Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/149

123 The rings are then enameled and annealed to impart the requisite lustre and toughness.

The principal seats of this industry, are Frydstein, Železný Brod (Eisenbrod), Držkov.

The making of glass buttons is also very interesting to watch in the various stages of the work. First the operator takes a rod of glasglass [sic] and heats it at a glass blower’s lamp until it is in a sufficiently plastic condition to be pressed into a mould of the required size and pattern, after which they are carefully finished according to the special need of the button in hand, for there is a great variety, some kinds for gentlemen’s fancy vests and many sorts suitable for ladies costumes.

This branch of the trade depending so much on fashions which are continually changing, fluctuates very much, and so the earnings of the workers are far from being steady, varying according to the state of the markets for this particular form of glass ware, from 8 s 5 d to 14 s 2 d per week.

It is not generally known that glass can be used in the production of ladies satchels, but such is the fact, and many elegant kinds of this form of „lady’s friend“ are fashioned by the skillful hands of our glass workers who amongst other ornamental and useful articles, make, small chains, pretty strings of glass work; and charming belts for girls and young ladies.

Plaiting provides employment for some 800 people in Bakov nad Jizerou (Bakow a. I.).

There is great variety in the form and use of rush productions. Bath slippers, light shoes, caps and helmets for tropical wear, wall mats, hand-bags and many other useful articles.

As in the case of other Bohemian home industries, the winter is the season when the rush plaiters are busy; as out-door labour claims the attention of many of the villagers in the seasons favourable for agricultural operations.

The control of the trade is in the hands of three dealers who do a large business, and about twenty others in a smaller