cess and therefore the yarn is taken to other
machines where it is drawn finer and where several of the fine
threads can be twisted into one. The spinners know just how many
fine threads to put together to get certain sizes of cotton. To
make number twelve, for example, they put together four strands of
what is called 48's that have been doubled, or perhaps 50's, since
the twist contracts the yarn.

After this has been twisted the proper number of times the thread
is passed over flannel-covered boards to be cleaned. Next it
travels through a small, round hole something like the eye of a
needle so that any knots or rough places can be detected. If the
threads are found to be strong and without flaws two to half a
dozen of them are put together in a loose skein and they are
twisted in a doubling machine. Afterward the thread is polished,
cleaned, and run off on spools or bobbins. That is the road
Mother's spools of cotton have to travel before they get to her.
How seldom we think of this or are grateful for it!

There are in addition other ways of preparing cottons for
embroidery, crocheting, or knitting, not to mention methods used to
finish cotton yarn so that it will look like woolen, linen, or silk
fiber. Because cotton is a cheaper material than any of these it is
often mixed with them to produce cheaper goods. You would be amazed
to see how ingenious manufacturers have become in turning out such
imitations. Cotton, for example, is mercerized by passing it very
rapidly through a gassing machine not unlike the flame of a Bunsen
burner. Here all the fuzz protruding from it is burned away, and
when polished and finished it looks so much like silk you would
have trouble in telling whether it was or not. This sort of yarn is
used to make imitation silk stockings and many other articles.

Now I have told you quite a story, haven't I? And no doubt I have
wasted good ink and paper doing it, for I presume Hal Harling could
have told you the same thing quite as well if not a deal better.
You read him this document and ask him to fill in the gaps. But at
least even if Hal can improve on my tale I have demonstrated one
thing and that is that I have remembered you whenever I have seen
anything I thought you would be interested in.

I send much love to each of the family. Tell Mary, Car