The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-11-21

1Uhh"S tho Nouctaluut
A woman who passed the last
year Of the rebellion in Richmond,
writes as follows 10 the Ereniao
Post, ofthe shifts she and her Con
federate sisters were put TO ret
clothes to wear, food to eat, aud
novels 10 read
When four years Of war and
tears have exhausted lady's
wardrobe. with no goods in the
country except a few running at
long intervals the blot kade, and az
prices too cxorbitant, what can
woman do who has the wish to
look well through everything with
out the materia! for It's fulflIment2
Well, take two dresses of differ
en-: material and coiof-one minus
u skirt, the other a body--insert a
quarter ofa yard Of ono into the
skirt of the other, make puiIings of
the lighter color at the top OF The
sleeve, and Of tho darker from tho
tigbtftting part, and notice the efsg
feet. This we did and although
mottlcd it is still picturesque. Wo-
mems bonnets will wear out; and
as hats are more. easily got, hats
become the style. Every woman
learned to plat straw, and TO make
her own hat, which she deckcd
with rich plume from some old
stock, or with guinea fowls bright
wing. Shoes We learned 10 mann-.
facturc, and every ragbag was
brought into requisiton to furnish
thick poplin pieces of lasting.
Stockings we knit, gloves we made
in which art | became so expert
that | could easily get thirty dol,
lars for each pair ] could furnish
the merchants. Crinoline was
harder TO substitute; but We got
all right there, for the old steel
bands we covered with strips Of
cotton cloth, and resbaped and
hung together with cord. Moth
ing was lost. The greatest tax
upon us was the clothing for the
servants, which was sometimes
supplied by cutting up counter.
panes and blankets. Shoes with
the soles made of wood were found
TO answer.
Invention was the order of tho
day and Confederate puddings and
pastries, with sorghum molasses
personating white sugar were pro-
nounccd delicious. Coffee made
from everything under the sun,
from acorns TO rye, gave zest to
trade and emulation TO speculaters
who dealt in pure coffee mixed
with rye Rye coffee is good
substitute when war and blockade
shut oat every available resource.
l have made and drank it on a
cold winter evening. clear and
strong, when | enjoyed it with
relish, and thanked God for it.
1t was a curious sight in those
days to look into a drug store, and
in place of the usual parapherna,
liza OF bottles, TO see second hand
bridal dress of white satin, stretch
I'd at its full length in the show
case, with a label bearing-'For
sale, $1,000 In the Windows of
extensive auctiQn-houses, whose
business in other days had been
brisk, dresses now hung mingled
with all articles of ladies' second
hand wardrobe. L deposited
tress, white counterpane and one
hundred and fifty novels in one of
these houses for sale. Books were
in great demand, and an interest
ng novel would sell from sl2 to
s25. Servants perambulated the
streets with immense baskets hold
ing ladies and children's clothing
sold to buy bread for homeless
refugees-refugees from Memphis,
New Orleans, etc., who had hand
some wardrobes, but no bread, far
rom home, with their husbands,
'alhers and brothers fighting, dis
posed of every superAuous article,
IF elegant wear Virginia CLOTH"
This was almost put a stop to at
asst by the want of cotton, but af-
.er certain crisis, it was more
'eadily obtained, and accordingly
he looms that had been silent
since the times of our grandparents,
1uve more gave their cheerful
Bang. bangs about the household
of many thrifty housewife, and
speedily clothed the fair bellies,
iseI to nothing coarser than silk.
md fine linen.