ow_. With large
numbers of little children in her own schoolroom, the author of this
manual has long sought a satisfactory answer. Believing that the results
of her study and experience will be helpful to others in suggesting
possibilities, and in stimulating thought, as well as in practical
teaching and time-saving, she sends forth this little book with the
earnest hope that it may in these ways be of real service.

ALICE W. COOLEY,

_Critic Teacher and Instructor,
University of North Dakota._

_August 1st, 1902._

HAND-LOOM WEAVING

Chapter One

THE PRIMITIVE LOOM

[Sidenote: _History of weaving_]

Weaving, the oldest of the industrial arts, dates back so far that no
one can say when or where it had its beginning. We read in Genesis iii,
21, that when Adam was driven from the Garden of Eden he wore a coat of
skin; but, not long after, according to Professor Hurwitz, the
descendants of Adam wore an upper garment called the simla, which
consisted of a piece of cloth about six yards long and two or three
wide, greatly resembling a blanket (_Ashenhurst_). This might have been
woven from vegetable fibres, perhaps from wool, but in what manner we do
not know. The warp and woof of linen and woolen garments is mentioned in
Leviticus xiii, 47, 48.

[Sidenote: _Dyeing_]

Spinning and weaving have been practised by the Chinese, Hindoos, and
Egyptians for thousands of years and carried by them to great
proficiency. The Israelites were probably familiar with the art of
weaving before their sojourn in Egypt, but it was there that they
attained the skill which enabled them to execute the hangings in the
Tabernacle. Joseph's "coat of many colors" is a proof that dyeing
existed at a very early period, and the eloquent writings of Ezekiel
tell us of the beautiful colored cloths of Tyre and Damascus.

[Sidenote: _Migration of weaving_]

From the ancient world the art of weaving passed through Europe and
became known in England after the Roman conquest. No doubt primitive
weaving with vegetable fibres, and perhaps with wool, was known in a
very crude way before that time. How the art developed, and how
improvement followed improvement, makes very interesting reading for the
student of textile fabrics.

[Sidenote: _Weaving as the first industrial art_]

We know that weaving is the first industrial art practised by primitive
people