Newspapers / The Warren Record (Warrenton, … / Sept. 5, 1984, edition 1 / Page 15
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Tax Was Placed On Bachelor Wear The Virginia legislature of 1619 imposed a tax on the wearing apparel of bachelors, and a married man was taxed for his own and his family's clothing. Later, in 1650, Virginia banned all im ported silks. The reasoning behind such laws was to conserve cash to be spent on local needs and equipment in the colony, not on expensive, imported finery. Consequently, simple fabrics were used and were most likely colored with homemade dyes. The road sides, woodlands and gardens were full of plants that could transform utilitarian fabrics into more cheerful colored ones. A natural adjunct of this practice was the making of writing inks. Stationers did sell inks, but these imported products were quite expensive, and a family that dyed most fabrics could just as easily produce ink. According to specialists with the N. C. Botanical Garden at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the trick was to find an ink that did not fade when exposed to light and air. Many berry juices made bright colored inks, but they faded rapidly. A good black ink with lasting qualities was made from red maple bark, and another from the green husk of the black walnut fruit. Sumac berries and the sap of poison ivy also produced a strong black ink, although it is not clear how the colonists managed to handle the poison ivy to make it. One record claims that "such an ink was so strong that the letters made upon linen with it cannot be removed, but grow blacker the more the cloth is washed." Oak galls were one of the main sources of inks in early days, since they contain not only dark brown pigments, but large amounts of tannins; these act as a fixative for the pigment on the paper and keep it from fading. Other barks rich in tannin also used for ink-making were alder and dogwood. These inks must not have smelled very good because recipes call for the addition of perfumed water to improve the aroma. There also are fungi from which ink can be made. They are mamebers of the mushroom group. Coprinus, with common names like ink caps, ink tops and ink horns, are often found along the road side. These inks produced from mushrooms become important in authenticating early documents, because under a microscope fungal spores can readily be identified. A forgery was not likely to have used the same ink recipe as the original. As ink cap mushrooms mature, an enzyme present in the mushroom dissolves the flesh to form a thick black liquid. The adventurous might like to collect some ink cap mushrooms and place them in a covered jar. After several days the mushrooms will have turned into a gooey black mass, which may be thinned with water or preferably with vinegar which stops the mold action. A letter written with such ink might be welcomed by a nature-loving friend. More timid correspon dents might prefer—and be thankful for—ballpoint pens! Norlina Arrest Comes After House Search Armed with a search warrant, Chief Deputy B. D. Bolton and Norlina Police Chief Romey Wil liams on Saturday morning searched the home of Ricky Fleming, 27, on Terrell Street in Norlina where they found a packet of marijuana whose value was estimated at $500. Fleming was arrested and charged with felon Law Passed (Continued from page 1) commissioners: —Voted to forward to Citizens United for progress and represen tatives of the county's municipalities a request from the N. C. Human Relations Council that the county establish a local human relations commission; and —Adopted a resolu tion for the establish ment of a Deferred Compensation Program sponsored by the National Association of Counties which provides for voluntary par ticipation by county employees in a tax sheltered savings program. Robbery Try (Continued from page 1) and Chief Deputy Bolton arrested Davis and charged him with tres pass. Again Magistrate Pridgen found probable cause and set bond at $500, which Davis raited. Davis was scheduled to be given a prelimin ary hearing this morn ing in Warren County District Court. ious possession of marijuana. He was taken before Magistrate Carson Pridgen and released on his own recognizance for his ap pearance for a hearing in district court on Sept. 19. Deputy Bolton said that the Warren County Sheriff's Department worked up the evidence that led to Fleming's arrest and called upon the Norlina police of ficer to assist in the search and arrest. Clothing Class Plans Are Made Clothing construction classes will be held at the Tribal Center near Essex from 7 until 10 p. m. on Tuesday and Thursday nights begin ning September 11 and continuing for 11 weeks. The classes will be sponsored through Halifax Community College and a $15 registration fee is required. The instructor for the classes will be Mrs. Guillermina Richard son, a resident of the Haliwa-Saponi com munity of Halifax Coun ty. Mrs. Richardson recently moved to the area from California. She has over 40 years of experience in sewing, with specialties in domestic and commer cial sewing. Persons interested in participating in the classes may call the Tribal Center at 505-4017 or 506-4960
The Warren Record (Warrenton, N.C.)
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Sept. 5, 1984, edition 1
15
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