A Catechism of Familiar Things | Page 8

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What is Cloth?
The word, in its general sense, includes all kinds of stuffs woven in the
loom, whether the threads be of wool, cotton, hemp, or flax.
To what is it more particularly applied?

To a web or tissue of woollen threads.
Web, any thing woven.
What is Wool?
The covering or hair of sheep. To prepare it for the weaver, it is first
shorn, washed, and dried, then carded or combed by machinery into
fibres or threads: formerly this was always performed by the hand, by
means of an instrument, called a comb, with several rows of pointed
teeth; this, though not much used now, is still occasionally employed,
except in large factories. This combing is repeated two or three times,
till it is sufficiently smooth and even for spinning. Spinning or
converting wool, or cotton, silk, &c. into thread, was anciently
performed by the distaff and spindle: these we find mentioned in sacred
history, and they have been used in all ages, and in all countries yet
discovered. The natives of India, and of some other parts of the world,
still employ this simple invention.
What was the next improvement?
The invention of the hand-wheel. In 1767, a machine called the
spinning-jenny was invented by a weaver named Hargreaves; but the
greatest improvement in the art of spinning was effected by Mr.
Arkwright, in 1768: these two inventions were combined, and again
improved upon in 1776; so that by the new plan, the material can be
converted into thread in a considerably shorter space of time than in the
ancient mode; leaving to man merely to feed the machine, and join the
threads when they break. The sheep, whose wool forms the material for
nearly all woollen clothing, came originally from Africa.
Does weaving differ according to the material used?
The principle of weaving is the same in every kind of fabric, and
consists in forming any kind of thread into a flat web, or cloth, by
interlacing one thread with another; the various appearances of the
manufacture arise as much from the modes in which the threads are
interwoven, as from the difference of material.

Is not the employment of Wool in the manufacture of Clothing of great
antiquity?
In the earliest records we possess of the arts of mankind, wool is
mentioned as forming a chief article in the manufacture of clothing; it
is spoken of in the Bible, as a common material for cloth, as early as
the time of Moses. The ancient Greeks and Romans are well known to
have possessed this art. At the beginning of the thirteenth century, the
manufacture was established in many parts of Europe, particularly in
Spain, from which country it extended itself to France and Italy. There
is no doubt that it was introduced into England by its conquerors the
Romans, a manufactory being established at Winchester, sufficiently
large to supply the Roman army.
Manufactory, a place where things are made or manufactured; derived
from the Latin manus, a hand, and the verb facio, to do or make.
What circumstance contributed to the progress of this manufacture
among the English?
In 1330, the English, being desirous of improving their woollen
manufacture, invited over the Flemings, by the offer of various
privileges, to establish manufactories there. The skill of these people
soon effected a great improvement in the English fabrics, so that there
no longer remained any occasion for the exportation of English wool
into Flanders, to be manufactured into fine cloth; and a law was passed
by the government to forbid it. Both the cotton and woollen
manufactures have, of late years, arisen to great importance in the
United States.
What country affords the best Wool?
The wool of Germany is most esteemed at the present day: that of
Spain was formerly the most valuable, but the Spanish breed of sheep,
having been introduced into Germany, succeeded better there than in
Spain, and increased so rapidly, that the Spanish wool trade has greatly
diminished. Australia is one of the principal wool-growing countries in
the world, for the breed of sheep sent out to that country and Tasmania

has succeeded remarkably well.
What part of the world is meant by Australia?
A British Island in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising the Colonies of
Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western
Australia. It is the principal of the group of large islands, in the Oriental
Archipelago. Tasmania is another of the same group, separated from
New South Wales by a channel called Bass's Strait, and also belongs to
Great Britain.
What is meant by an Archipelago?
A part of a sea studded with numerous islands; but the term is more
particularly applied to that lying between Europe and Asia, which
contains the Greek Islands. The word is a corruption