Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-03-03
Ohio 9tatesmam
From the Urbana Union.
Flax Culture.

|
On article which once appeared In another pa
per-thinking that you may consider il worthy
oil reproduction In your paper on account of tht
subject. Almost year has passed since thil
article was written, and the faets and circum
stances which have since transpired, fully estab
lish what was then said. Another year added
to the past may give new proofs that the sug.
gestions contained in the paper now sent you
will become necessity in practice.
OLD SETTLER.
URBAHA, o., 23d February, 1863.
To tho Ola Wen and uatrcns or Ohio:
FELLOW CITIzENs-Will you permit one of
your number to make few suggestions to YOU
upon subject with which yon alone are familiar,
as by looking back Into the far past, we may be
enabled to show the present generation some Of
their antecedents, and show them they had an
cestors who could adapt themselves to the state
Of the times in which they lived.
You who can throw your minds hack forty
and fifty years, will be enabled to inform those
among whom you now live, that Cotton was not
always King; that another staple competed with
him successfully through many years of fnan-
oial struggle; thet instead of the uarlor music
which now salutes our ears In all directions, we
were charmed with the sweet music resulting
from the hum OF the wheel and the rattle Of the
loom.
From what has already been said, you will at
once perceive the object of this address to be
the awakening of the dormant energies of the
people of the olden time. Who that lived
through the war of 1919 does not remember
that during the trials of those days, we had to
resort to the family circle for clothing for our
soldiersY Who among you do not remember
that during those years, ordinary calico brought
from ftty TO sixty cents per yard, and common
muslins In proportion, when, from the necessity
OF the case, you had to olothe yourselves Snd
families from the fabrics manufactured at your
own homeE-every man and woman was a pro-
duoer and manufacturer OF clothing from fax,
which your rich soil aud suitable climate then
abundantly produced.
The humble individual who now addresses
you, well remembers the fact, that sinoe he has
had the charge Of a family, he has rented
ground, had 1t prepared and Gown in fax, and
has pulled it himself, boiled it, spread il for
rotting, aud when sufficiently rotten for the
brake, has taken it up, dried it, broke it, and
scutched it, aud brought 1t in to the wife, who
hackled IL, spun it, wovo it, bleached it, and
made Il up into shirts, Sheets pillow cases,
ticking, and oil such other articles for domestic
use, as nre now made from cottoh, and any one
who enjoyed the luxury of weatinc the eioht
hundred linen shirts, and sleeping between the
sheets then made by our wives and other fe-
male members of the family, would have no Oh
lection to enjoy It again.
Have we not again fallen upnn times that
should admonish those among us who lived ia
other years to wake up, and endeavor to infuae,
by precept and example, the same energies that
then saved ourselves9
Let us, then, before we 90 hence, make an
offo to rpuivn in tho prozopt Oapon,l;on
indomitable courage and enterprise that brought
as through the stringent years from 1912 to
1926, and thereby leave richer legacy to our
children than mere silver and gold Let us
teach and infuse into the minds Of our dsuch-
ters, our daughters in-laE. and ell our female
grand children, thst true riches and true honor
lie only in the pathway of industry. lie. no
turn their attention to the instructions given In
the last chapter of Proverbs, in which the hon.
otable woman is portrayed, not running after
the gew gaws of modern fashionable life, but
in training herself and household in useful EN-
ployments, where her price is estimated far
above rubies. "1he heart of her husband
doth safely trust in her, 80 that he shall have
no need of spoil. She will do him good and
not evil all the days of her life. She aeeketh
wool and flax, and worketh willingly With her
hands. She s like the merchant ship; she
bringeth her food from afar. She risesh alao
while 1t is yet night, and giveth meat to her
household, and portion to her maidens She
considereth field, and buyesh it; with the
fruit of her hands she planteth q vineyard
She girdeth her loins with strength, and
strengthenesh her arms. She perceiveth that
her merchandise is good; her candle goelh not
out by night. She layeth her hands to the
spindle, and her hands hold the dstaff. she
stretcheth her hand to the poor; yea, she reach
eth forth her hard 10 the needy. She is not
afraid of the snow for her household; for ell
her household are clothed with scarlet. She
maketh herself co 7erpgs Of tapestry; her cloth
ing is silk and purple. Her husband ia known
in the gates, when he sittetn among the elders OF
the land; che maketh fine linen and selleth it and
delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength
and honor are the clothing and ahe shall rejoice 10
time to come. She openeth her mouth with
wisdom and in her tongue is the law OF kindness
She looketh well to the ways Of her household
and eateth not the bread OF idleneas. Her
children rise up and call her blessed; her hus-
| band also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters
have done virtuously, but thou excelless them
ALL Favor Is deceitiul, and beauty is vain, bu
woman that feareth the Lord, che shall bt
praised. Give her OF the fruit Of her hands
and Let her own works praise her in the gates >
And lot US also cndeavos TO infuse the apiri
of industry, and all the many virtues into oui
sons aud sons law, and all our male granC
children, that they make industry tho road tt
| true greatness. Let them take hold of the
plow, the axe, the loom, so that our whole coun
try may be one great brotherhood in all the
useful arts OF lite, and we will see that God
will again bless us as nation.
| Some may criticise the suggestions here
thrown out, and contend that the same result;
will not follow this war against rebellion, that
followed the war OF 1912; and will perhsp!
contend that we have nearly reached the end Of
the struggle and that the rebellion Itself viii
soon be crushed out. GoD GRANT THAT 1T MAY
BE 90. But still, that will nos prove tha
the necessity may not still exist, as it did after
the war with Great Britain, 10 provide for our
selves by domestic culture and manufacture
for years TO como. And If the conductors OF
the northern press, and others who are worry
| ing themselves go much about slavery, and it
moral and political evils, would turn their at
tention to the culture and manufacture of hax
they would soon, in the humble opinion OF the
writer OF this address, see that more can bS
done In this direction TO break down slavery
by rendering il less profitable to the owners
than they can achieve in an age OF acrimonious
warfare against the peculiar institution.
Teach the chivalry OF the South that Cotton
need not be King, unless the North Wills it. lie
them see that we can take care OF ourselves
even If they should abandon its culture, as thel
lnov threaten. And We would coon hear dit
ferent tone In Southern public sentiment w