The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, March 31, 1922, Image 7
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