Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 23, Number 37, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 4 March 1893 — Page 9

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A Bit of History.

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PRIMARY LAW of decoration is the law of echo or repetition, a prominent color appearing once ought to recur again in a somewhat different All races, in whatever stage of barbarism or civilization they may be found, have in some manner manifested the inborn desire that exists in them for bright, pleasing and varying colors, from the ferocious, nomadic Sioux Indian on the trackless prairie to the highly refined, {esthetic Frenchman, enraptured with the dazzling splendor and magnificence of a Parisian art gallery.

Tt.e discrimination and taste displayed in the selection and one of color go far towards indicating to what stage of civilization the people using it belong. Evidence of man's use and appreciation of color Is to be found in every work of his hands from the earliest dawn of bin history up to the very latest day. The rainbow in the overhanging arch of heayen in all the beauty, grandeur and diversity of its colorings, must have originally Inspired him with this sense of enjoyment in rich colors and induced him to spare no efforts in hie endeavor to reproduce in art this magnificent, harmonious, many-lined work of nature. Amongst the early pooples the Egyptians, in a marked degree, showed a love for rich and pleasing colors, and to them may be historically traced the introduction of multi-coloring in the interior decorations of their homes. Over four thousand years ago these people painted the interior walls and ceilings of their houses and decorated them with pictures of their gods, monarchs, soldiers and philosophers, and whoever they held in reverence and high esteem. The polished, chaste, art-loving Greek cultivate to a remarkable extent the art of decoration, and, though marble and bronze were the prevailing materials used in the interior decorations of their homes, the painter's art was freely called into requisition. As the civilization of Egypt and Greece decays and gradually perishes and the course of empire westwardiy takes its way, we find the sceptres of power and progress transferred to England and France, and with thern all the desires and tastes naturally arising from their posHession.

That these great nations displayed a constantly increasing and insatiable desire to make the homes of their great and opulent beautiful and attractive, interiorly as well as exteriorly, decoratively as well as architecturally, the magnificent baronial castles of England and chateaux of France amply testify. The invariable wall decorations in these noble stiuctures were cloth or tapestry, subsequently superceded by wall paper, and which is now for innumerable reasons destined to remain for time unaccountable the standard article for interior decorations, unchanging In kind, though everchanging In degree.

First Decorations.

OR TAPESTRY was, until about the beginning of the Seventeenth century, the only article used in the interior wall decorations, the painting of such, as followed by the earlier people, having been long abandoned. Until this period wall paper as a decoration was unknown in Europe, though its use as such amongst the Chinese and Japanese is established to a certainty.

The manufacture of paper hangings, though by its European origin belonging to the Seyenteeuth century, may be fairly classed amongst the creations of the Nineteenth. The few attempts—more or less happy—undertaken by the Le Bretons of Paris about 1680, and by the dynasty* of Francois of Rouon from 1029 to 1750, can scarcely constitute a regular industry. The dominating idea in the minds of the Francois, who, as their first workmanship bears date from 1629, may be considered the advance inyentora, was to imitate the woven tapestry with whioh walls were then adorned.

This material was so costly that a good imitation could not fall to onrich the inventor, consequently the Francois prospered beyond their most sanguine hopes, and founded a family which became allied with the oroam of the aristocracy of France, the last male representative of which was guillotined during the terrible davs of the great revolution.

These Rouen artists had a specialty in velvet papers made with wool powder, which was spread by means of a sieve upon a newly-made paper which had been sufficiently dampened with oil to insure the adhesion of the wool. They attained the art, so say the authors of the day, of reproducing the Flanders foliage and even the beautiful figures of the Goblin and Arbusson tapestries.

The most serious difficulties they encountered were in the prevention of dampness and ability to fold the goods, which, for purposes of transportation, had to be rolled around huge cylinders. The artisans connected with this early French institution called themseves "Master Paper-Stainers."

The manufacture of wall paper continued with varying success during the Eighteenth century, sometimes aasunilug the proportions of a prominent renumeratlve industry and again lasping into desuetude and almost absolute obscurity. It was not until about the year 1760 that the use of wall paper In France became popular, and largely the substitute for woven tapestry as a decoration. At this period Kevlllon established at Rouen the first wall paper manufactory, and ere long its products beeamo rioted for tlioir utility, adaptability and beauty. Its advantages in cost, the ease with which it was handled, the frequency with which it could be changed, and th© many other advantages over tapestry were speedily recognised, and It all at once became staple and popular. With the limited means at its disposal, this factory executed some excellent work, and by the ap plication of well directed energy and a high order of intelligence it secured for its products a prominent position in the domain of practical arts, thereby establishing Its permanence and general recognition. To Revlllon, the distinguished head of this factory, must be accorded the tttie of "Father of the wall paper industry."

First in America.

FIRST WALL PAPER used in America was at Mount Vernon, the home of the illustrious Washington. This original package was imported Franc® specially for the residence of the Washington family, was of a very costly aud artistic grade, and was hung in the spacious dining room at Mount Vernon under the personal supervision of Washington assisted by his wife. This novel decoration was for many years the moat prominent feature of the elegantly furnished Virginia mansion.

The first factory tor the production of wall paper in our country was established in the year 1789, on Chestnut street," in th© city of Philadelphia, by Plunkett Hesson, wuoso signal success encouraged Jowab Bumstead shortly afterwards to a similar undertaking In Boston, Mass. From what source these pioneers derived their knowledge of the manufacturing of wall paper is not definitely known, but It is a fact well known that the principal"workmen in the Philadelphia house were specially Imported from France, and were skilled in the art king wall paper.

Prior to i§S5 all hangings were made by hand in sqtmre sheets, following the ©arly methods employed fey th® Chinese and Japanese. In th&t year a machine was invented to print la one color. In 1839 this machine improved, enabilug the simultaneous use of four colors, and with a productive capacity of two hundred rolls day. This machine was operated by hand* To show diflftronee between th© productive power of the past And that of the present, we may here state that the

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manufacturers at present operate machines which will separately turn out from 3,000 to 8,000 rolls per drf^. The first wall paper made in New York was in 1839. To illustrate the wonderful growth of the wall paper industry in the United State*, we quote the following figures, being the aggregate output of all American factories at the end of each decade during the last fifty years. It is truly a marvelous showing, and far surpasses that of any single branch of industry in the land: ljun 2,000,000 Rolls 1850 15,000,000 1S60 30,000,000 1870 45,000,000 1880' 65,000,000 1890 120,000,000

How Goods are Made.

HE PAPER OR RAW STOCK comes from the mills, where it is manufactured expressly for printing, in rolls of about twelve hundred yards each. It is first passed through a machine known as the "Blotcher" or Grounding machine, where it receives the ground or body color. It is then conveyed over a line of steam pipes carried by an endless chain and comes out perfectly dry, when it is re-roiled and then ready for the printing machine. This machine consists of a large cylinder with a number of small rollers, the number dependent on the quantity of colors designed for the pattern, each roller having its particular part cut on it, the face of each imprinting its own part, the larger cylindar acting as a basis of impression. It oftimes requires a dozen rollers to produce and complete a pattern, and these are arranged with such exactitude that it is impossible to detect the slightest over-lapping or falling apart of the various sections printed by each. The color is conveyed in proper quantities to the raised surface of each roller by sieve-cloths which receive their supplies from the color boxes, a seperate color-box and seive-cloth being required for each roller. The various colors are mixed thoroughly and in sufficient quantities for a day's run. The printed paper, as it emerges from the machine, is taken up by a railway fastened to the ceiling. This runs the entire length of the factory and allows it to hang down in loops of aboxjt eight feet. Slightly raised from the floor and underneath the railway is a system of steam pipes, and while the paper is in transit and before it has reached the terminus, it has become perfectly dry. It is then rolled up into double rolls of sixteen yards each. Prior to 1835 all papers were finished in small squares, theprintingof the continuous strip being then for the first time introduced. Ttventyfive of these rolls are packed in a bundle and go to the stock room ready for shipment.

Hand Made Goods.

^HESE GOODS ARE MADE by having the design cut on a flat wooden surface or block the length of the intended pattern, instead of rollers, this block receiving its oolor from a color-table, any number of colors being readily used at one time. The workman is assisted by boys who apply fresh material after each impression, the block being furnished with an indicator showing where to place it for each impression. The motive power in creatiug these impressions is supplied by the foot of the operator, the strip being moved along as the printing progresses. This comparatively slow process is used only in the production of the costliest and highest artistic designs. The foregoing will, we trust, give a fair idea of the mechanical production of wall paper.

Wall Decorating.

AGENERAL

TIMIDITY about the use of colors

frequently asserts itself in the choice of the purchase. Poople, on the whole, love color even on other walls. A room is occasionly seen which fairly glows vfith rich though subdued colors, the effeot of the 'mingling tints changing with the shifting of lights and shadows. It is a pleasure to the artistic eye to look into a room that is in itself a picture of harmony of color. To create this feeling, and assist such as are desirous of satisfying it, we offer the following suggestions respecting the decorations of the various parts of the interior walls.

The Hall

THE ENTRANCE to the home, and not intended as a part to be occupied, ought to possess an air of elegance and dignity, arresting the attention of the visitor on entrance. The hall, vestibule and staircase hall should be treated in rich and heavy colors the designs may be Greek, Arabic or geometrical, nothing of a floral character should be used. To impart a pleasing efiect to the hall, the ceiling and border of frieze should always be a perfect match with the wall banging. A plain ceiling is recommended. A very desirable effect may be obtained by allowing the ceiling paper to run down the wall from three to eighteen incjhos according to

The Libra

W JARIOU8 SHADES of brown, chocolate, Wpt^ carmine, maroon, old green, olives, blue-gray, terra, cotta, tobacco color, bordeau, old ivory, etc., are suitable for this room. Very large figures are recommended. Oiling decorations are appropriate.

(Hall PaperitsOrigin, DeveloprheDt^PFesent Status

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No better workmen in the United States than we have, and few their equal. N. Orders solicited by mail.

TEKKE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING- MAIL, MARCH 4,1893. \^T.

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.The Parlor

OUGHT

TO PRESENT A BRIGHT, airy and cheerful appearance. There is a growing tendency to return to white and gold to those whose tastes are thus inclined we strongly recommend our ivory finished papers. The tendency to colors or tints also widely obtains in pinks, yellows and faint greens, in the Rocco, Colonial and Adams styles *also scroll patterns of the 14th and 15th centuries, in ail o! whioh we carry stock in complete combinations. A very pretty effect may be secured by introducing for a core a tint or ingrain paper a shade darker than the wall hanging, dividing this on the ceiling with a bead. The depth of core ought to.be regulated according to the height of room.

STheBE

Dining Room.-

HOULD PAPERED with bright and rich hangings in pressed paper, leather papers,, velvets, fine lacquers, desigus of fruit, flowers and foliage all are in order. This room should be light and cheerful—showy, yet refined. Roman or Renaissance style of ornaments are proper with wood mouldings and heavy styling with panel ceilings. The carpet being dark, the color should grow gradually lighter to the ceiling. A room decorated according to this style will please the most fastidious.

The Room

MIKEpaperedIBath

The Leading Exclusive House. Nearly a Quarter Century in Business

WALL PAPER CO.

Decorators

654 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana.

After many years of trials and close attention to the Decorative Art, we have gotten a thoroughly equipped Wall Paper store. For successful operation and turning out work that is peerless in finish and perfect in every detail, of which our past record for years should be a guarantee.

We have'adopted all the latest ideas in showing goods rapidly, and with plenty of help, we will take pleasure in showing you the Full line. We have a larger line this seaeon than ever before.

THE TCHEN AND LAUNDRY, should be with suitable papers. Our varnished tile papers are especially adapted for such rooms. They are very desirable, will resist moisture, and can be thoroughly cleaned with water and soap. These papers have been on the market for years, and we take special pride in this line and claim that it is superior to anything of its kind now iu the market.

The Bed Room.

MALL AND MEDIUM FIGURES and faint colors in greens, pinks, blues, blue-grays, olives, yellows and creams will afiord pleasing effects.

Large geometrical figures are to be avoided. A large and varied line of these papers iu complete sets or combinations are shown amongst our large slock.

Window Shades.

HAVE ONLY THE BEST materials in our shade manufacturing depaitment, and doing W our own work, and having our own shop, we can promise prompt and satisfactory attention to all orders entrusted to us.

FRINGES—There is nothing that adds so much beauty to a window shade as fringe. On account of the growing demand we have decided to carry a large line of linen fringes.

SPRING FIXTURES—We carry a large line of spring fixtures, both wood and tin, from the shortest to the longest size, capable of carrying any length shade for a window, all of .which we guarantee to be the best.

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Our Prices.

W "W jK DO NOT CLAIM to be below competition. It is not our desire that wo should be. We W W are not only willing butglad to accept* small margin for our goods. We do and shall continue to meet the" market price of all reliable dealers. We bad rather cater to the popular demands of the public, which %vo can only hope to do by showing a line that will satisfy everybody. Our long continued connection with the retail trade keeps us in touch with their wants and we are thereby enabled to offer a line of goods that are popular and find quick sale. The variety we offer you is complete in all grades. Combinations—All papers have their borders and ceilings to match.

Rodftl riouldings.

jrE HAVE TWO HUNDRED different styles in stock, all sizes and colorings. Handsome designs of mouldings are made in wood and gilts of different colors to match with the papers. These mouldings are nailed on wall* Just, below the border. Hooks fastened over the moulding form a convenient way of hanging pictures, etc., doing away with picture nails, and saving of breaking walls. They look richer and more attractive and are not expensive.

How to Estimate

The Quantity of Paper Required for a Room. 11

A DD THE LENGTH OF T&E TWO SIDES and ends together, which gives the distance around the room multiply by the height, which will give the number of square feet deduct from this 18 for each opening divide the remainder by 33,

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and the result will be the number of rolls of paper required. For ceiling, multifly the length by the width and divide by 33, which will give the number of rolls. All paper is sold by manufacturers and dealers by the single roll of S yards, 18 inches wide, but generally comes in double rolls.

Wall Paper Industry

Something About the Largest House in this Line in Terre Haute. HE TRAQUAIR WALL PAPER CO. is located at 654 Wabash Avenue. The industrial members o^ this company are Charles H. Traquair and Herman H. Witteubrock, both practical workmen, the name "practical" from having earned it by serving a four years' apprenticeship under the old regime of ideutured apprentice, when boys were taught their trades practically and not made full flfedged journeymen paper hangers in six months or a year, as under the present system. Mr. Traquair, the senior member of this house, learned his trade in the city of Philadelphia, one of the, greatest wall paper cities in the world, (as its paper hangers are known throughout the laud), serving a four years' apprenticeship under one of the best Known decorators in Philadelphia, William K. Henry, who is known to every decorator in the eastern country. The apprentice, those days, belonged to his instructor and employer, and was compelled to go to him for everything as he would a father. The wages received then were very low compared with some now paid to a boy starting to learn the trade. Mr. Traquair received for the first year's service thirty dollars, for the secoud year forty dollars, for the third year fifty dollars* aud for the fourth and last year sixty dollars and a suit of clothes worth one hundred dollars. There were linn a when he thought it was hard to get such smail wages for the amountof work he*was compelled to do, but he belonged to this man and he was learning his trade practically (which very few boys do nowadays), and when through his apprenticeship of four years, his employer made him foreman of his workmen at a salary of from sixty dollars per year to a salary of thirty dollars per week.* In fact his patience of four years was rewarded handsomely. After holding this position for a short time, he decided one day, after saving some monejr, he would go west and spend one year, saying to his relatives and friends, "I will see you one year from to day." This was in the fall of 1869. tJoing direct to

St. Louis, where he staid but

a short time, j^nd hearing of Terre Haute he stopped ofl' here and secured a position with Messrs. Brokaw Brothers with whom he was connected for ten or twelve years. This contract, made in February, 1890, between Messrs. Brokaw Brothers and Mr. Trnqnair resulted in very agreeable and pleasant relations, whioh is shown by the number of years ho remained with them, and in interviewing him lie speaks in the highest terms of pruit of his former employers. It was an up-hill fight, lie says, when he bepnu with the Messrs. Brokaw Brothers! as the paper-hai ing business was simply in its infancy at that time in 1 :is city, as such a thing as a papered ceiling was seld 11 known, as every celling wascalsomined or whitewafr- ed those days, and mostof the papers sold were of the eaper variety. There were but two firms handTng

.1 paper in the city at that time and for

several years afterwards. These firms were the -Messrs. Brokaw Brothers and Ryce's Carpet Hall. The latter had employed a first-class decorator and paperhanger by the year just before Mr. Traquair had come here and accepted the position with Brokaw Brothers. Each firm having a practical man at the bead of this department., there sprang up quite a rivalry between the two bouses aud their men for the supremacy for turning out the finest goods and best workmanship, which! resulted In favor of the Messrs. Brokaw Brothers by the diligent and faithful work of Mr. Trnqnair. It is a fact well known in the trade that Mr. Traquair is a man who believes in giving justice and credit to bis competitor whom ever be may be, therefore he says he was better at executing work than Mr. McManusof the Ryce Carpet Hall, while McManus had some advantage over him oy being a quicker designer, as he could readily sit down and sketch a design to suit ». space in a few moments, while Traquair took more time to do this.

A New Firm.

MESSRS.finally

TRAQUAIR AND MOMANUS aft«r live years of pulling and tugging against one another became mutual frtonds, and agreed to enter Into a partnership in the decor-.

ating line, which would have made a strong firm, but Mr. McManus was called to Baltimore and remained and finally was laid to rest there. This left Mr. Traquair as the only practical paperhanger in the city, when a' few years afterwards he started business for himself, in which he introduced all the latest ideas and novelties brought out by the manufacturers. In fact the citizens of Terre Haute should accord Mr, Traquair great praise as the instructor and educator in this great line of industry he and his company represents.

Herman H. Wittenbrock, the junior member of this company was born in this city and served hifi apprenticeship under his present partner, C. H. Traqoafr, and has been associated wiih Mr. Traquair ever since. Fifteen year* AS apprentice and journeyman paperhaoifer and six years as a partner, except one year spent in the east, where he went to get any new ideas that might be found in the decorative line. Mr. Wittenbrock has the management of the mechanical branch of the business and paperhangers employed, and is always introducing the latest and improved ideas for t|a© advancement of the business, all of which ideas are original with Mm, as be says he fails to see any good in an idea stolen or copied from another. There are many specimens of Mr. Wittenbrock's designs and handiwork to be found in our city, which show taste and skill combined with practibility, which is a great credit to himself and the firm he is a member of.

While we have tried to give you a brief sketch of the

Individual members of the Traquair Wall Paper Co., in conclusiorf would say they employ none but practical

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Wall Paper.

LINE IS UNUSUALLY LARGE and the assortment all that can be desired. The selections have been most carefully made, only the choicest colorings and best selling patterns of the leading manufacturers retained. Twenty-five years' experience warrants «a in making the assertion that no better line, if as good, has ever been exibited by any house, and all oflered to the public at the lowest possible prices. It makes no difference what inducements may be held out to you or prices quoted, we will meet all honorable competition and would respectfully solicit comparison of goods and prices In proof of the same. Promptness in the execution of all orders entrusted to' onr care is oar motto.

paperhangers to do tbeir work—men of standing and reputation in this particular line of art, whom, when sent into a private dwelling to complete a job of work,

return with a recommendation for treating the firm's customers gentlemanly and courteously and doing their work with neatness and dispatch. Among one of thin firm's expert paperhangers is to be found Mr. Dean A. Hicklin, well known to the public, who has been connected with this firm for fifteen years, also an apprentice of Mr. Traquair. This firm employs quite a number of, skilled workmen, and an erder entrusted to their care will well repay you, as the name of the Traquair Wall Paper Co. is widely known for the fin© stock they carry and excellent workmanship.