SILK FABRICS 141 



timi of it was from $100,000 to $200,000 per annum. 

 It> production persisted throughout the Revolution, 

 and even into this century. The chief reason of the 

 continuance of the business in Connecticut seems to 

 have been that th<- silk was used almost wholly in 

 domestic manufacture, and therefore did not need the 

 English market to keep it alive.* 



In most or .ill of the eastern states silk cul- 

 ture lias been undertaken, particularly in the colonial 

 period. Of the fabrics made of this silk, Mr. Brocketl 

 Bpeaks as follows: "We find instances, occasionally, 

 * of some delegate to the Colonial 

 mbly coming thither with a silk waistcoat or 

 handkerchiefs made from silk of his own raising, 

 and woven in his own house; or of some grand lady 

 appearing at a reception of the Colonial Cowrnor or 

 in a public assembly, clad in a gown woven from 

 native-grown silk. In either case, the fabrics were 

 greatly praised; yet it must be confessed that, a> 

 compared with the silks of our own time, they were 

 vir\ imperfect goods, and would be scouted by our 

 belles and beaux as unworthy to be worn." 



Tin "Multicaulis c, 



Although the interest in the growing of silk had 

 greatly Bubsided before the close of t h>- lasl century, 

 it had not completely died out. Here and there ;i 

 local interest survived, and carried over the memory 



wTinv ibonld eoi 



UtMriea," 1788, pnbUahad In I 



