Britain at Work
A Pictorial Description of Our National Industries

24 BRITAIN AT WORK. we shall now see how the handkerchief begins its existence as a separate entity by being cut from the web. The same pro- cess is gone through in the case of a collar, a pair of cuffs, a shirt, or any other article of garment. From the cutting department its next ordeal is to pass into the hands of the hemstitchers. If the handkerchief is a plain one without any ornamentation, we have now almost reached the end of its history. Let us suppose, however, that it is one of the elegant embroidered mouchoirs so highly esteemed by the ladies of high society; then back again it goes from the city factory to revisit once more the scenes of rural bliss. Week by week to the factory come hundreds of women—youthful, middle-aged, and old— to fetch handkerchiefs, tea-cloths, etc., which require to be embroidered or have lace in- serted, shirts, collars, and cuffs to be button- holed. Next week they will return them with the necessary buttonholing or em- broidering completed, when the farmer’s cart —their own or that of a kindly neighbour— is coming to Belfast market. So our hand- kerchief has now returned to the factory, beautifully embroidered by its country jaunt. The handkerchief looks a little bit limp and crushed after its embroidering operation. But the fatigue is only temporary. Up in the washing department a white-aproned maid receives it carefully. So into the bath it goes, and no bath attendant could be more scrupulously careful in looking after her charge. Out of the bath into the drying closet it progresses ; and then, to assume the stiff- ness of pride befitting the dignity of an embroidered handkerchief of the distinguished Belfast house, enters the ironing department. Surely never handkerchief ever underwent such toilette as this. But the end is almost in view. Away high up, near the roof, tasteful hands have prepared a dainty morocco travelling casket which will just accommodate our hand- kerchief and five companions, as like each other as can be. A blue ribbon gives the finishing touch, and to-morrow the soul of the pretty blue-flowered flax plant we saw growing in an Ulster field is on its way to far Japan or down-under Melbourne. We might have traced the history of a collar, a serviette, or a tablecloth, for that matter. Their development is akin to that of the handkerchief. This is the work which goes on every day in the vicinity of Belfast that the world may have its linen cloth ; and though other countries try hard to rob Ireland of the honour of being the chief linen centre of the earth, not one of its competitors can turn out linen so well, so cheaply, and so beautiful. Alfred S. Moore. IRISH PEASANT WOMAN AT WORK EMBROIDERING LINEN.