the next ar
tisan. Handles and other decorations,
in mOlds, are added, and then
the whole is scraped smooth and al
lowed 10 dry until it Is ready for the
next process-the under-glaze decor
Several basic cOlOrs, like blue and !
red. can be painted OF under the glaze.
The glaze is next applied in various
ways--by dipping, by blowing on with
a tube, or by ~sprinkling. After the
mark has beer added the piece is =
ready for the furnace.
Firing the Porcelain.
Porcelain placed in the kiln to be !
has to be protected in strong, s
clay vessels, called saggers. a
These trays can be USED from three a
to six times before they are ready for O
he scrap heap III the river bank. .
Every piece of porcelain, as it is set 7 =
INTO the sagger. is placed on a small, .
'ound, clay chip, sprinkled with straw \
This prevents the fusing to- O
Of the two pieces.
The fuel for the furnaces at Ching "
eh-chen is of two kindS-Straw and q
wood. Goa has been tried, but it was u
'ound that Its fumes discOlOred the .
porcelain, and accordingly its use was
li~scontinued. Straw Is used to burn 2
My the coarser ware.
The kilns are large, egg shaped
,vens Of brownish brick, fifty feet long
md twelve feet high at the highest ;
Because of the intense heat, y
9th the kiIns and the chimneys must =
e rebuilt annually.
There is no unemployment in II
,hing-teh-chen. Work is plentiful, but S
ndustrial conditions are bad. Long =
ours, poor food, no rest days, and un-
living conditions cause a great
cal Of dissatisfaction among the la
Orers. =
Wages range from ten cents to one M
ollar per day, varying not according fe
D the number of hours, but according al
0 the number and quality of the Ia
ieces produced. But no artisan must
-ork too long. If a man Is found do
too much and working beyond n,
ne time limit, he is set upon by his
elbow workers and severely beaten. g.