The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-16
TO THE WOMEN OF THE SOUTH.

TO THE WOMEN OF THE SOUTH.
We would address word of exhortatou and
advice: 49,
The unfortunate condition which surrounds us,
the languishing state of all kinds of business the
great restitution prevailing in our midst, and the
gloomy prospect looming up before us lead to the
| enquiry, hat can we do to benefit unhap-
Ply country" Let not the difficulties which
environ US paralyZe efforts We must not
permit the depression of gloom to overshadow
Us. Let US arouse ourselves to efforts which in
times past, sustained the hands and cheered the
hearts of our struggling countrymen. .--
One great want in our country is the lack of
| employment to vast number offemales, rendered
destitute by the results Of the war. Many are
seeking in vain for some kind of occupation by
which they could earn subsistence. Cannot
the women of North Carolina form themselves
into societies to devise ways and to furnish
employment to those who are so earnestly seek
ing it Let lis resolve that we will not wear any
article made by any other fingers than those of
| our own women. What matters it if we should
not be IT., itators of the fashionable world? The
fire Of patriotism would sparkle in the eye, lend
ing far more charms than the ephemerai fashions
Of the day
In days gone by, when clad in homespun, did
we not appear as charming to the other sex as We
duced to try the experiment, we verify believe we
would be more successful in winning hearts for
all ideas of love are stiied, and matrimony put
afar off, in the fear of not being able to keep up
the styles which our young ladies now appear in.
| Another thing we can do is to encourage our
brothers and friends to patronize home enter
prizes. Smile more kindly on those who are
| clad in domestic manufacture made up at home.
Let it be the business of each person to scrutinize
this matter. Let it be the rule in each society
that we will wear nothing from abroad that can
! be produced at home.
! Should the enquiry come up, what is there we
can engage in, in order to keep at home and in
circulation the little money that is left u.s. we can
| ply again the knitting needle 1t will employ
many hands to make our stockings they can be
beautifully and cheaply made, in this way saving
much time spent now in mending the in ferior ar
ticIe which is furnished US. There are many
amongst us skilled in embroidery,-let us find
them out, and employ them to do this work for
| us. And shame is it that we give our money
to the stranger for making the shirts our men
wear, while our own poor are begging bread -
Can not some enterprising ladies of each town
superintend this branch of business, to see that it
is properly done; and will not our merchant IS
patronize them? If so, we call upon patriots of
the South to furnish employment suited to our
sex. Give us something to do, is our cry to you.
You have no money to bestow, for your wealth is
gone; but encourage the labor of our hands,
Should the policy of buying at home and keep
ing our money here, be adopted, what, it may
be asked, will become of our merchants, now so
numerous We answer, let them engage 10
other pursuits. The source of their success has
been based upon our agriculture. In the change
of our system of labor the profits arising from it
are greatly diminished, which reacts injuriously
! upon the merchant. Letmen ofsmaIl capital en-
gage in supplying our market with some of the
necessities for which we are now dependent upon
those who have deprived US Of our liberty, wealth
and happiness Cannot some of our enterprising
men furnish us it'll brooms, pickles, preserves,
soap, vinegar. backing, starch, &C., &c! These
are mentioned because it would not require much
capital to manufacture them. The ext gency has
again arisen requiring display of energy, which,
during the war, surprised ourselves and the world.
Now, what is there to deter any one from en-
gazing in such pursuits? Ii is the fear lest they
will not meet with patronage.
| Now propose to the women of North Car
DINA, TO do all in our power to remove this i'm
| preston, and we can do much for country 10
this respect. Let us at once give decided pre-
| ference to home manufactures, and hy so doing,
| we will be giving an earnest to future under
takings. We must diversity our pursuits, or be
| slaves forecer. L.
Gen. Forrest has addressed a letter to the
| Memphis Avalanche, exposing an adventurer
| named J. NJ Trotter who ia going over the