THE STORY OF ARTIFICIAL SILK 
the closest examination. They were well 
made, but rather stiff to the touch. *‘ Three 
days’ rain would ruin them,’’ said a spectator. 
There was a pretty blouse, trimmed with 
blue insertion. There was a night-dress with 
lace collar and cuffs. And there were three 
handsome table-cloths in three colours. 
One garment only—a sort of white shroud— 
was evidently of paper; but even it was 
crinkled in such a way that it resembled linen 
at a distance. The maker's name was Herr 
Grunfeld, of Berlin. 
The whole exhibit was treated as a joke by 
the London Press. One London reporter, on 
an evening paper, paraded the street in one 
of these ‘‘ paper suits.” And one London 
tailor said that ‘““no British working man 
could possibly get any satisfaction or warmth 
out of a paper suit at any price.” 
This was only eight or nine years ago. It 
shows the attitude of mind that had to be 
overcome by the makers of Artificial Silk. 
At the time, I wrote: ‘That pair of 4s. 
trousers is an omen—a warning that ought 
not to be ignored’; but I was laughed at, 
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