Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-03-30

mitigatedftbe suferines Of the sol'lIers during
the terrible struggle for independence. SOME
how their faces soon lo,, the defiant air aud
vain simper they had worn when they first
entered her presence, and had deepened into
seriousness and respectful attention as the wifo
of Washington, after hearing them said
Ladies. you came to advise me, and as far
as kindness prompted you, am obliged for
the motive though cannot act on your sug-
sostions. You are all in the bloom Of life
Many years, trust, are before you. Ny age,
even more, fsr more, than my station, sane
tions my giving you some advice. Dear la
dies 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 stters in the sunbeam-to
be as the frehy or the humming-bird? You
spoke Of the greatness Of my husband. His
dear mother ever looked we'll to the way Of
her household. She taught him to be indus
trious by her example-for her spinning-wheel
spun the clothes he were from bis earliest days,
and she, like myself, loved the knitting
needles" (Sho looked, as she spoke, at her
knittingl
Ladies, during eight years of cesselcss
struggle, the women Of America, the mothers
of the land, spent no money on inery for
themselves. They spent all their availal 10
means in providing clothing for the array.
which, but for the succour, must have perisbed
in our long and bitter winters. / do not wish
to boast I did only my duty nay, know it
was my privilege, as WashingtOn's wife, to
toll for the men under his cominanG. / al
ways went into winter quarters with him
In summer time ! and his mother and my
friends were at our spinning wheels. Oncein
the winter, had sixteen looms under one
roof, all weaving cloth--coarse, indeed but
warm-for the soldiers of the nation. Trust
me, woman was made for nobler ends than
merely to display inery, which mars rather
than improves the graces that nature has be-
slowed"
al know said one Of the ladies, thought
| fully, that Mrs Sarah Bache, the daughter
Of DR.. Benjamin Franklin, sold her ornaments
and all she could possibly spare, to commence
fund, which other ladies in Philadelphia
were induced to aid, both by hand and purse.
They made, remember, 2,200 shirts in ons
season for the army"
"Yes. dear young ladies, the example of
Franklin's daughter influenced less thoughtful
but not less kind-hcartcd ladies Of that city
| One faithful woman-how much she cau do 10
check The influence Of luxury aud folly. Our
country-women, before the troubles, had grown
fond Of foreign fashions, and it was feared that
rs we depended for uxuries on Europe, the
patriotic desire for independence might be
checked by cause so trivial aud yet 50 dang
erous as the fiippery Of female fashions. Mrs.
Warren, | remember, did good service to the
cause Of liberty and truth when, in poem
she wrote, she aatirized her couniry-women's
love Of dress
"That poem, said another lady, :. wa, once
suggested by the remark Of friend Of hers
That all articles Of foreign commerce should
lie dispensed with, excep. absolute neces-
saries.' remember Mrs. Warren anus
ingy puts down faneied list Of articles au
American lady could not dispense with. l
forget the words, but
lean find them" said lie lady President,
reaching her hand to book On the shelves be-
bind her, and, after little .eareb, coming to
the words.
An inventory clear
Ofall she needs. Lamira offers here,
Some lawns and lutte strings, blonde and Mechlin
laces,
Fringes and jewels, fahs and tweezer casos;
Gay cloaks and hats Of every shape and size
Scarfs, cardinals and ribbons Of all dyes
With ruilies stamped and aprons Of tsmb0ur;
Tippcts and handkerchief at least three score,
And feathers, furs, rich satins and ducapcs,
And head dresses In pyrauidal shapes.
SO weak Lamira, and her wants 20 few,
Who can refuse? They're but her sex's due,
In youth, indeed, an antiquated page
Taught us tho threatning Of Hebrew sage
Gainst wimples, mantles, curls and crisping plus;
But rank not these among our modern sins.
Our minds and manners well understood
Tosettle in 4 stomacher and hood.
The poor ladies, as the inventory was read
over, looked down at their dresses with dis
7 may. Almost every article enumerated they
were wearing. Impressed, not offended, they
left the presence Of the noble matron, bearing
her words in their minds, and, il is to be hoped,
their influence in their hearts for she gave
not merely the prccep. Of the lip, but the ex-
ample Of her life HdTpeys' Brznr.