i 



COATS AND CAPES. 307 



inherent quality in the gum to cause perspiration more than in 

 other kinds of gum, or more than in fabrics made water-proof 

 with oil. It not unfrequently happens that the purchaser of 

 a coat will return with it, protesting that it leaks, after having 

 labored hard with it, on, in moderate weather. The same thing 

 happens with sportsmen in regard to the boots of this manu- 

 facture ; nor can they be convinced, until, upon filling them with 

 water, they become satisfied that water cannot get out, and, 

 therefore, that it cannot get in. As it sometimes happens, the 

 article may leak from being badly manufactured, or from its being 

 damaged ; the above is therefore always a proper test for ascer- 

 taining the facts in the case. 



The foregoing remarks apply to water- proof gum-elastic wear- 

 ing apparel only. Gum-elastic has heretofore been valued for 

 wearing apparel, chiefly, on account of its water-proof quality. 

 It has been taken for granted that no improvement could be 

 made in ordinary wearing apparel with it, and that none was 

 desirable ; but whoever considers the expense of time, labor, and 

 money requisite for persons, especially for the laboring classes, 

 to be at all times neatly and comfortably clad, must admit that 

 if any new material could be substituted, which combines dura- 

 bility and neatness with facility of being cleansed, it would add 

 greatly to the comfort and welfare of mankind. It is confidently 

 believed that this desirable object will be attained by the use of 

 the porous and napped gum-elastic fabrics for ordinary wear- 

 ing apparel. 



COATS AND CAPES 



These are made of coated cloths or felt. They are made the 

 most completely water-proof at the factories of the licensees,* 

 but they are sometimes made up with the needle from the fabrics 

 obtained in the market, and are made nearly or quite water- 

 proof, when welted in the manner described, page . The 



• Union Company, both at Harlem, New York, and at Naugatack, Conn. 



