Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-05
WHAT IAN OLD LADY" THINKS.
10 The Editor of The Wing:

TO The Editor Of he wing:
An article Ia your paper Of the goth ult "War upon
Women" has emboldened "a old lady 70 GEEK. space
in YOUR columns for few words IL may be that age
not ser may cause TO be extended to her the courtesy
nj hearing Nv home ia on the verge OF the enemy
line and Oltentmes Within Blockade runners orihg
articles Of female attire within reach frequently
Greenbacks" numerous enough 10 purchase wtl'
and vein honor 10 the ladies' OF county and teose
adjoining than simple calico dress is never pur-
chased Hats are worn by old and young but they are OF
bome manufacture aud gaudy ttappings set them OH
| az described by the old gentleman OF chmond'
smpe band OF velvet ribbon and by the very young
a modest feather or two, taken from q FOWL, are the
usual trimmings on plain oat-straw hat. homespun
habit and sheep skin gauntets neatly stitched by air
fingers are the riding habit OF our ladies OF the Faey
We frequently couple passing, fair young gri
in her homespun habit and young ihcer IN his SUIT oil
English CLOTH glittering with gold buttons and lace
We inquire who are they? Some one FAYE, miss -
| and her brother" Why is this, Mr. EdtorY II the
sister can wear hOmespun, why not the brother! BE
cause have been told in response to my question,
| The young officers rank must be known; he could
not be Distinguished from Il private otherwise =
But / know young oihSer, noble, INTEL gent
and honored who held his commission for two years,
and though always neat plain suit (akin to that
he wore when he Left his home pvate to which not
single star has been added 10 tell bis rank and YET
he il loved and honored by his command.
have seen another-Our great, our good, our noble
General Lee. plain grey cOh', Iaueu ana Vf'NOTh
paptaOons OF the same hue and wooden bat, was the
costume in which frat beheld the great "Lion of Ar
liugtou" There was bewderilg glttor OF gold to
dazzle the feeble old eyes which looked eagerly from
behind the spectacle5 TO see tue honored hero saW
the noble face beneath the wooden hat and felt that
kings diadem would not add grace to those features
ran nv eyes over the stately iOTm and thought robe
of purple would not hang gracefully than the old
faded coat of grey and my OoAadns heart bowed Of
readily in honor to the noble brave ii he hei been
radiant in cos ly apparel
| Remember, 100 the immortal Jackson. Did not bis
rusty habit pass into proyeib ?-and who loved ADD
reverenced him oss for ms dusty, threadbare suit
A little incident and an done. young lady was
summoned to the parlor to friend. she dohDed
modest-hued silk she had worn before the war. After
tho compliments the hour had been exchanged the
Young officer brilliant in his gold laced Uniform, ex-
claimed in holy horror-"Miss --, l am astonished
at seeing you robed in silk think in such times Ms
the sc our ladies ought to discard such articles OF dress
Who, Mr.. Editor should have get her the example?
Who in these times Of prvA,ion and suffering, have
made more sacrifices than the women of COnfede-
r4cy? / have Eat here in my chair and poudeFed
these things and trust the old lady may be forgiven
for saving feW words in defence OF her sex. / have
SEEN tbem-the wife, mother and maden-send forth
their loved ones in defence OF their country with cheer
u words while they crushed back the tears to be shed
in secret / have them hover the soldiers
SEX couch mnistering to his wants; when to1 feeble
TO send messages TO his absent ones, wcmans hand
ready to pen the lines for him. sending hope and cheer
10 the far away home. have kaoWn them go Tor Iys
Wihou. tasting food, to let the hungry soldier
forced march have meal have known them to sleep
on the floor TO let sick defender OF their homes
have the Dst bed in the house-aye, | have them
take the last pillow send hospital have known
them to spin, weave and knit through all the hours Of
the day; and more than this, have seen the widow
leave the grave of the husband who had fallen at his
post and gather up her little and go forth upon
the cold censorous world to labor for her daily bread
| have known the wife at home TO deny herself OF
lights clothing aud various uxuries of life to add 10
the pittaDce of The private soldier. have all this
and more from my chair in the corner, and yet have
heard woman censuTed for want Of patriotism. She
has fallen, woefuy fallen when the very newspapers Of
land used portray to the world her eViy and
shortcomings IL not so in the days OF old We
have told our daughters many story of the brave wo
men of our first Revolution but alas when the little
Zones now growing around knees learn to read among
the treasured papers of days they will thai
the women of our ConfederacY danced and dressed
themselves in costly apparel in the towns and villages
enviroaed by The graves of our counnyS heroes. Aud
may She whose trembling fingers have sought to leave
record of the good deeds Of few be forgiven she
| has been 100 plain. AN OLD LADY.