THE STORY OF ARTIFICIAL SILK ee RE. Rothermere pointed out that Italy has thrown down the gauntlet to Lancashire. It is making the coarser and cheaper yarns, which will soon be much lower in price than cotton. At present, Artificial Silk stockings are universal. They are worn by the mill girls in Lancashire. They are no longer the privilege of the rich. They have been brought within the reach of almost every family. In feel and appearance and lustre and brilliance, the new Artificial Silk goods are now practically equal to the silkworm silk. Only a close scrutiny will enable you to tell the one from the other. Calling the new yarn “silk ” has given it an immense advantage. It keeps the prices at a higher level and increases the demand for the goods. When “ Bessemer ” iron was invented, it was called steel. It is not steel. It is, strictly Speaking, only air-refined iron. But it was called steel, and this helped very much to keep its price up and to increase the demand or it. fod