576 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[September 1, 1912. 



Prospects of floor coverings in general are AN EXAMPLE OF SOUTH AMERICAN CIVILITY. 



Baptismal Pants. 



ries of the country, 

 reported good. 



Interviews with the heads of a number of large city retail 

 carpet and rug houses indicate that, in their opinion, the sale 

 of colored rubber matting and mats will in 1912 make a large 

 gain over the sales of the past year. The president of a whole- 

 sale and retail carpet house says that the year 

 of 1911 showed sales of about 125,000,000 

 yards of all kinds of carpets by all dealers. 

 He estimates that the year's sales of rubber 

 matting and tiles, in colors, were not abive 

 2,500,000 yards. When it is considered that 

 there are 14,567 stores in the United States 

 that retail carpets, matting and rugs, and that 

 only a few of these push the sales of deco- 

 rated rubber matting and tiles, the thought 

 is obvious that the field for increasing the 

 consumption of these products is one in 

 which much missionary can be done with 

 profit. 



While on the subject of rubber in churches, 

 there is another interesting way in which 

 rubber is employed, which, while somewhat 

 removed from flooring, is distinctly a church 

 use and worthy of consideration. The rite 

 of baptism by immersion, as practiced by 

 Baptists and several other denominations, and 

 also by the two branches of Latter Day 

 Saints — otherwise called Mormons — accounts 

 for a small but fast growing branch of the making of india rub- 

 ber clothing. Baptists in the United States and Canada have 

 58,000 churches and 44.000 ministers. The number of baptismal 

 office india rubber suits used by these ministers is estimated at 

 37,000. There are. several patterns. That which is most in use 

 consists of a pair of boots and trunk hose in one piece that 

 comes to six inches above the waist line, and a long coat wide 

 in the skirts, that when on the person is shaped something like 

 a military cape overcoat. The color in greatest request, at least 

 among the younger members of the clergy, is cream or ecru. 

 The Mormons use the same patterns, and the colors are light 

 brown, ecru or red. In baptisms in rivers or lakes it is the usual 

 custom of the Mormon missionary to don a red india rubber 

 suit, the color being symbolical of the blood of Christ. 



In a considerable number of large Baptist churches in eastern 

 and western cities, candidates for baptism who are in delicate 

 health, acting under medical advice, don india rubber suits when 

 being baptized. These suits are provided by the church, and are 

 almost like tlie suit worn by the clergyman. 



In thousands of instances, the baptismal tanks in the churches 

 are provided with rubber covered steps. Where the tanks are 

 of wood they are, in most instances, covered with compounds 

 high in rubber content. Following the sacrament of baptism by 

 immersion as performed in thousands of churches, the candidates, 

 after the immersion, are escorted out of the tank to the plat- 

 form at the top thereof (which is covered with an india rubber 

 mat to protect the carpet from dripping water) and there fulfil 

 the remainder of the offices appointed for concluding the service. 

 Some of these mats are as large as 20 feet by 40 feet. 



The various branches of the Greek Catholic Church baptize by 

 immersion. In Europe and Asia the Greek clergy never wear 

 india rubber suits when baptizing, but in this country most of 

 these priests have adopted when performing baptism, a suit some- 

 what like that worn by Baptist ministers, but belted in at the 

 waist, and the coat part shaped like a cassock and surplice as 

 worn by Roman Catholic and Episcopal clergymen. 



TN Inistle, prevalence of automobiles, height of skyscrapers, and 

 ^ in the number of malefactors of great wealth, Xufth Americans 

 undoubtedly have the advantage of their neighbors to the south, 

 but when it comes to fine traits of courtesy the South Americans 

 can teach us much. 



Here is a case in point. 



Two years ago the editor of The India Rubber World had the 

 pleasure of attending a rubber conference at Manaos. As it was 

 known that he had traveled quite extensively through rubber 

 plantation countries, he was asked to deliver some lectures on 

 plantations and other rubber subjects. This he did, accompanying 

 his remarks with lantern slide pictures. The warmth of his 

 welcome and the obvious appreciation of his audiences more than 

 repaid him for his eflForts. In this country an event of that sort 

 usually receives a vote of thanks, and then is immediately wiped 

 off the slate, and passes from memory. 



But in Brazil things are done differently. A writer in a recent 

 number of the "Monthly Review," published by the Amazonas 

 Commercial Association, apropos of the selection of the editor to 

 act as chairman at the Rubber Exposition Conference, delivered 

 himself of this kindly, not to say glowing, eulogium, which a 

 thoughtful friend has forwarded to this office. If it were sub- 

 mitted to the editor, he undoubtedly would protest that it was 

 absolutely undeserved ; but that is not the point. The point is 

 this, that a small favor should two years after its performance 

 still be so pleasantly remembered and be repaid with such a 

 warm encomium. The tribute is entitled, "Terceira Exposicao 

 Internacional de Boreacha, 1912. Uma homenagem ao Dr. 

 H. C. Pearson," which being interpreted signifies "The Third 

 International Exposition, 1912. A Tribute, to Dr. H. C. Pearson," 

 and the writer continues, according to our conscientious trans- 

 lator, as follows : 



"The Third International Rubber Exposition is to be held in 

 New York from September 23 to October 3 of this year. To the 

 position of vice-president Dr. H. C. Pearson, Editor of The India 

 Rubber World, has been elected. 



"The choice is most fitting. Dr. Pearson combines in himself 

 all the qualities necessary to fill the position in the brilliant way 

 that it calls for, and his election to the post gives us once more 

 an opportunity to bear witness in these columns to our apprecia- 

 tion of our distinguished colleague. 



"The London "'limes' also yields to none in its homage to Dr. 

 Pearson. On the occasion of the First India Rubber Exposition 

 in 1908, as is well known, the great London daily devoted to him 

 a long and brilliant editorial, in just recognition and criti- 

 cism of his valuable work. What the 'Times' has said ex- 

 pressses exactly the truth. 



"The propaganda to which it refers was not limited to matters 

 of interest to The India Rubber World. The editor's voyages 

 of research have not merely a technical flavor; they show the 

 spirit of one who delights in combining in his writings sound 

 observations and ideas. 



"The 'Congresso Commercial Industrial e_ Agricola' of 1910 

 brought Dr. Pearson as our visitor in Manaos. Everyone has 

 pleasant recollections of his lectures to select audiences in the 

 Theatre Amazonas. Illustrated by lantern view?, they were in- 

 tended to arouse our attention to the progress and huge growth 

 of the rubber industry, and of rubber planting in the Far East. 



"The pointing out of the dangers which threaten us, tho com- 

 petition from Asia, which possesses powers capable of over- 

 throwing the supremacy of Amazon rubber in the consuming 

 markets, has been the great aim of Dr. Pearson's labors fur many 

 years. To see the immensity of his services to this jonntry in 

 this respect, it is only necessary to glance through the volumes of 

 The India Rubber World. 



"The occasion of this new appointment should be taken ad- 

 vantage of by us to mark in a fitting manner our appreciation of 

 Dr. Pearson." 



A book for rubber planters— Mf. Pearson's "What I Saw in 

 the Tropic's."- 



IMPOETS OF AMAZON RUBBER DURING THREE MONTHS. 



During the first three months of 1912 the United States im- 

 ported rubber fronrv Para to"«he value of $6,512,165, and from 

 Manaos to the value of $6,200,435. 



