CHAPTER XXXIII. 
THE RISE OF COTTON MANUFACTURING 
From time immemorial cotton has been used in 
the manufacture of textile fabrics for man, 
furnishing clothing for his body and sundry home 
comforts. It was not until a century or two ago, 
however, that its use for this purpose began to 
assume large proportions. Many important dis- 
coveries had first to be made; many great inven- 
tions perfected, before cotton could be manufac- 
tured so as to supply human wants at a cost in 
labor commensurate with the value of the fabric 
made. 
But so important a fiber, with such tremendous 
opportunities for large production, was not long to 
go undeveloped and unused, when man, reaching 
that stage in civilization where he should have need 
for it, adopted it as a rich find; pressed it into 
service at once ; put his ever-ready genius to master 
the problems of its production, its culture, its 
manufacture, until the day should come when to 
it, more than to all other fibers combined, attention 
and skill and labor should be given. 
THE BEGINNINGS OF COTTON MANUFACTURE 
The first factory was the cottage home. Long 
before the coming of the cotton factory, cotton was 
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