The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-03-17
IMPORTANT TO HoUsEKEEPERs

IMPORTANT TO HOUSEKEEPERs
The Richmond Enquirer has an editorial, con-
tanning much very excellent advice for the times,
and to which we invite the especial attention of our
readers
Orr people have not yet learned the duty of
economy. and until this duty to their country is
thoroughly learned and sternly practiced by the
families of the land the cause for which we are now
battling will continue to be in peril. The gallant
army that stands an impregnable wall between us
and The foe demand that those they protect should
bear burdens at least great they suffering;
and among these burdens the selfdenial of rigid
economy is painfully prominent. If every house
holder will rigidly that no inmate in his house
shall consume more than quarter Of pound Of
meat day, with such vegetables as the season
will supply and strictly carry into execution such
plan OF economy, our present supply of provisions
can be made to support the people. The custom
of three meals day should be abandoned; two are
amply sufficient; it is 'habit-this eating three
times a day-and, at presents bad habit we can
accustom ourselves to two meals, and to two light
meals at that, and it is duty we owe to the cause.
1t is nearly as bad to grow fat to get rich while
this war is being waged.
Our people have lived SO long in plenty that
they do not know how to economist; but before
they see the end Of this war, we greatly fear that
they will have learned the lesson from that hard
teacher, necessity Neither the individual nor the
nation know what they can do or suffer until the
occasions that call for noble action and heroic suf
erings are upon them. We would urge our people
to begin now to practice economy; to seek substi-
tutes, not for the army, but for their tables; to
change their style of living to come down to the
plainest fare.
When the French army were besieged and block
aoed in Genoa, they could not only practice econ
omy, but the substitutes adopted for the fare tn ey
could not obtain, may cause some Of our readers
nausea to read Of The subsistence issued was daily
II ounces Of bread, 4ounces of -four Of mllet seed
with oil or cheese alternately instead of fresh meat
and half pint of wine-Uin Orlimaire. Bread
having been exhausted, substitute was found in
a bread made from beaten bran, starch, millct
seed. Fresh meat being exhausted, they substi-
tuted horse flesh, "S ounces de Uidnde de chez
di." They made -four from mixture Of COCOA,
linseed oats, beans, rice, starch and bran.
Upon such compounds the French army lived,
rather than stain the honor of France By a surren-
der; but We have honor, property, life, all at stake
and for these, We, too if necessary, must eat horse
flesh, aye-mule flesh; let US take care Of the hor-
ses and mules they may become our "oiande dc
rescrre."
We cannot want if we do not waste; we have
sufficient for our necessities if we will only econo-
mise it, and let every who has land cultivate
it in wheat, corn, beans, potatoes &c &C., and not
let tobacco plant be found upon his plantation.
Look well to the stock don't eat veal; let it grow
to beef, increase the stock OF hogs; multiply the
poultry; devote time and care to the production Of
articles that enter into the staff of life. And, above
all things use economically every article Of food.
The supply Of provisions Is now nearly exhausted
in some parts Of the country, because Of the diff
calty of transportation for its proper distribution.
This, hope, will be remedied by the govern
ment; but let every garden and "truck patch" be
we'll planted and carefully cultivated. The
exempts must cultivate the soil and support the
country; the government will not, and ought not,
to permit our army to want for provisions. The
people must look out for their own support, and
they must look out for the support of the arm a
also. The spring is opening, and we hope that
all will go to work, digging, ploughing, hoeing
and planting, while the army is marching and
fighting
Economy and should be practsed also by
the government. The single article of whisky is,
under the present system of contracts, consuming
an immense amount Of grain. These whisky
tracts, taken for instance at 10000 gallons,
the distillation of many thousand gallons more
than the contracts specify. II the government
mical consumption of grain for the distilery to be
owned by the government and managed for the
government by salaried officer.
No government contract should protect man
who is converting grain into whisky. This is a
great evil At present in many counties of the
State, dstilleres have sprung up and are, consum-
ing immense quantities Of grain. 1t would be
we'll for the Confederate Government to anuul
every contract made by the Medical Purveyor for
the distillation Of whisky, and We hope the Execu
tive, who must feel the immnence of the danger
that threatens, will interfere and protect starv
ing people from the poisonous liquors into which
the grain is being converted.