Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-10-04

A woman who passed the last year of
the rebellion in Richmond, writes as fol-
lows to the Evening Post, of the shifts she
and her confederate sisters were put to to
get clothes to wear, food to eat and novels
to read:
"When four years of wear and tear
have exhausted lady's wardrobe, with no
goods in the country except few, run
ming at long intervals the blockade, and at
prices too exorbitant, what can woman
do who has the wish, the laudable wish, to
look well through everything, without the
material for its fulfllment? Well, take two
dresses of different material and color
one minus skirt, the other a body-in-
sert quarter of J ,rd Of one into the skirt
of the other, make pufiings of the lighter
color at the top of the sleeve, and Of the
darker form the tighi-ftting part, and no.
tice the effect. This we did, and though
mingled and mottled, it was still pictur-
esaue. Women's bonnets will wear out
and as hats were more easily got, hats be-
came the style. Every woman learned to
plat straw, and to make her own hat,
which she decked with a rich plume from
some old stock, or with guinea fowls
bright wing. Shoes we learned to manu-
facture, and every rag-bag was brought
into requisition to furnish thick poplin
pieces or lasting. Stockings we knit,
gloves we made--in which art myself
became so expert that could easily get
thirty dollars for each pair ! could furnjsh
4 he merchants. Crinoline was harder to
substitute but we got all right there, for
the old steel bands we could cover with
, strips of cotton cloth, and re-shape and
hang together with cord. Nothing was
lost. The greatest tax upon US was the
clothing for the servants, which was some
times supplied by cutting up counterpanes
. and blankets. Shoes with wooden soles
: were found TO answer.
Invention was the order of the day, and
, confederate puddings and pastries, with
sorghum molasses personating white sugar,
was pronounced delicious. Coffee made
from everything under the sun, from acorns
to- rye, gave zest to trade and emulation
to spectators dealt in pure coffee
: mixed with rye" Rye coffee is a good
: substitute when war and blockade shut
out every available resource. have made
and drank it on cold winter evening,
clear and strong, when enjoyed it with a
relish, and thanked God for it.
i 1t was curious sight in those days TO
! look into drug store, and in place Of the
: usual paraphernalia of bottles, to see a
i secondhand bridal dress of white satin,
. stretched at full length in the showcase,
with label bearing" For sale, $4,000
:. In the windows of extensive auction.
houses, whose business had been brisk in
! other days, dresses now hung, mingled
!. with all articles of ladies' secondhand
: wardrobe. l deposited a dress, white
!, counterpane, and one hundred and fifty
old novels, in one Of these houses for sale
Books were in great demand, and an in
!. teresting novel would sell for from Sl2 Il
$25. Servants perambulated the street
! with immense baskets holding ladies' ant
of childrens' clothing sold to buy bread 70
ac houseless refugees--refugees from Nes
s Orleans, Memphis, ETC., who had handsom
wardrobes, but no bread, far from home
with their husbands, fathers and brother
|. fighting, disposed Of every superfous arti
I Gle of elegant wear, and learned TO weav
and wear I. Virginia cloth.' This was a
most put a stop to at last by the want :
cotton, but after certain crisis it wa
!, more readily obtained, and accordingly tn
looms which had been silent since tn
!. times of our grandparents, once more CAV
!. them cheerful bang-bangs about the house
!; hold Of many thrifty housewife, an
:, speedily clothed the fair bellies, used I
. nothing coarser than silk and fine wool.
nd ANECDorE OF THE ELDER BEEcHKT
he -" My father" says Henry Ward, Glove
he to write at the top of the house, and love
he to get up there to watch him. He had
,p- way of whispering to himself as he wro,
ith and while he wrote with one hand /
ith rubbed his breast with the other. Il
ne could not bear to be buttoned into anythir
while writing, and wristband, collar ar
sse vest were all sure to be pulled open
ks; soon as he set to work. His coat was la
ay aside, and his suspenders thrown off b
use shoulders. He was great lover Of clam
of and on one day as he was rapidly drivil
sea his pen, clam man passed the house, or
lci- ing, CLANS, clams!' My father was
the intent upon his sermon that it was sever
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