Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-06-01
Tbe Ladies, National Covenant.

The Ladies' National Covenant.
Messrs. Editors :-Having been an inter
ested spectator of the proceedings OF the
ladies' meeting on last Friday evening,
and being DESTROYS to see the good cause
triumph. and all obstacles removed from
its path. / feel impelled to try through
the columns of your paper, to answer
some objections waged against the adop
ton of any pledge and retrenchment,
and also to state as clearly as may be pos
sible for one unaccustumed to writing.
that as nearly as [ can gather from that
which has been said and written by the
authors of this movement, is not intended
to be imposed on the women of the land,
and what it is hoped and believed they
will cheerfully and gladly endeavor to &C
complish. If my efforts seem rude, and
my speech dull. | hope ladies will pardon
the feelings of an old man, who has no
other object in view than to help and en-
courage them in the great and good work
which they rave begun, and who is inau-
enced by a profound respect for the hero
ism, self-denial. and brave fortitude of.
the women of 81.
| was sorry to hear it said the other ev-
ening, that the women of Warren would
not be seen in the streets without flowers
in their bonnets, or lace on their sacks
Why, Sirs, there were women present who
knew not at that moment whether their
husbands were living. or whether they
were widows. whose hearts were so wrung
with anxiety that they could scarcely
give heed to what passed around them,
and yet they forced themselves to attend
the meeting, lest some might infer that
they had no interest in so good a cause.
There were others whose sons languish IN
hospital, or have found a hero's grave, or
who still bear the brunt of the battle, and
can any one believe they were not IN earn
est Does any one doubt that it there
was any reason to believe that wearing 4
| shaker with a gingham cape, n calico
dress, TO church all Summer, yes and all
r Winter too, would aid in any way the sol
, diers in the field, or the government that
' the soldiers serve that these women
, would hesitate a moment? Does any
4 man presume to say that these wives anC
0 mothers would stop to ask, how | look il
: such a dress? How can | wear a shaker
y and calico when my ~neighbor in the mex
S door wears her silks, flowers and laces
= lust as usual? But the men who are :,
distressed about the heart-burnings AM
and jealousies likely to arise because ON
person has already supplied herself Will
pretty things for the summer and anOth
er, has not forgot that it Is going to b.
the fashion to dress plainly, and so, o
a course no one will take pleasure in wear
ing out the old finery, IN the contrary
when she is obliged for want of a lon
= purse, to go out in her old silk that sh
= may nave already worn this season, an
u meets her friend with her new, crisI
fresh, cool calico, marking her at ono
without inquiry, as one of the noble 10y
al women of the land will she not sigh
"Oh, that l too. could afford some ne
c~alicoes!" But if [ understand the ma
&c Alright; no nleddlesOme interteranes in perSo,
' al toiZstes, was intended by the movers i
. this reform, only so far as each one b
l. her own voluntary act should consent
:, aid in a great national movement. n
! one is asked to go contrary TO her ow
convictions of right, or to her own wishe
I The members of this League merely sa.
Ladies if you will refrain from buyin
imported articles for a few months, tor
year or two, the gold which goes out oftl
=, country now. will be kept in circulation
the country, and this will largely aid ii
!. government" Now any one who wis
es to help us in this work, we will glad
welcome. If any hang back. take no i
h terest, cant see the use in it any way.
n The only reply to such is Ladies far
o. well, we are sorry to leave you behind {;
!. reproach and a by-word for all eomir
generations. We pity you that You ha'
. been elected TO remain in such a wretc
ed minority, and we thank God that the
are any who have not been rudely avail
- ened from the fIivolities of life, by IL
|. fearful lessons of this war, and that yol
hearts and homes are whole" But
~ wonder from the first, which is, that IL
he ladies are not expected to lay aside SUI
"a clothing as they have that surely won.
as not be personal economy, neither won
it in any way tend to further the Obie
ne in view. If after the first of July, l
S more imported dry goods are purchase
Ia the gold is no5sent out of the country
lie pay for them, and the end is gained. 1t
not going to be the Inauguration of
- system which will strip ladies of all the
= adornments by any means. When redu
o. ed to the last extremity, where is h W
- man that from the forgotten corners ar
" the bottom of ~band-boxes. cannot briI
forth treasures that dextrous fingers CT
put into shape, and sew into new form
and deck herself as becomingly as eve
while at the same time le4rning a Wit
lesson in economy that new things es
l. oH,olrtal,~ poala onf Of old FIN,