In some cases, however, this bronzing property is of some value, and enables the skilful craftsman to obtain interesting and effective results with a minimum of trouble and expense. By painting on a strong solution of dyestuff, and letting it dry quickly, the bronze effect will be produced, and then by rubbing in portions, the true coloring of the dyestuff will be brought out in strong contrast to the crystal-covered surface. Unfortunately, these bronze effects are not fast to either rubbing or moisture, and even dry rubbing will break down the crystals, while rubbing with a damp cloth or a moist finger will dissolve the color off in blotches. To render this bronze effect more durable, it is possible to make a regular bronze lacquer, by adding varnish or gum like orange shellac or gum benzoin to a strong alcoholic solution of a Basic dye. The bronze varnish thus produced will, when dry, stand light finishing with wax in the usual way. The addition of a little benzoic acid to the solution increases the lustre of the crystals. CHAPTER XI SILK—I So far as we can tell, silk was first discovered and manufactured in China about 1700 B.C., a date corresponding in Biblical history to the time of the patriarch Joseph. From China it was exported to the great and wealthy empire of Persia, and from there was first brought into Europe by Alexander the Great after his defeat of the Persian king. Its origin, although known and described by Aristotle, was for several hundred years a mystery. During the Roman Empire, silken garments, woven in Europe, from Chinese silk imported by way of Persia, were important and very highly prized articles of luxury. About 555 A.D., while commerce with Persia was interrupted by warfare, two monks in the pay of the Emperor Justinian smuggled eggs of the silkworm and seeds of mulberry trees from China to Constantinople. This was the origin of the European silk industry. It spread rapidly to the various countries bordering on the Mediterranean, and by the seventeenth century was firmly established not only in Spain and Italy, but also in France. Efforts were made to introduce it, at this time, into England, but without success. In 1622 King James I started the industry, for the first time, in the colony of Virginia in this country. Since that time numerous attempts have been made to develop the American silkworm industry, but with very little success, owing to the large amount of hand labor necessary to produce the material. At the present time the very finest raw silk in the world is produced in the south of France, and next to that come certain brands of Italian silk. The Japanese silk is more variable in quality, although steadily improving, while the Chinese silk, as a rule, is less satisfactory and more apt to be light and fluffy.