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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