The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-07-15
Lace Manufacture in Florida.

The following notice is an example of what may be
done in our country. Every effort of this kind is
step in the great work of emancipation which lies be
fore our peope-emancpatio from the thraldom Of
and dependence upon colored labor 1t also suggests
another avenue for the exertion of female industry
by which women, so often left poweress and depend
ent, may secure the of livelihood, without the
usual outlay of costly capital The manufacture of
artificial flowers is also beautiful and profitable &C.
complishment, by which hundreds of our fair girls
might add to their little store of pocketmoney in
graceful and ingenious manner. Heaven speed the
day when we cease to depend upon foreign peoples for
articles OF luxury and beauty. We copy follows
from the ST. Augustine Examiner:
ST. Augustine, beside boasting to be the most an
Gent city in the United States can also plume herself
upon possessing specially enjoyed by few others, viz
the Palmetto work and the Spanish linen work and
bids fair to have the monopoly of third in thread
and silk lace, which in time may rival Valencennes
Cluny Honton Several sisters of the order of St
Joseph, recently brought from France by the Venera-
BILE Bishop OF this diocese to instruct the poor of this
town, possess the art of making equal in beauty
and texture to anything produced in France. They
come from district where it is common for each and
every to make lace-the rich for amusement, the
poor for livelihood; but these good sisters little
dreamed, in their homes at LIE Prys, what treasure
they might prove in far distant land in an isolated
city like st. Augustine, in country like America,
where every lady must have lace yet where one yard
is not manufactured.
Why should not this bright, beautiful, health giving
venerable city, become the opulent rival of Manes
and Alencon.
For two hundred years she has known all the vics-
STUDIES of war, and change of rulers; her youth has
been passed in storms, and often penury. But now
her hoary locks may be crowned with wealth and af1u
ence There is no reason why the horn of plenty
should not be reversed over St. Augustine for she
holds within her walls the end of the string which
draws the wide end downwards. The Sisters are pre-
pared to teach the exquisite art gratis their mission
being Charity; Charity in all its qualifications Wheh
it is to visit the SICK to help the poor comfort the
afflicted, to instruct the Ignorant teach children in
their caechism, place within their little fingers the
means of an honest livelihood. child of eight years
old learn it merely requires the amount of
mechanical manipulation as the piano forte. In the |
lace making provinces of France the little girl has the
ambition to make her confirmation veil Later on an
other passion supercedes and she makes her marriage
VEIL and the proceeds of her active fingers furnish
her trousseau and the little home which is to be her
future paradise. That paradise here all here look
forward to-, for it is the only taste get of thai
better Land here below. .+.
All marriages are prudent in France-marriag de t
every girl makes and sews until she
has pile of linen that will last her all her life and
perhaps her children. In St. Augustine there could
be no lack of sale for every yard of lace made be-
home produce can be sold cheaper than foreign
goods Every lady of fashion knows that cora can be
bought cheapest in Naples, linen in Ireland diamonds
in Constantinope, silken work in Malta scissors in
Sheffield, etc. Why should we not add lace in ST. Au
gusne 1t is well adapted to this work, because the
young girls are strikingly intelligent and singularly
ingenious with their hands 1t is also adapted to the
climate, for it is not at all aborous but an easy pas
time. 1t is work which be carried on at home
sitting on the balcony young girl ply her grace
full fingers, for the admiration of the Caballero while
she entertans him with the last news
The Sisters have but to open souvrier" to have
it crowded with applicants Every lady in St. Angus
tine should learn, were it only for the novelty.
To the children they would teach reading writing, |
arithmetic and lace making to the adults the latter
only. There are at least in this city two hundred
young persons who would at all object to increase
their pocket money earning from three dollars
day by art SO beautiful and fascinating useful
and remunerative Two hundred persons earning on
IN average ten dollars week would make an income
If two thousand dollars to st. Augustine weekly, or
'ne hundred thousand per annum-for one article
1lone produced by makers for the most part under
twenty years of age.
In the short space of time that the English were in
possession of Florida they cultivated indigo and the
export rose to $4,000 pounds Is this not precedent
which the Augustnians of the present day may emu
ate with equal success in lace making. 1t will be in
family bought up from them for it forms an ndispen
able portion of every ladys toilet and is now wholly
imported from Europe
.