232 THE CULTURE 



ing to the intended thicknefs of the thread, 

 a number of thefe ends are taken and 

 pafied together through a fmall loop of 

 wire, which proje6ls over the kettle, and 

 hinders the reel from pulling away the 

 pods ; the thread is then pafTed through a 

 wire-loop in a flick Vv^hich is called the 

 guide ; this ftick, by a contrivance which 

 ihall be defcribed hereafter, moves perpe- 

 tually forward and backward, fo as to hin- 

 der the thread from ever falling on the fame 

 part of the reel, by which means the feve- 

 ral rounds would be glued together, and 

 could never be winded off again. From 

 this guide-wire the thread is paiTed, and 

 made faft to the reel, which is turned by 

 one perfon, while another, fitting by the 

 kettle which contains the filkpods, perpe- 

 tually fupplies frelh ends according as they 

 break, wind off, or grow fmall. The 

 principal perfe61:ions of filk when reeled 

 otf are ; that the thread fliould be fmooth, 

 of equal thicknefs and If rength, not flat, 

 but of a round form, having the fmall 

 threads of which it is compofed as equally 

 flretched as can be attained, and as firmly 

 united 5 and laftly, that the feveral rounds 

 as they lie on the reel fhould not be glued 



together, 



