The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-27
THE Sc WING MACHINE,

| Womans natural protector, man, i'm
agined he saw in the sewing machine, tn,
great enemy of woman, which was to re
duce. her to abiect want where she wa.
alone dependent upon her needle for liy.
ng.
United, the two presented strong force
IN opposition to the introduction of this
| great invention, which was destined to be-
come the great food and raiment furnisher
to the millions OF working women scat
tered throughout the world.
Instead of proving an injury to the nee
die women, it has really bscoms their
friend, by which they are enabled to earn
with greater ease more comfortable living
a1d yet we fnd 10 the rural districts,
an opposition to it as bitter as it first
experienced
Ls' us take one example from the many
which are furnished us, and prove that tha
sewing machine has increased the general
prosperity of the working classes to de-
gree unexceled by any ordinary improve
ment.
twenty years ago lady required from
eight to ten yards Of ordinary goods to
make her complete dress the trimmings
were few and simple, requiring for its COM
pletion the labor of sewing girl but a
few hours. We then imagined our wives
and daughters were dressed magnifcently
land they were, too, in our opinion). but
what would be thought by our fashionable
bellies if the 'girl of the period" would
appear upon one of our fashionable streets
wearing dress containing only ten yards
OF goods I'VE decline to repeat what
would be said of her,
Now, she must purchase from twenty |
to forty yards of goods, with pile of
requiring horse and wagon to
deliver, and several days work upon the
last stitching machine, in order to appear
fashionably attired. The tucks, louncees.
&C., &c, (being without lady by our side
we are unable to extend our notice of the
various names applied to the numerous
side shows" required for fashionable
lress,) would require the united labor Of
dozen or more girls to complete in a
week; in fact, it would be impossible to
ind womeL enough to dress the ladies Of
he present day without the sewing ma.
hine. We have then the evidence of
increased labor from the fact that, to begin
It the foundation, thousands are engaged
q the manufacture of the machine itself.
s many more are required to furnish the
dditional quantity of goods, and as many
nore to make the extra trimmings. In
he item of fashionable dress-making alone
1e have an increase of labor, and expendi-
lres by the rich which have increased ten
Did the interests of the sewing girls.
A laudable competition has sprung up
etween the inventors and improvers of ,,
swing machines, until We are enabled to
ote more than dozen different standard
uoS nhohuiaStuiou aiouuu anu uedi u.s.
ceiling aswe do considerable interest in the !
lbjscts of improvement and progress, we t
iall inform ourselves with reference to the J
erits OF those seeking public favor aud
We our views of them.
We trust our country friends will dis =
.rd their prejudice to these labor. saving, !;
.alth-giving aids to their wives and o
Iughters, and invest some of they sur Il
us means in them, now lying idle, while
cir loved ones are bending over the old
shioned needle, destroying their health, Y
nd driving the happy smiles from their . .
Iseks. q