Virtual Whistler

Paper is common today. Starting from school we use paper for writing and printing till we become old. Paper is a mat of tiny fibers felted together. These fibers are small particles of cellulose. Plants yield cellulose.

The ancient Egyptians about 4000 years ago used paper in a different way. They took the stems of the paper in a different way. They took the stems of the papyrus plant and peeled them apart and flattened them.

They laid them cross wise and pressed them down to stick them together. Soon they become dry; this made a sheet of Papyrus and could be written on.

Actually the real paper was invented by Chinese in 105 A.D. The person who invented is Ail Un. He used stringy inner bark of the mulberry tree to make paper.

He pounded the bark in water to separate the fibers, and then poured the soup mixture on a tray with a bottom of thin bamboo strips. The water was drained away and the soft mat was laid on a smooth surface to dry. Bamboo and old rags were also used.

The paper was later improved by brushing starch on it. Then the art of paper making spread all over Europe.