PAPER—ITS MATERIAL AND USES. From the best authorities it would appear that cotton was the first material used in the manufacture of paper after papyrus. The exact date is not known but it is pretty well authenticated that paper from this material was made and used in the eleventh century. The Chinese since the deca dence of the papyrus manufacture in Alexandria Egypt may be considered the greatest manufacturers and users of paper. With them this material occupies a place of impor tance not equaled by any other one substance in use by us. They employ it for clothing building decorations toys
PAPER—ITS MATERIAL AND USES. From the best authorities it would appear that cotton was the first material used in the manufacture of paper after papyrus. The exact date is not known but it is pretty well authenticated that paper from this material was made and used in the eleventh century. The Chinese since the deca dence of the papyrus manufacture in Alexandria Egypt may be considered the greatest manufacturers and users of paper. With them this material occupies a place of impor tance not equaled by any other one substance in use by us. They employ it for clothing building decorations toys and a hundred other necessities. They utilize linen rags the in ner bark of trees the fibers of cane and bambo and for ' rice paper ' the stems of a wild leguminous plant. The soles of boots umbrella hats garments resembling in texture and durability woven fabrics kitchen and table utensils boxes bowls etc. this ingenious people fashion from paper. Even their pocket handkerchiefs are made of it ; and some speci mens of their paper are scarcely inferior in toughness and elasticity to the best textile fabrics. We have scarcely reached their aptness in the quality of the paper and are far behind them in adapting the material to our every day needs. We make paper water-pipes row boats paper hats and bonnets paper collars cuffs and shirt fronts. We use it for twine to tie up paper packages ; a specimen for machine belting is now on our table. It is doubtful if any other material is susceptible of a greater di versity of uses ; yet we seem to lack the means of producing it cheaply enough to supersede other and more costly sub stances. It is hardly to be believed that knowledge of the manufacture the various processes to adopt it to manifold uses is lacking but rather the difficulty of procuring the more extended use of it. For some years past paper ' stock ' has been very dear. Rags advanced in price as cotton went up. Wood fibers and straw have been tested with a view of keeping do
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