against the grain

Did you ever notice, when tearing out a newspaper article or ad, how the paper usually tears easily horizontally (with the grain), but zigzags out of control vertically? Well, that same characteristic applies just as frustratingly well to an even bigger staple in our daily routines: toilet paper. Every time I misjudge the grain of a cheap roll of TP (in office buildings, usually) as I try to tear off a few sheets and end up with a couple of three-foot streamers, I can't help but wonder why the industry doesn't standardize the grain horizontally so it tears off nicely. That way they could even save money by eliminating those impish little perforations!