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Show THE SILK OF ITAL Y SHYOKAPIPHO TOED HOW AND WHERE THIS INDUSTRY IS CARRIED ON. "batteuses for 'brushing." When this operation Is accomplished, tho cocoons, with their silk threads forming a kind of skein, are placed In other basins, und the weaving work begins. As in all the other operations, these basins contain hot water, and there is a workwoman attending to each one of them. After this last bath the detached silk thread Is completely from the cocoon, and, accurately guid ed by the workwoman, is wound round a spinning-wheel- , forming a skein. When-thskeins are ready they are taken into another room, where they are carefully looked over and got ready for weaving. Lastly the skeins are taken Into the room where th In Provides Employment for Many of th Women and Children of the Sunny Land From coon to Fabric. Co- How many ladies think of the won- derful transformation through which the golden thread, the precious product of the laborious silkworm, must go before the woven material reaches their hands? Yet to study the manufacture of silk, step by step. In every phase, from the cocoon state until the silk Is made Into skeins ready for the wearer, Is both Interesting and Instructive. Italy stands first in Europe in the silk spinning manufacture; then come France, Germany, Austria and Spain. Hungary has only lately taken to the rearing of the silkworm. England cannot do It on account of her cold climate. The greatest part of the silk product in Italy comes from the Lombard and Venetian regions; but Piedmont produces a quality of silk superior to any other. Those who have never visited an Italian spinningmill can have no ade- quate Idea of the lives led by the many women (of from 12 to 50 years of age) employed. Few of us think of the obscure existence of these worn-cn when the wonderful products of their work are before us. Most of the spinning-millin Italy are in villages or small towns, and the workers are generally girls from the same place, or from the neighboring villages. These poor girls earn from 50 centimes to a franc a day at most; they walk for miles to reach the mill early In the morning, and go home at dusk. On their way they sing popular songs. However scanty the wages may be, some peasants are so poor that they are glad to earn them, working 12 hours a day, in excessively heated rooms, in which even In winter the heat is oppressive. The cocoons, when first sent to the spinning-mill- , are spread over a table to be selected. From the bright yellow cocoons a very fine quality comes, and from the faulty .ones, of course, an inferior quality. When the choice is made, the cocoons are washed In hot water, and are left In it for some time to getj cooked. After the washing caking." the cocoons are pat CREATURE OF AFRICAN JUNGLES and e I : I Preparing the Skeins of Silk. thread Is treated. The thread is wound round a spinning-whee- l with a manometer, which is put into motion by a handle. The skein3 are at last twisted and thrown into baskets. After being carefully weighed they are sent to All these operations the weaving-mllls- . are for the finest silk, used only for expensive materials. The coarser silk, which is used to make cravats, shawls, and sometimes ladies' blouses blouses that in appearance are of the finest quality, but are done for after a fortnights wear is treated' somewhat differently. And what becomes of the Industrious little worm, the patient, untiring creature that for many days has worked hard to construct its golden prison? Even after death, after being cooked and recooked in boiling wrater, the worm is worth something; it makes an excellent manure for hemp and flax bed-cover- s, AIRSHIPS. Explanations. I reckon well have airships at no very distant day. to travel any other It wont be way; Each one will have a lot o wings an cogs an gasoline. An any quantity of things whose like never seen. But It wont have any hoofs to beat a rhythmic measure glad, There wouldnt be no road for them to beat on. If it had. An when you feel like lookin round an takin in the view, There wont be any scenery, except a cloud or two. up-to-d- w-a- s It wont have any ears to settle back an let you know That it has heard the order when you qin-Miu- For First Time in History This Karo Animal Has Been Seen Alive by a White Man and His Picture Taken. That interesting creature, the okapi. allletWto the giraffe, and discovered by Sir Hrry Johnston on the eastern border of 1110 Congo forest (near the Semllkl river, which Joins the Albert Nyanza and The Albert Edward lake) had never been observed and studied by a white man in its living state until five months ago when a young calf okapi about a month old was obtained by Signor Ribottl at Bambllil, on tho Evelle river (about 400 miles northwest of the original locality). The skins and bones of the opakl which have been sent to England have invariably been obtained by travelers from the natives. No sportsman or naturalist has shot an okapi or even seen one alive. The servant of Lieutenant Boyd Alexander saw and tracked for two days with natives an okapi on the Evelle river, near tho spot from which the photograph from which our picture was made comes. The natives dug a pit trap for it and speared It. Boyd Alexander did not see it until it was dead. The timidity of the okapi. Its rarity, and the remoteness of the Congo forest, the fringes of which it inhabits, are the reasons why white men have hitherto not seen the okapi alive. Special interest therefore attaches to Signor Ribottls photograph. This young calf was brought in by natives to the stockaded and set- First Photograph of a Living Okapi. tlement at Bambiiu last April. It was The Calf Is About a Month Old. about a month old, and between two and three feet high. After living a few to a sacred mystery, they say to me, weeks in captivity it died, but it is as we look at the stuffed skins In the not at all improbable that a live speci- museum, T suppose there Is no doubt men will before long be successfully that it Is a hybrid; a cross between a managed, and make its appearance In zebra and antelope or aid you say some of the zoos of our large cities. giraffe? It Is In vain that I have put The difficulty will be to find vegetable up a special label warning the obserfood which will suit the peculiar taste vant against this popular but tenaof this ruminant, with cious error. Only a few weeks ago its small, delicate front teeth, suited an eminent person insisted to me only to cropping young and soft vege- that he was right in holding the okapi to be a lusus naturae a hybrid. tation. There Is no doubt that the Pygmies Why, there Is no room for doubt of the Iturl forest use the name of about it, he said. You can see the Okapi for this animal. I have shown zebra coming out In the stripes on the photo of the okapi and also bands his legs, and yet he has the head and of the striped skin and the stuffed hoofs of an antelope. As a matter ol specimens in the Natural History mu- fact, no hybrids are known to occur seum to the little people from the at all among terrestrial animals in a Congo brought to London by Colonel state of nature. half-bree- d 1 s SNAPPED BY CAMERA. Harrison." sas Sir Ray Rankest or. "They at time and liuai l.ildy. In re.ini (What Is ply to the On the oilier this?! sa. Okapi. tha of lamer race the hand, natis u cording to in the Hurl district IS Viton-eidl tills animal Major Powa The natives about Bamblill Kaughl. (Evelle river), who aie not of the Induniha acI.vgmy race, rail it cording to Lieutenant liojd Alexander. Tlie word Tie,' or Bute,' said to be applied by some of the Pygmies on the s)kU to the Ituri okapi, means merely meat or flesh and is used for okapi flesh or any other meat. One remarkable Illusion with re gard to the okapi exists among those who are curious about natural history matters, but uninstructed. In a subdued tone of voice, as though referring well-provide- d forest-dwellin- g They tell me your boy Is taking a great interest in books. Well, answered Farmer Corntos-sel- , you see he apologetically; Cookery. an his ankle couldnt get out You dont treat me with nice consprained to tend to football and his other du- sideration, anticipate my every want, ties. Washington Star. provide me with whatever is designed to make life pleasant, regardless of A Good Start. expense, and betray a vigilant soliciDoctor Madam, your husband must tude for my comfort, a tender respect have absolute rest. for my feelings, an absorbed interest Madam Well, doctor, he wont in the complained my happiness, listen to me wife. Doctor A very good beginning, replied the husCertainly not, madam a very good beginning. Life. band; I didnt marry a cook. Another Definition. Willie Say, pa, what is a Little give the word to go; toss sniff to or grafter? It wont have any head Pa A grafter, my son, is a woman the frosty air. Nor tail to throw across the lines an who goes through her husbands pockmake you want to swear. And if It went the same old route for ets while he is asleep. Chicago Daily News. years twould never learn The proper road to follow an jes when to make a turn; Overtrained. In human progress airships mean a most Dashaway I want you to meet the Important step. But gimme somethin thatll listen when eldest Springer girl. She is the most you say Giddep! intelligent of the three of them. Washington Star. Cleverton No, thanks. Ive learned more than I ought to know from the Couldnt Lose No. 2. other two. Life. t Why, we asked, are you so sad? Ideals Wrecked. Alas! he answered the sea is the are happily married, Packsons The grave of my first wife. we , . . arent they? But you are married again, Oh, no! Why, they hadnt lived murmured. Yes, said he, and my second wife together for three weeks before she Chicago discovered that he played a wretchwon't go near the water. Life. ed game of bridge. Journal , - , . , Evolution in Literature. Friend Howd you come to write that best seller? The Modern Litry Gent First I was struck by a thought. I epigram-izethe thought, sketchized the epigram, playized the sketch, novelized the play and advertised the novel! Puck. ' d All She Could Expect. Is your husband all that you think he should be? asked the visitor in a He Knew Her. confidential tone of voice. was Mrs. Highflier Yes, George "Not exactly, replied the other, But hes all I can away behind in his alimony, said complacently. money was tight and all that, but I expect. Hes my fourth, and I know em. brought him around. The Platonic Friend How did you manage it? Mrs. Highflier Oh, I wrote him a Every man, said the cynic, hai little letter threatening to go back his price. and live with him. Puck. Yes, answered Senator Sorghum, and sometimes a man gives himseli The Rivals. credit for superior honesty merely beMamma says I was born on the cause there is nobody bidding fo high sea. him. Washington Star. Thats nothing. I was born In a childless flat. Chicago Record-Herald- . A Frenzied Financier. Hello, Dinny, you look prosperoui a Job now? got Court. at the Waiting You bet, an its a good one! Caller Whos little girl are you? What is it? Angel Child Dunno; the divorce Gettin' in early on de bank runs, court aint awarded me yet Chicago aa sellin' me place in de line. Life Journal. , .,u Self-Approva- : - , , l. |