Part 22

Copyright American Woolen Co.

FULLING CLOTH

Copyright American Woolen Company

FINISH PERCHING]

Copyright American Woolen Company

FINISHED CLOTH, READY FOR THE TAILOR]

In the dry finishing the cloth is finished with various kinds of finishes desired, and it is steamed, brushed, sheared and pressed. Another examination for any imperfections or defects follows; the cloth is measured, packed and tagged and is ready for the market.

The difference between worsteds and woolens is principally that in the threads or yarns from which worsteds are made the fibres of the wool lie parallel, one to another, being made from combed wool, from which the short fibres have been removed; and woolens are made from yarns in which the fibres cross and are matted and intermixed. When finished the effect of worsteds and woolens is materially different. Upon examination it will be found that the worsted thread resembles a wire in evenness, while the woolen thread is uneven and irregular.

A worsted fabric when finished has a clear, bright, well defined pattern, seems close and firmly woven, and is of a pronounced dressy effect; while woolen cloths are softer, they are more elastic, the colors are more blended, the threads are not so easily distinguishable and the general effect is duller.

Why Can’t We See in the Dark?

We cannot see in the dark because there is no light to see by. To understand this we must first understand that when we see a thing, as we generally say, we do not actually see the thing itself, but only the light coming from it. But we have become so used to saying that we see the thing itself that for all practical purposes we can accept that as true, although it is not scientifically exact. Scientifically speaking, we see that part of the sunlight or other light which is shining upon it, which the object is able to reflect.

If there were no air about us we could not hear any sounds, no matter how much disturbance people or things created, because it requires air to cause the sound waves which produce sound, and air also to carry the sound waves to our ears. In the same way, if there is no light to produce light rays from any given object to our eyes, we can see nothing. It requires light waves to produce the reflections of objects to our eyes. Without light our eyes and their delicate organs are useless. You cannot see yourself in a mirror when the quicksilver which was once on the back of the glass has been removed, because there is then nothing to reflect the light. We can only see things when there is light enough about to reflect things to our eyes. When it is dark there is no light, and that is the reason we cannot see anything in the dark.

Why Can Cats and Some Other Animals See in the Dark?

They cannot see in the real dark any more than human beings. These animals can find their way in the dark and can see more than a human being, because of one distinct difference in their eyes, which may for them be considered an advantage. The pupils of their eyes can be made much larger, and they can, therefore, let more light into their eyes than people. The result is that when it is so dark that you cannot see a thing and you decide it is really dark, the cat can still see, because there is always a little more light left and she can open the pupils of her eyes and make them larger, thus letting in more light, and the little bit of light there is still left gets into her eyes and she is able to see. But in a really dark room a cat could see no more than you can. You see, our eyes open and shut more or less just like those of the cat, according to the intensity of the light. When you go out of the dark and shaded room into the bright sunlight and look at the sun, you naturally squint your eyes without deliberately intending to do so. This is nature’s way of preventing too much light getting into your eyes at one time. Gradually the pupils of your eyes contract and get smaller, until you can see, without squinting, anything in the sunlight. If, then, you were to go right back into a dark or shaded room, you would have to wait a moment or two before you could see things distinctly in the room--until the pupils of your eyes had dilated (become larger), so as to let in enough light to enable you to see normally. The eye automatically enlarges and contracts the pupil of the eye, to enable us to see distinctly in either light or less light places.

Why Is It Difficult to Walk Straight with My Eyes Closed?

The reason we cannot do this always is because when we walk naturally the steps taken by our right and left feet are not of equal length. This difference in the length of the steps is due to the fact that our legs are never exactly the same length. We think of them generally as of the same length, but they are not, and this will be proven if you measure them accurately. Now, then, the longer of the legs will always take a longer step than the shorter one, and so, if our eyes are shut, we walk in circles, unless we have something to guide us. When we walk with our eyes open, we are able to overcome the tendency to walk in circles, because our eyes help the brain to direct the legs on a straight course. Another reason which affects the matter is that our eyes are very necessary in keeping our bodies balanced on our feet, and it is very difficult to learn to keep the body balanced with the eyes closed. Now, when your eyes are closed and you attempt to walk in a straight line your body balances from one side to the other, and this fact, coupled with the first reason given, makes your course irregular. But, say you, the man on the tight-rope has his eyes bandaged and he walks a very straight line. Yes; but remember that he has a straight tight-rope to guide him, and all he needs is to maintain his balance. One can learn to walk in a straight line with the eyes closed, but it takes a good deal of practice, as you will learn if you try.

Why Can’t We Sleep with Our Eyes Open?

We cannot sleep with our eyes open, because to be asleep involves losing control of most of the functions of the body. When we sleep the brain sleeps also. Perhaps it would be stated more clearly to say that we cannot sleep while the part of the brain which controls our activities is awake. There is a part of the brain which has the power to open our eyes, i. e., lift the eyelids, and when that portion of the brain ceases to exercise its power to keep the eyes open, they go shut. Even when we are awake that part of our brain cannot keep our eyes from winking, because there is another part of the brain which sees to it that our eyes wink every so often. This is done for the purpose of washing the eye-ball, and is the answer to another of your questions which is given in another place in this book. When the engineer at the electric light plant shuts off the power all the lights go out, and when you go to sleep you automatically shut off the power that opens your eyes, and the eyes are shut. The brain is asleep also, and if it is not completely asleep, you are restless.

Why Do Our Eyes Sparkle When We Are Merry?

If you should watch very closely the eyes of a merry person when you see them sparkle you would probably notice that the eyelids move up and down more often under such conditions than ordinarily, and if you know what moving the eyelids up and down in front of the pupil of the eye does, you will have your answer.

Every time the eyelid comes down it releases a little tear, which spreads over the eyeball and washes it clean and bright. It does this every time the eyelid comes down. Now, there is something about being merry which has the effect of making the eyelids dance up and down, and thus, every time the lid comes down, the ball of the eye is washed clean and bright, and gives it the appearance of sparkling, as we say.

Why Do We Laugh When Glad?

We laugh when glad because the things which make us laugh combine together to rouse those parts of the body which are involved in a good laugh to act in a certain harmony, and when this combination is arranged in a certain way it produces a laugh. Certain things in the world, whether they are funny, ludicrous, or other things that produce the laughing effect, cause the brain to work certain muscles and nerves in a combination that produces a laugh. The impression which reaches the brain causes these muscles and nerves to act involuntarily and the laugh comes. It works just like the keys of the piano. Some combinations of notes produce sad sounds and other combinations produce glad sounds, but the combination when once touched will always produce the same sound. It is the impressions made on the brain which start the proper combination, and it does this instantly. Just as a pin prick in the arm will at once send a “hurt” message to the brain and cause the brain to jerk the arm away, so a laugh-producing combination of sounds, or things we see, or feel, sends an impression to the brain which at once sends out the “laugh” order. Some things make some people laugh while they do not affect others at all. That is because our brains are not always the same in regard to recording impressions. Some things impress some brains one way and others entirely in a different way or not at all. You do not laugh so heartily the second time you hear a funny story, because the impression the brain receives when the story is told the second time is not so vivid.

Why Do I Laugh When Tickled?

Practically the same things happen when we are tickled, and explains why you laugh when tickled. When some one tickles the bottom of your feet or your ribs or another part of your body it produces, in most cases, the same effect on the brain as the laugh-producing sound or sight, and arouses the same combination of muscles and nerves to activity. It is just like pushing the button of an electric bell. When you push the button the contact produces the spark which sets the machinery of the bell in motion and the bell rings and will continue to ring as long as you keep your finger on the button, or until the spark-producing power of the battery is gone. Then, as in the case of the bell, you cease to laugh, because the spark that produced the laugh combination is gone. That is why some things tickle some people very much and do not affect others. Some are not so sensitive to the laugh-producing combination as others. After the thing that tickles you has been going on for some time you are not tickled into laughter any more, because the impression on the brain ceases to be as strong.

Why Don’t I Laugh When I Tickle Myself?

Your mind tells you there is no need to laugh when you tickle yourself. Your mind will not respond to the tickling sensation when it is aware that the cause of the tickle is yourself. The reflex action of the mind which causes laughter and squirming when some one else tickles you only acts when it is not conscious of the cause.

The whole purpose of the sensitive organization of our skins is to give us information and cause action which will enable us to protect ourselves when any outside influence touches us. An injurious touch causes shock and pain, and the harmless tickle arouses the laughing and squirming sensation.