Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1876 — Linen Manufacturing In Ireland. [ARTICLE]

Linen Manufacturing In Ireland.

At the time of the potato famine in 1846 all the linen manufactured in Ireland was woven upon hand-looms. Steam-power had been in use for half a century in spinning flax; but the idea of applying it to machinery for weaving the fiber, although under discussion, had not yet been demonstrated, and many manufacturers were of the opinion that it could never be made practical. Only a year or two after this fifty power-looms were in successful operation, and to-day the number is estimated at 50,000. Great as has been the revolution wrought in this industry by the introduction of steam, and numerous as are the factories whose din of flying shuttles and twirling wheels is heard in Ulster, the hand-loom has not yet become entirely obsolete. In the heart of the weaving district, between Belfast and Armagh, a portion of the peasantry still find employment in their own homes in the manufacture of linen. In some parts of the Counties of Down, Armagh and Antrim the handl-oom is busily plied in almost every cottage. The peasantry of this region diner in many respects from the population in other parts of Ireland. They are descended from Scotch and English settlers. There is but little of the Irish brogue in their accent, and their language is generally easy and correctly delivered. Their cottages are poor, having low rooms and earthen floors, but they welcome the visitor with a polite greeting, and answer his inquiries cordially. In the room devoted to weaving the children as well as the parents' have their places at the looms and labor with the dilligence and steadiness of their seniors. Heavy and wide linen goods are all manufactured by machinery, only, narrow webs of danwk and cambric being done on th*. hand-loom. 7 As the children pursue their task at weaving or preparing the flax for fresh webs, they generally have an open book before them, from which they study lessons, or con ballads and tales. Ten years ago nearly all the bobbins used in weaving were wound by hand, and this gave employment to the older and younger members of the family for whom heavier work was unfit; but the bobbins are now given* out with the woof, wound by machinery. The linen-trade in Ulster u slowly reviving from the depression it has suffered during the past few years. While cotton was scarce during and directly after our late war, there was' a great demand for fabrics made from flax; and the many fortunes rapidly won in their manufacture caused the industry to be overworked. When cotton resumed its place again, and linens were less called for, there were numerous failures in the trade; but the manufacturers who were able to weather the storm are now enjoying a sure and improving prosperity.— Chicago Tribune.

At a social party in Bernville, Pa., a few nights ago, a young lady present, glancing at a looking-glass, discovered that somebody had marked her face with lampblack. This so,enraged her that she planted her fist on an innocent voung man’s mouth who happened to stand near her, and he returned the compliment. In her wild rage and weeping condition, and with her blackened face, she looked horrible in the extreme. She soon laid the young man out “ pretty flat," and then seizing the' poker she went at the rest of the company. In less than two minutes she bad everybody in the room piled up in a comer. - Then she quietly put on her hat and shawl and walked on home. A system for furnishing meals and lodgings on tickets, to be paid for in labor, has been introduced into Boston, and it Is said to work admirably. The tickets are sold in packages to the rich and benevolent, who are so often applied to for assistance, and, instead of giving money, theyoan offer these freely, as none but the actual needy will accept them. The woman Boyon, who killed six of her children and one grandchild by sticking needles into their bodies, has been hanged at Bourg. ' ■ /'■ ■ “ )