The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1870-09-24

sOOn lOSt bDe ueHdHC diI onu Vdlu Sttuper
they had worn when they first entered
her presence, and had deepened into Sc
robustness and respectful attention as the
wife of Washington, after hearing tirem,
said;
"Ladies, you came to advise me, and,
as kindness prompted you, am oblig-
cd for the motive, though cannot act
on your suggestions. You are all in the
bloom of life. Many years, 1 trust, are
before you. My age, even more, far
more than my station, sanctions my
| giving you some advice. Dear ladies
suffer the word of exhortation. Should
| Christian women, honored wives and
mothers, be content to aim at no higher
| glory than that of the insect that glitters
| in the sunbeam-to be as the FREELY, or
the hunfming- -birdY You spoke of the
greatness of my husband. His dear
mother ever looked well 20 the ways of
her household. She taught him to be in
dustrious by her example. for her spin
ning wheel spun the clothes he wore
from his earliest days; and she, like my
L
looked, as she spoke, at her knitting
Ladies, during eight years of ceaseless
struggle. the woman Of America-the
mothers of the land-spent no money
on finery for themselves. They spent all
their available means in providing cloth
ing for the army, which, tut that succor,
must have perished in our long and Bit
ter winters. do not wish to boast; ]
did only my duty; nay, I know it was
my privilege, as Washington's wife, to
toll for the men under his command.
always went into winter quarters with
him. In summer time 1 and his mother
and my friends were at our spinning
wheels. Once, in the winter, had six
teen looms under enc roof, all weaving
cloth coarse, indeed, butwarm zsfor the
soldiers of the nation. Trust me, wo
man WAS made for nobler ends thar
nerel5 TO display ftnery, which mars
rather thsn improves the graces that ma
ture has bestowed"
"I know" said one Of the ladies
thoughtful, ''tbat Mrs. Sarah Bsche, the
daughter of Benjamin Franklln, solo
her ornaments and all tlint she coult
possibly spare to commence fund
which other ladies in Philedelphia were
induced TO aid, both by h,tnd and purse
They made, remember {, 200 shirts il
one season for the army"
"Yes, dear young ladies, the example
of Franklin's daughter Influenced th'
, less thoughtful, but not less kind heart
, ed ladies of that city. One faithful wo
, man-how much she can do TO check th'
influence of luxury and folly! Oui
countrywomen, before the troubles, hec
grown fond of foreign fashions, and /
was feared that, as we depended for lux
/ uries ON Europe, the patriotic desire fol
| Independence might be checked by I
, cause so trivial and yet so dangerous al
the frippery OF female fashions. Mrs
, Warren, remember, did good service
to the cause of liberty and truth, wher
, in a poem she wrote, she satirizcd he
{ countrywomen's love of dress"
, "That poem," said another lady, "wa'
one suggested by the remark of frient
of hers: "that all articles of foreign com
merce should be dispensed with, excep
} absolute necessaries." 1 remember Mrs
{ Warren amusingly put down fanciat
. last of articles an American lady coulC
D not dispense with; forget the words
but"
"I cen find them," said the lady Prisi
| dent, reaching her hand to book ON t.,
shelves, behind her, and, after lit
} tie search, coming to the words:
An inventory clear
D OF all she needs, Lamira offers here:
Some lawns and lutestrings, blonde ant
Mechlin laces,
Fringes and jewels, fans and tweezer cases
Gay cloaks and hats Of every shape an
size,
| Scarfs, cardinals, and ribbons of all dyes.
! With ruffies stamped, and aprons of tam
/. bour;
Tippets and handkerchiefs at least thre
score,
Add feathers, furs rich satins and ducapef
: And head-dresses in pyramidal shapes,
s So we ak Lamira and her wants so few
/ Who can refuse7 They're but her sex's due
9 In youth, indeed. an antiquated page.
Taught us the tllreat'nings Of q Hebrew
/, sage
Gainst wimples, mantles, curls, and crisp
ing pins;
= But rank not these among our modern sins
r Our minds and manners are well under
, stood
q To settle in stomacher and hood
!; The poor ladies, as the inventory wa
/ read over, looked down. at their dresse
y with dismay. Almost every article en-
r umerated they were wearing. Impress
o ed, not offended, they left the presenc'
j, of the noble nfatron, bearing her word
y in their minds, and, it is to be hoped
9 their influence in their hearts; for sh'
Q gave not merely the precept of the lip
4 but the example of her life. Harper
: Bozaar.