Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-05-14
Economy In DFess---Ene0uTagenent
OF Home Manufactures.

Economy In Dress---Enc0uTagenent
OF Home Manufactures.
10 to-days Journal we publish the pro-
ceedings Of a meeting of loyal women,
held in Washington City, recently, for
the purpose Of organizing an associa-
ton to secure the union Of the women Of
this country in the earnest resolution
to purchase no imported articles where
American can possibly be substituted,
during the continuance Of the war
Il will be seen that the movement was
entered on with great esrnestness, and
an organization formed, composed Of
tho very frst women Of the land. The
beginning is very auspicious, and will
oe productive of vast good to the Nation
al taste and morals, as we'll as to its
finances, If carried out in spirit Of self
sacrifice and patriotism. If the women in
the families Of the leading professional
and business men in the nation, the
women who lead the fashion aud dictate
the style and quality Of ladies' attire, de-
clare that they will wear nothing Of for
eign manufacture, that they will discard
costly jewelry and other gew gaws, that
they will Danish from their tables ex-
pensive wines and rich sauces and other
Injuries which people viii be healthier
and better without, vast saving can be
made in the price Of living, and the Ma
tioual finances strengthened materially
by the building up Of home manufactures
and the stoppage Of the immense drain
Of the precious metals which is now GO
ing on.
Here is list Of single weeks inn
portations into the port Of New York
alone jewelry, 1881; watches, sl7,-
545; perfumery, 81, 465; wines, 1870, 237;
gin, $l9,3l2i fancy goods, 1894; toys,
sl,4l4i patent leather, $2,292; cham
payne, $40, 2s7; brandy, $3,49l.
Here are 1854, 1888 worth Of goods i'm.
ported in one week and paid for in gold,
torhe material depreciation of our cur
rency, not one dollar Of which could add
moments comfort, or crafty any com
mendAble taste Of any man or woman in
the country. It is all useless, exsrava
CANT, wasteiul Our annual importa.
tons of silks a-e $27 SOC, 900; of laees
| 81 100000 of embroideries $4,000, 600
of wines s4,o00,OO0 Of spirits 81, 0OO,,
600; of cigars 100000, or nearly
$50 000,0 900 of mere Injuries, and luxu
ries, too, that are useless when they are
not actually pernicious. The $50, 600,
600 that buys them goes in gold, and
leaves our currency that much lesl
strongly supported, aud consequently
that much less able to buy a dollar
worth Of food for dollar.
But, says lady friend, why insist OIL
the women discarding the use Of article
. of foreign manufacture, and not ask til
men to make the same sacrifice. Ex
: actly. The question is proper an,
timely one.
The stronger sex may not wear S
many gew-gaws as the women, but ihei
: clothing is more expensive when the
dress In fine broadcloths and cashmere
and linen and patent-leather and moroS
co, Of foreign manufacture When
added the expensive list Of cigars an
: liquors and foreigu-made watches an
jewelry, we can see just as much nee
for mems society for the promotion {
economy in personal expenditures, an
$ the strengthening Of the Nations fnar
q ces by disseminating the use of foreig
Injuries and encouraging home mani
features, as we can for the society Jul
formed by the ladies, We hope tbs
s some of the prominent men at the NJ
tional Capital viii organize such soc
ETY.. II they do, we warrant their pledg
= can get plenty of signers IN every coul
ty in this region of country.
d The movement just inaug lrated
Washington is well thought of, and wi
y !. doubtless do great good Women ca
K aid much in the prosecution of the wa
by getting up sanitary fairs; laboring f
II the relief of the soldiers through So
u plies to the sanitary commissions ar
help in the hospitals, when neeessar,
filing the places ofyoung men in store
> and other proper places where the wol
- is light, when they are so situated as
/. be able TO do so, in order that the your
men can respond to their patriotic j
20 shnets and enter the military servic
Sr In many other ways can the women
Is, the country, and also the young ladie
X assist in this great battle of rig
for against wrong. Aud especially no
az since the organization of this Eeonou
I'd cal Society, can they aid most material
'sh in strengthening the Nations finance
through the modes indicated in the pr