CHAPTER XVI 



FLAX AND HEMP 



W 1 1 ILK listening to what Jacques was saying 

 about wool, Emile examined his handkerchief 

 attentively. He turned it over and over, felt it, 

 then looked through it. Jacques foresaw the ques- 

 tion Kmile was getting ready to ask him, and he 

 said : 



11 Handkerchiefs and linens are not woolen. Cer- 

 tain plants, cotton, hemp, flax, and not sheep, fur- 

 nish them; for, you see, I don't know much about 

 those things myself. I have heard tell of the cotton 

 plant, but have never seen it. And, besides, I am 

 afraid talking to you will make me cut the sheep's 

 skin." 



In the evening, at Jules's request, they took up the 

 history of the materials with which we clothe our- 

 selves, and Uncle Paul explained their nature. 



"The outside of hemp and flax is composed of long 

 threads, \ vry line, supple, and tenacious, from which 

 we manufacture our fabrics. We clothe ourselves 

 with the >p..ils of the sheep, we make ourselves line 

 with the bark of the plant. The fabrics of luxury, 

 cainhrie, tulle, gauze, point -lace, Mechlin lace, are 

 made from llax: the stronger ones, even to coarse 

 ing, are of hemp. The cotton plant gives us the 

 made of cotton. 



07 



