National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-07-29
MINOR TOPICS.


FoR the first time since 1861 the imports
Of coin and bullion into the United States
exceeded the value of tho exports of tho same
tho excess reaching the very remarkable to-
tai Of $73,000,000, That is to say, the United
States exported for the year ending June 30
some 81, 100000 of coin and bullion, aud inn
ported at least ss5,5O0,oOO of the precious
MosT Of tho southern states from motives Of
economy have adopted the plan of hiring out
convicts instead of employing them in poni-
Tertiary. Some are employed In building
some in furnaces, some in mines,
while some have even been hired to planters.
From every state adopting tho system there
have come stories Of dreadful cruelty and hor-
rible mortality. In Georgia, South Carolina
aud Tennessee a sentence Of three or four
years is equivalent to death sentence.
Whereas tho death.rato in pcnitontiaries is
only about thirty to the thousand per annum,
tho rate of death among hired convicts in
South Carolina has reached as high as two
hundred TO the thousand Georgia has fur
nshed equally terrible results. 1t was for
exposing some of the horrible cruelties Of the
convict pens that Aston met his death In At
lanta. An awful story Of cruel whppings and
other tortures comes now from Shelby county,
Tenn. The "big black strap" swung from
morning until night, aud tho unfortunate
prisoners were cut and laceratcd fearfully by
the convict guards. The investigation just
made has developed facts which would sicken
a savage.
THE Newark Daily Adreriiscr regrets to
learn that General Grant is to go into min
ing company, and hopes that there may yet
DO room to doubt it. 1t says; There are
certain professions that a man cannot quit
without some loss of sel(-respect. A states
man should remain "a statesman, o preacher
should hold on to the pulpit, and it would be
better for both soldiers aud sailors, If they
have won distinction, to cling to their call
ings or else return 10 that dignifiod private
life which Is the common resource Of all men
weary Of work. That our ox-presidents may
be able to do this there should be liberal
pension allowed. When tho nation has called
a citizen to such an office, higher and more
powerful than throne, they should see to it
that lie is not forced thereafter by poverty to
enter In old age into that scramble for bread
which belongs to the young, or to those whose
plan Of life leads only in that direction. Most
of our presidents have, like Cncinnatus, re-
tired from power to tho pillow. We can re.
call no instance in which an ex.presdcnt has
gone back to active life in any profession cr
trade outside of agriculture, and no one has
followed that us necessity. Whatever Gem
oral Grant may do there is no one but will wish
him success and even his enemies will regret
his connection with an enterprise with which
he can hardly DO familiar, and which carries
with it more Of the speculative and hazard
ous than any other business venture claiming
TO be respectable"
THAT women with skill and tact can dress
well on small means has been often remarked,
1t has been said, especially by women, ~ don't
see how she does it." 1t is proposed in this
article to show how it may be done. A
lady in the New York Erening Mail her.
self once dressmalier, shows by rule
and figure the exact size of the facts.
She visited the most fashionable magasins DIES
modes in New York, and singled out several
very elegant and several plain dresses One
was black silk trimmed with beaded passe-
menterie and beaded fringe, the price oil
which was $175. The other was a plain
brown combination suit of mixed goods
partly self-trimmed and very simply made
It's cost was $35. Both were stylish and ele
CANT. Now tho actual cost of the first was
as follows: Twelve yards gross grain silk, al
50 so per yard, $50; a yards fringe, $125 pei
pard, $562l; Innings, bones sewing silks and
braids $3.50; yards passementerie, IS; l cord
and piquets, 81; II dozen crotchet buttons
! 81 12l; total for materials, $i525. In addi
ton three days work of two hands, ut 50
day EACH S12; total, $6O25. This leaves the
| fashionable dressmaker q profit of STATS
There are very few sewing women who get S;
day, especially for the last few years. Ont
dollar day is the ordinary pay at present
| for operative dressmakers. Tho $50 dress cos
as follows: Eight yards Saline, 40 cents yard
| 1920; yards cardinal satin, 81 per yard So
Innings bones, silks, etc, 60 cents; tota
materials, $3.50; work of Q hands / day, 81
total cost, $3.50; profit to dressmakcr, SEQ 20
The milliners make even greater profits thai
the modistes. Take the highest retail pric
for the very best materials for a summer bon
net 9li''Oi 10 lOllOMb' EIlc TcnCu cup DOl
net $3.50; 2 yards hno Chantilly lace, S.;
yards satin brocade ribbon, $1.9j; bandsom
French flowers, So; buckle or cut crystal orna
ment, $1.50; lining, satin for stirring, etc
70 cents; one hours labor, 81. Tho miliner
sell this bonnet for $50, making profit G
SO? so. Now any woman of ordinary tact an
smartness can make her own dresses or bon
nets, or what is bettor, hire the work done b
good, siillful sewing women, who would
glad to work for 81 per day. Tho resul
would be beneficial to all parties concerned
except the fashionable modlstes, who fo
many years past have charged such exorbitau
prices and grown rich on them, whilo the
pay their help the lowest possible wage
POLIIICIL NOTES.
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