The Winchester home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-05-20
Sewing Machines.

large classes is OF Importance to ply
sicians--of much greater Importance
in fact, than which concerns individu.
ais. With this idea, we are accustom-
ed to look into many things which
have no direct connection with drugs,
and which promise to prevent the
necessity ola physicians services rath-
err than to enable him to cure his pa
tient when sick. In no class have we
felt a deeper interest than in those who
sew, whether for n maintenance. or in
the ordinary occupations of IA family
in moderate circumstances. Hoods
"Song of the shirt" recalls to every
physician practising in city many a
patient, for whom God is paymaster,
whose whole life has been drained by
the terrible necessity of earning a liv-
ing by the needle. Ear y and late, by
day and by night, without rest, with
out recreation, they have struggled
for bread with such toll as no day la
borer knows. And when the dim
light and constant use have caused
the eyes to fail, or disease has assail-
ed their lungs or attacked their blood,
they have not been able to pause in
their work, for starvation was just be-
hind them; They could not afford the
time to be sick; they could not stopt to
be cured. Those in more favored
conditions are affected--perhaps not
to the same extent, but yet gravely.,-
In the country, especially, have We
seen girls sit sewing, sewing, sewing
all day long, when the should have
been improved in other duties which
allow more proper exercise to the body
or in studies and amuscmcnts which
are necessary for the proper develop
ment of the mind, and the avoidance
Of that asccticism which is unnatural
as it is unhealthy. Still the fact re-
mains that to the inexorable needle
consumption is indebted for many of
its victims; while, if not conquered,
crooked spin2s, side ache, derange-
ment of the stomach, with it's atten-
dant evils following in its train, make
their lives miserable, which an early
death does not cut short.
These things have all been brought
forcibly to our minds as we have from
time to time seen advertisements of
Sewing Wuchines, and heard persons
discourse of their merits. Noticing a
sign of ono ofthesc manufactures one
day, when a little leisure was upon
our hands. we determined to see what
had been done, and iftherc was really
any promise of relieving women from
this injurious toll and conGncmcnt-
4 little frock which we We're shown,
full Of folds, (Which we are assured
are technically called tucks,) and ex-
qusitcly stitched, 1--WE are something
Of a connoisseur in stitching.) remind
cd US OF a poor patient, who, with her
infant, was on y saved from absolute
desttution by stitching, laboriously
and slowly, with her needle, such gar
ments Cor wealthy tradesman to sell.
Charity, at last had TO save her life. -
We could hardly believe that over all
this beautiful work there was no sigh
of fatigue poured out, that no eyes had
achcd with their weary watching, that
this might be done. But so it was
The machine was shown to us, and we
saw it work, and we know there is no
longer any need for health to be bro
ken down by sewing. Consumption
ought no longer to be allowed to use
the needle for its agent in causing
death.
The establishment into which we
was that in which were sold
the machines of Messrs. Grover g. Ba.
ker's patent; and the variety of styles,
some twenty in number, and adapta-
ton to all kinds of work, surprised US.
Either for linen, or for cotton, each and
all ofthem, they seem admirably--in
fact, perfectly adapted. They are of