Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-03-29
Chinese Peter At his wheel

and 60 big yellow chlmneys IN ths
c.re. DO ls said thar Chlagteh-chen
Coz her most four.shing days boosted
several thousand kl.ns.
Nest Conservative Of Cities
The most unusual feature OF the
city 80 Porcelain Is It's conservatism.
"Eu k'lituu-' llot open 90 c1mmu-
u.eatIsusD is heard o. every hand.
Although China is the home u the
printing press. there Is not a single
newspaper. either daily 0r weekly,
published iu this city ~ more than a
quarter ~ "a million inhabitants. The
reason given Tor this uuprogresSive
state az affairs IS that the magis-
rrates have always opposed the
press. Ga the one hand because they
are afraid o. lIs political influence,
aud ou the other because ~ the Engn-
cial support that would be involved.
Cllng-teh-chen Is devoid II electric
lights and telephones. The few rick
shaws which now facilitate cnmmuni-
cations are fighting for existence. A
number of w0rkin-men's guilds have
redrioned The chamber 81 commerce
Go abolish tie rlekshaws on the ground
tiar they Interfere with traffic.
The geographical location ~ Ching
ral-chcn j. not accidental. IL became
the pottery center ~ the country CEN
turtles ago because II tie enormous
quantities ~ excellent CLAWS In the
district around 20 Yang lake All Of
these c'ags are brought % Ching-teh-
ellen In tie form ~ soft. white bricks
hy small. nat-lotroued boats. Thou
sands ~ Chinese boamen are engaged
n this work.
After the ciays. are thoroughly
g'.au-al. sfted. and refined they are
aueaIeI together ln varying proper
rHrs. usually by a taref1pted boy. I'M
fI rey are ready far the potter. The
wet stump 81 clay Is then placed on
tle lu1h ~ tie potter, wheel.
The potter is uerched above the
wheel. ulrl one foot on either side.
ln order to allow sufficient space fer
the movement of his hands. After TO-
raIvIu- the wheel swiftly with a short
pa.e. be deity and with mechanical
precision fashions a plate. bowl, or
vase. After years ~ practice be can
estimate Co within hairs breadth the
proper size.
The piece IS then removed and
placed on "a long tray IN front Of the
potter. where &c awaits tie next ar
tlsln. Handles and other decorations.
made ln molds are added, and then
tie whole is scrlped smooth and al
lowed 70 dry until Il Is ready Tor the
next pr0cess-the unler-glaze decor
alton.
several basic colors. like blue and
red. can be painted ou under the glaze.
The glaze g. next applied IN various
ways--by dipping by blowing on with
"a tube. or by sprinkling. After the
marx has been added the piece Is
ready for the furnace.
Firing the Porcelain.
Porcelain placed IN the kiln 10 De
Cred has 90 be protected In strong.
cylindrical clay vessels, called saggers.
These trays can be used from three
to six times before they are ready Tor
tie scrap heap on the river bank.
Every piece II porcelain, as IL Is SCI
into the sagger. IS placed on a small,
round. clay chip. sprinkled with straw
ashes. This prevents the fusing TO
gether az the two pieces.
The fuel for the furnaces az Ching
feh-chen Is 81 two kinds-straw and
wood. Coal has been tried. but it was
found that lrs fumes discOlored the
porcelain. and accordingly its use was
discontinued Straw Is used 70 burn
only the coarser ware.
The kilns are large. egg-shaped
ovens o. hrownish brick. fifty feet long
and twelve feet high az the highest
raInt Because Of the intense heat
both the kllns and the chlmneys must
be rebuilt annually.
There Is no unemployment In
Chlngteh-chen. Work Is plentiful. but
industrial conditions are bad. Long
hours. POOR food. no rest days. and IN
sanitary living conditions cause great
deal ~ dissatisfaction among the Ia
borers.
Wages range from ten cents 70 one
dollar per day. varying not according
70 the number o. hours. but according
10 the number and quality o. the
rfeces produced. But no artisan must
work too long. II a man Is found do
lne too much and working beyond
the time limit. he - set upon ~ his
fellow workers and severely beaten