TIIE NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
0fi4mdl Home
- , ,
Chinese Potter at His Wheel.
(Prepared by the National acographlc So
ciety, Washington, D. C.)
The greatest Industrial city of China
Is Chlng-teh-chcn, n place which per
hnpa not one American in a hundred
has heard of. But when It Is added
that this out-of-the-way place, 300
miles inland and without rail connec
tions, Ih the original home of the porce
lain Industry of the world nnd still the
great Chinese center of the Industry,
the town takes on a certain signifi
cance. There are few cities In America or
Hurope that are so completely given
over to a single Industry as this one.
Though the methods of production are
primitive, the city must still he classed
us an Industrial center. It is a rare
prlvllego to visit this conservative but
Interesting old place nnd see with one's
own eyes the fascinating process of
pottery making from beginning to end.
Chlnnware! What does the word
connote? Simply n ware made of clay
and nnmed for the country that first
produced It. Whether It be a green
tile from a temple roof, n dish, a vase,
or a painted ornament from a wealthy
celestial's home, It all has a traceable
connection with Ghlng-teh-chen. With
the Chinese, Chlng-teh-chcn nnd por
celain are synonymous.
In order to get n fair understanding
of the situation, It will first be neces
sary to let the reader know the lo
cution of this place nnd something of
the dlfllcultles In reaching It.
After locating Shanghai on the map
of China, one should trace his way up
the Yangtze river to Kiuklang, south
of which lies Po Yang lake. The quick
est and surest way of reaching Chlng-teh-chen
Is to proceed from Kiuklang
to Nnnchang, the capital of the prov
ince, by rail. This trip can be made
In a day, barring accidents, though the
distance Is only 00 miles. In prospect
It does not seem a difficult task to
cover the distance between Nanchang
nnd Chlng-teh-chen, 120 miles, but In
reality the trip requires more time
thnn It tnkes to travel from Snn Fran
cisco to New York. One must cross
the enst end of Po Yang Inke and then
push his way up the North river Into
tho heart of the mountains, to a point
not far from the Anhwel border.
"Town of Scenic Virtue."
The first view of Chlng-teh-chen
from an approuchlng boat, with the
smoke Issuing from the chimneys of
scores of kilns, is an amazing one.
The city Is located between the mouths
of two rivers which How Into tho North
river, one from the cast and one from
tho west. The town Is naturally sup
plied with an abundance of fresh wa
ter, the clenrness of which stands out
in vivid contrast to the muddy yellow
ness of the Yangtze and of Po Yang
lake.
Iieautlful hills completely surround
the city, those on the east rising to n
liulght of nbout two thousand feet.
The river banks are dotted with pine
nnd camphor trees, while occasional
groves of bamboo In lighter green add
u charm and beauty difficult to de
scribe. Chlng-teh-chen ("Town of Scenic
Virtue") is one of the four largest
towns (as distinguished from cities)
of China. Technically, It Is a town,
because It has no wall. In reality It
is a busy Industrial city of 300,000
people, two-thirds of whom are en
gaged In the manufacture nnd sale of
porcelain. Itomantlcally, It Is a city
to stir men's souls. Longfellow, In his
"Kernmos," speaks of It. Historical
ly, It dates back to the Han dynasty,
220 A. D during which period wo find
the first records of the production of
porcelain In China, though earthen
ware vessels were probably produced
some centuries enrller.
Two main streets, about three miles
long nnd conforming to the contour of
tho river, comprise tho prlnclpul
thoroughfares.
The city Is nbout a mile wide. Fur
naces, warehouses, shops, nnd homes
are crowded together In a hopeless
tangle. Great mounds of chipped and
defective porcelain, clay .chips and
broken dishes aro piled high along tho
river bank. In fnct, one first notices
theso pieces of porcelain in tho bed of
the stream several mites below the
city, waFhed down by high water.
Theso dumps must bo 30 or 40 feet
thick. They represent the accumu
lated ofTcastlngs of tho kilns for cen
turies. Thero are now between 150
nnd 200 big yellow chimneys in the
city. It Is snld that Chlng-teh-chen
In her most flourishing days boasted
several thousand kilns.
Most Conservative of Cities.
The most unusual feature of the
city of Porcelain Is Its conservatism.
"Iiu k'alt'ung" (not open to commu
nications) Is heard on every hand.
Although China Is the home of the
printing press, there is not u single
newspaper, either dally or weekly,
published In this city of more than a
quarter of n million Inhabitants. Tho
reason given for this unprogrcsslve
stnte of affairs Is that the magis
trates have always opposed the
press, on the one hand because they
are afraid of its political lnllucnce,
and on the other because of the finan
cial support that would be involved.
Chlng-teh-chen Is devoid of electric
lights nnd telephones. The few rick
shaws which now facilitate communi
cations are fighting for existence. A
number of worklngmen's guilds hnve
petitioned tho chnmbcr of commerce
to abolish the rickshaws on the ground
that they Interfere with traffic.
The geographical location of Chlng-teh-chen
is not accidental. It became
the pottery center of the country cen
turies ago because of the enormous
quantities of excellent clays In the
district around Po Yang lake. All of
these clays aro brought to Chlng-teh-chen
in the form of soft, white bricks
by smnll, flat-bottomed boats. Thou
sands of Chinese boatmen are engaged
In this work.
After the clays are thoroughly
cleansed, sifted, nnd refined they are
kneaded together In varying propor
tions, usunlly by a barefooted boy, un
til they are ready for the potter. The
wet lump of clay is then placed on
the knob of the potter's wheel.
The potter Is perched above the
wheel, with one foot on either side,
In order to allow sufficient space for
the movement of his hnnds. After re
volving the wheel swiftly with n short
pole, ho deftly nnd with mechanical
precision fashions a plate, bowl, or
vase. After years of practice he can
estimate to within a hair's breadth the
proper ?izo.
The piece Is then removed nnd
plnced on a long tray in front of the
potter, where it awaits the next ar
tisan. Ilnndlcs and other decorations,
mndo in molds, are added, and then
tho whole Is scraped smooth nnd al
lowed to dry until it Is ready for the
next process the under-glaze decor
ation. Sovernl basic colors, like blue nnd
red, can bo painted on under the glaze.
The glaze is next npplled in various
ways by dipping, by blowing on with
n tube, or by sprinkling. After the
mark has been added tho piece is
ready for tho furnace.
Firing the Porcelain.
Porcelain plnced In the kiln to be
fired has to be protected In strong,
cylindrical clay vessels, called saggers.
These trays can be used from three
to six times before they are ready for
the scrap heap on the river bunk.
Every piece of porcelain, as It is set
into the sngger, Is placed on n small,
round, clay chip, sprinkled with straw
ashes. This prevents the fusing to
gether of the two pieces.
Tho fuel for tho furnaces at Chlng-teh-chen
Is of two kinds straw nnd
wood. Conl has been tried, but It was
found that Its fumes discolored tho
porcelain, and accordingly its use was
discontinued. Straw Is used to burn
only the conrser ware.
Tho kilns aro large, egg-shaped
ovens of brownish brick, fifty feet long
nnd twelve feet high at tho highest
point. Uecnuse of tho intense hear,
both the kilns nnd the chimneys must
be rebuilt annually.
Thero- Is no unemployment in
Chlng-teh-chen. Work Is plentiful, but
Industrial conditions are bad. Long
hours, poor food, no rest days, nnd un
sanitary living conditions cause a great
deal of dissatisfaction among tho la
borers. Wages range from ten cents to one
dollar per day, varying not nccordlng
to the number of hours, but nccordlng
to tho number nnd qunllty of the
pieces produced. Hut no artisan must
work too long. If a man Ib found do
ing too much nnd working beyond
the time limit, ho is set upon by hlr
fellow workers nnd severely beaten.
'Che.
(Copy for Thin Department flupptled by
the American Lesion Newa Service.)
HE LOST BOTH HANDS IN WAR
Paul Dazaar, Rochester (N. Y.) Legion
Man, Given Special Consideration
by President Harding. ,
"My boy," snld Senntor Harding, In
October, 1018, "if thero Is ever any
thing I can do for
you, write mo or
nsk me." So Paul
Bazaar, of Ito-.
Chester, N. Y
who had both
hands blown off
during tho war,
waited until the
senator beenmo
the President,
nnd then asked
him to help htm
got n Job. nar
d i n g suspended
the civil service rules, making a spe
cial case of it, and Bnzaar Is now
employed by the Veterans' burcnu,
nnd is punching n typewriter (nunt
system) nt a great rate of speed with
his artlflclnl hands.
In n letter to comrades In tho
American Legion, Bnzaar said: "I
have taken my draw with a grin;
thnt same grin Is still with me. I have
found tho sledding exceedingly rocky
nt times, but my philosophy of n
smile and no worry, coupled with nn
Insatiable desire to get somewhere,
hnve helped mo surmount most of my
difficulties."
Premature explosion of a defective
hnnd grenade nt Fort St. Mange,
France, was responsible for the loss
of Bnznar's hands. He Is equipped
with a complicated double hook at
tached to tho stump of his right arm
which enables him to write legibly,
drive an nutomoblle, nnd nttend to
all his personal needs unassisted.
LEGION POST AT WEST POINT
Andrew Rheude, a Sergeant, Heads
Organization in the Country's
Greatest School for War.
In the heart of tho country's great
est school for war, a post of the Amer
ican Legion flour
ishes and cele
brates peace.
West Point is the
homo of tho Stew
art Whiting Hoo
ver post, which is
under commnnd
of one of earth's
glorious species,
a h 1 g h-ranklng
non-com.
Andrew Rheu
de, " n sergeant,
was chosen from
a roster of 75 officers nnd 800 enlisted
men to lead the post, nnd under his
guiding hand it is being built up into
an organization which promises to bo
come one of the lending Legion units
of the Empire state.
Named for Stewart Whltlhg Hoover,
tho first officer from West Point to
make the supreme sacrifice In tho war,
tho post was organized In 1020 by en
listed men. The retiring commander
Is also a sergeant Joseph Grady and
he claims credit for having built up
tho post from 15 members to Its pres
ent enrollment of 375.
CENSUS OF EX-SERVICE MEN
Five Million Questionnaires to Be Used
In Obtaining Views on Compen
sation Drive.
A nation-wide census of ex-service
men will bo taken by tho American
Legion. Five million questionnaires
have been printed for use in the Le
gion's "service nnd "compensation"
drive, which will aim toward the com
pilation of vitnl statistics and which
should afford a definite indication of
the exnet cost of providing compensa
tion to nil veterans.
Tho various state organizations of
the Legion will conduct their drives
separately, and nt their own date.
Every man interviewed by tho census
taker will be informed of tho five op
tions of the pending compensation bill
nnd be asked to signify his attitude
toward tho mensure and his choice of
tho five features. He will also record
whether he was over wounded, gassed,
or suffered an injury in service. As
sistance will bo provided in filing com
pensation claims, and all ex-soldiers
will bo urged to carry government in
surance. Tho Legion's plan for a rotating loan
fund will be explained, and every man
Interviewed will be asked whether ho
would be willing to turn over his com
pensntlon toward such a fund for the
relief of needy service men.
True Talk.
It was during tho impaneling of
Jury in a New England town thnt tho
following colloquy occurred between
the maglstrato and a talesman:
"You nro a property holder?"
"Yes, your honor."
"Married or single?"
"I have been married for live years,
your lionor."
"Hnve you formed or expressed any
opinion?"
"Not for five years, your honor."
American Ecgion Weekly.
HAD NO "COMEBACK" TO THAT
Marine's Wlnterfleld Uniform Scored
Heavily on the Khaki Which
Started the Controversy.
The marine's threo uniforms hung
Bide by side underneath his clothing
eholf: ono wlntcrlleld, one bluo nnd
one khnki. Suddenly the khaki uul
form 'grow critical.
"You look protty green," it snld to
the wlnterfleld.
Tho wlnterfleld uniform innde no re
riy. "And that outfit right next to you
must bo downhearted It looks so
blue," tho khaki uniform went on.
Tho wlnterfleld then spoko up: "I
might bo green," it snld, "and that
outfit right next to mo might have the
'blues,' but doggono your hide you'ro
yellow I"
The khaki uniform piped down.
Tho Leatherneck.
WOMEN HEED SWAMP-ROOT
Thousands of women havo kidney and
bladder trouble and never suspect it.
Women's complaints often prove to be
nothing else but kidney trouble, or the
result of kidney or bladder disease.
If tho kidneys are not in a healthy
condition, they may causo the other or
gans to becomo diseased.
Pain in the back, headache, loss of am
bition, nervousness, are often times symp
toms of kidney trouble.
Don't delay starting treatment. Dr.
Kilmer's Swamp-Root, a physician's pre
scription, obtained at any drug store, may
be just tho remedy needed to overcomo
such conditions.
Get a medium or large size bottle Im
mediately from any drug store.
However, if you wish first to test this
great preparation send ten cents to Dr.
Kilmer & Co., Binghamton, N. Y., for a
sample bottle. When writing bo sure and
mention this paper. AdvortlBoment.
Jud Tunklns.
Jud Tuuklns says ho wishes ho
could put as much patient endurunco
into some of his Inter undertakings as
ho showed as n boy when ho was learn
ing to smoke a pipe.
Important to Mothers
Examine carefully every bottlo of
CASTORIA, thnt famouB old remedy
for infanta and children, and see that it
Unnrn tlin
Signature otCZxM&k
In Ueo for Over 80 Ycara.
Children Cry for Eletchcr's Castoria
Really Something of a Mystery.
"Lawyers," said Uncle Eben, "mos'ly
neks so unpleasant cross-cxamluln'
folks dnt I can't seo how so mnny of
'em gits popular enough to be elected
to offices."
Slim Missed Something.
The company clerk had been repri
manded by the first sergeant on sev
eral occasions, and he was beginning
to have a chronic grouch. One evening
he came into tho company quarters
looking gloomier than ever.
"Whatsa matter, Slim?" asked his
buddy. "You musta been bavin' Bome
more hard luckl"
"Hnrd luck?" said Slim. "I'll say I
had hard luck. The company com
mander came around this morning nnd
bawled out tho top, and I wasn't there
to hear it." The Leatherneck.
Reform Urgently Needed.
Imagine living on a street without a
name and In n house without n num
ber 1 If you uro a writer, Imaglno
waiting for a check from a magazlno
in such n residence I That Is the pro
dlcnmcnt thnt certain Parisians are
In who live in such a street near the
Ourcq cannl. The city government for
got to give it a name, and tho only
numbers on tho house are those put
up by residents who sometimes dupli
cate each other's numbers. Now tho
nntlves arc becoming aroused nbout It.
The lot of tho poor postman must bo a
difficult one ns he gazes at a letter ad
dressed to "Monsieur Plerro Bergerct,
tho third rlghthnnd house In tho little
street two blocks to tho right of tho
Ourcq ns you walk south."
WRiGLEYS
AFTER EVERY MEAL
Select your food wisely, chew it well,
and use WRIGLEY'S after every meal
Your stomach will thank you.
It is both a benefit and a treat good,
and good for you.
And, best of all, the cost is small.
TRY THIS
NEW ONE
Sugar jacket "melts
in your mouth" and
gum. center remains
to give you all the
usual Wrigley'a
benefits.
WHY SOME MEN LEAVE HOME
This Kind of Thing, Served Up Dally,
Would Drive Almost Anyone From
His Loved Fireside.
"George, dear," cried wlfey from tho
bedroom, "huvo you ehut tho dining
room window?"
"Yes, love."
"Put the pinto busket behind tho
bookense?"
"Urn I"
"Have you put tho dog out?"
"Yes."
"Suro you bolted tho scullery door?"
"Sure."
"Turned off tho gas in the cellar?"
"Yes, precious."
"Wound the clock?"
"Yes, dnrllng."
"Brought In tho mat from the
porch?"
"I hnve, my ownest."
"Have you locked up tho wine?"
"Yes, yes, my sweetheart. I havo
done even that."
"Well, there's no need to get wild
nbout It. Why enn't you como to bed
at some decent hour? What on earth
have you been doing down there nil
this time?" London TIt-Ults.
-To find fault Is easy; to do better
may bo difficult.
Prove all things, and hold fnst to
that which is good.
A Carver.
The new boarder shyly took his scat
at Mrs. SImpklns' tabl6.
"May I ask, Blr," sold tho old board
er, "what your occupation Is?"
"Oh, 1 am a sculptor," replied th
newcomer.
"You enrvo marble, do you?" pur
sued the veteran.
"1 do."
"Then," continued tho other, "I nee
you will be n valuable acquisition in
this happy house. Do you mind com
ing up to this end of tne table and
carving the fowl?"
Imaginative.
Tho youngster who asked his father
why God hadn't given tho zebra etnas
ns well us stripes has n match in the
llttlo girl who wrote this description
of the Ark:
"Overhead was a gorgeouB rainbow
nnd beneath it tho little Ark rode
proudly over tho waters, with smoke
pouring from her smokestnek nnd the
Uultcd States flag flying nt the bow."
Uoston Transcript.
Idle to Borrow Trouble.
Sorrow comes soon enough without
despondency. It docs n man no good
to ctirry around a lightning rod to nt
tract trouble. Aughey. i
.i
True friendship will survive tho tell
ing of the same old anecdote over and'
over ngnln.
Wishing for sleep
is a poor way to get it
A LITTLE wisdom in the daytime
"r Is a better assurance of rest than
any amount of anxious wishing when
nerves are a-jangle at night.
What you do at noon often has
more influence on sleep than what you
want and hope for, at midnight.
Coffee's drug element, caffeine,
whips up the nerves, and when its
use is continued there's usually a pen
alty which no amount of mental effort
can avoid.
The pan of wisdom, as so many
thousands have found, is
to turn away from nerve
stimulation and adopt
rich, delicious Postum ns
Hml the mealtime drink.
M Postum dellehts the
taste, but brings no dis-
Jm
tew IPS
turbance to nerve3 or digestion. Even
the little children can share in the en
joyment of Postum at any meal.
It's better to anticipate warnings
than to be driven by them.
It's better to encourage and pre
serve sound nerves and complete
health than to listen to the clock ticks
at night and say, "I wish I"
You can get Postum wherever
good food or drink is sold and served.
An order today may be the beginning,
for you, of the great satisfaction and
comfort which so many others have
found in Postum.
Your grocer has both forms: Instant Postum
(in tins) made Instantly in the cup by the
addition of boiling water. Postum Cereal (in
packages of larger bulk, for those who prefer
to make the drink while the meal is being pre
pared) made by boiling for 20 mlnuua.
Postum for Health'There's a Reason"
Made by Postum Cereal Co., Inc., DatUe Creak, Mich.
t