The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-22
HIcH-HEELED BOOTS.

How familiar to every city housekceper who
spends her summers in the country is the autumnal
breakng-in of her servants on her return! Most
servantsare a little wayward after season of rest,
and some cannot bear rest at ali. The modern
seamstress, if she be one of those
"Sewng at once with a double thread
a., A shroud as well as Shirt"
is servant of this class for no other gives her mis-
tress much trouble as she. Upon such servant,
summer spent in dleness has the same effect that
month in clover has upon tickle horse. In either
case trGcds may be expected the first call to
work; and when Miss Doube-thread gets in such
mood your dress is spoiled in the making, or for
want of its timely completion you are unable to
meet your appointments, and so your plans, for
week or MONTH are frustrated to the great disap-
pointmenJ OF yourself and others.
We believe, however that with all their imperrec-
tons the Doube-thread family have been OF use in
their day.
In the mechanic arts, original perfa ction is un-
known; both origin and progress must here prccede
the finished and perfect result. This is at least the
general rule, and to this rule the Iron Seamstress
| constitutes no exception. In her case, there was
first the idea, 1.-TWO threads, crudely embodied in
the complex, and for time impracticabe, nstru-
ment of howe. Next followed Trio of inventors
born of the faith and welded to the same idea
who aiming at nothing higher succeeded in so i'm
proving his invention as to adapt it TO practical
in the work-shop-and in the hands Of those house
Keepers endowed with super-feminine SKILL Third
and last comes bolder genus--oG original concep-
| tions, more simple faith, and higher aim He,
regardless alike of the opinions and prejudces; of
| others, goes back to first principles. He asks
| himself, Why is il that all sewing machines
| yet invented are so often out of order?
| He investigates, and finds the cause
| in their complicated mechanism. Again Ihe
traces the Of that complication to the use OF
an eEtra thread and again he inquiries, Is an extra
thread necessary? Reflection answers, No. at
least not if reliable stitch can be made without it,
4 Again he asks himself Can this be done He thinks
1t can; and setting himself to work, he at length
! succeeds in the invention OF new stitch-made OF
one thread only, yet as secure any made OF two.
The "under-thread," now no longer necessary, is
cast aside and with 1t go all its resulting complica-
tiOns He constructs an instrument embodying the
principles ihus discovered and that instrument is
now rapidly superseding the older ones.
Thus has the Iron Seamstress grown to her pre-
sent estate and th2s have the Doubc-thread family
as the introduction to better cass-performed an
important part in these results Nor is it to be
denied that they have been practically useful both
| in the workshop and in families where the requisite
skill is possessed But for general hOuschOLd use, they
are too complicated, noisy, and troublesome.
A lady correspondent, who has had much expert
| ence with this kind OF help, and who is there
fore competent to Judge, has favored us with
a written statement of her experience IN these
| Words
| 81 formerly had in my employ, at different times,
four Of these DOube-thread seamstresses, each for
| period of one or more years; and have 20 con-
| fess that my experience with each was nearly the
| same, and not altogether satisfactory. When my
husband was at home to help me out OF my dificul-
| ties managed, usually to get along pretty well
| but when he was absent and especially when Miss
| Double-thread had been idle awhile, was often in
trouble; and that trouble was sometimes rendered
douby veXatious by the exalted opinion Miss Double
thread entertained of herself, and the provoking
| way she had OF showing it.
'1t offended her to be even suspected OF the Slight
est imperfection For wasn't she acknowledged
be frst-classp Wasn't she admitted to the bes
SOcfetyF Aye, Was she not Doubte-thredd? Who
then should say a word disrespectful of her lady
ship?' was she ever known TO rip" Hadn't she 4
beautiful face-alke on both sldes?' Didn't thu
tailors employ her ?-and the collar manufacturers
and the shirt manufacturers?-and the shoe
understand the manufacturers OF hats and caps
Who then should presume to doubt her superiority I?
again. getting on her high-heeed boots, ant
raising her voice to a higher pitch, she would brea
out thus :-WhO could show such record as hers
all glorious within and without?--or sport so man
Jewels, in premiums OF gold, and silver, an,
brass?'-Or, soaring yet higher, What seamstres
had ever been decRed, like her. with ribbons an,
garters imperial? with legions OF knightly honors-
direct from the Emperor's own right hand?
'Her virtues thus established objections would b
disposed OF in manner equally conclusive :-'Wha
II she did have 'Ifts" sometimes? Hadn't she rgh
TO indulge in that luxury as well as other ladies';
or, What II she did break few needles daily-an
snap the thread occasiOnally-and confuse thing
generally? Surely no one should think to complain
? of these little faings. Had not other frst-clas
seamstresses the same?' OR, What If she hadn't an
joint in her elbow, and so had to work with a sti
ern,, and cured needle 10 match it? II this wer