CHAPTER XXII 



BLEACHING 



217. The beauty and the commercial value of uncolored 

 fabrics depend upon the purity and perfection of their white- 

 ness ; a man's white collar and a woman's white waist must 

 be pure white, without the slightest tinge of color. But all 

 natural fabrics, whether they come from plants, like cotton 

 and linen, or from animals, like wool and silk, contain more 

 or less coloring matter, which impairs the whiteness. This 

 coloring not only detracts from the appearance of fabrics 

 which are to be worn uncolored, but it seriously interferes with 

 the action of dyes, and at times plays the dyer strange tricks. 



Natural fibers, moreover, are difficult to spin and weave 

 unless some softening material such as wax or resin is rubbed 

 lightly over them. The matter added to facilitate spinning 

 and weaving generally detracts from the. appearance of the 

 uncolored fabric, and also interferes with successful dyeing. 

 Thus it is easy to see that the natural coloring matter and the 

 added foreign matter must be entirely removed from fabrics 

 destined for commercial use. Exceptions to this general fact 

 are sometimes made, because unbleached material is cheaper 

 and more durable than the bleached product, and for some 

 purposes is entirely satisfactory ; unbleached cheesecloth and 

 sheeting are frequently purchased in place of the more 

 expensive bleached material. Formerly, the only bleaching 

 agent known was the sun's rays, and linen and cotton were 



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