Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-01-19
NUMBER 21.
\ save The Raa..


JnrnaI are to be found the following
curiosities Of advertising, showing the
great importance that We attached 70
rags hundred years ago.
In 1856 it was announced in the Bos-
ton Neacs Letter that the bell-cart viii
90 through Boston before the end Of
the next month to collect rags for the
paper mill at Milton, when aIl people
that viii encourage the paper manu-
factory may dispose Of them" In order
to more thoroughly arouse public zeal
in the matter, the following lines were
appended to the advertisement:
sRags are as beauties, which concealed lie,
But when in paper how 1t charms the eye
Pray save your rags, new beauties to discover,
For paper, truly, every ones lover.
BY the pen ard press such knowledge is dis
played,
As wouldn't exist if paper was not made.
Wisdom Of things, mysterious, divine,
nlustriously doth on paper shine"
In 1901, David Buel, the postmaster
Of Troy, N. Y, published the following
appeal to housekeepers, under the head
ing, "Please to Save Your Rags Z ''The
press contributes more to the diffusion
Of knowledge and information than amy
other msdium; rags are the primary
requisite in the manufacture Of paper
and without paper, the newspapers OF
our country, those cheap, useful and
agreeable companions Of the citizen and
farmer, which, in political and moral
view, are Of the highest national import
ance, must decline and be extinguished.
The paper mills Of the state, could the
poor and the opulent. the farmer and the
mechanic, be persuaded into the laudable
frugality of saving rags, would turn out
ample supplies Of American paper to
answer all demands. The people OF
Massachusetts, and Connecticut, with
true American zeal, have introduced
this exemplary saving into the economy
of their houses. The latter, By 2 fair
calculation, makes yearly saving OF
rags to the actual amount Of
$50, 900. The ladies in several OF the
large towns display an elegant work bag
as part of the furniture in their
parlors, in which every rag that is used
in the paper mill is carefully preserved.
Were this example inflated, this stats
would not be drained Of Its circulating
cash for paper and other manufactures
which American artists can furnish.
The poor, by the mere saving OF rags,
may be enabled to procure paper and
books for schools and family use, or
more agreeable articles of dress or con-
sumption. The rich who regard the
interest Of their country, will direct
their children or domesties to put
bag or box in some convenient place, as
deposit for rags, that none may be
lost by being swept into the street or
fire y; the sale Of which savings will
reward the attention Of the faithful
servant, and encourage the prosperous
habit of prudence and enterprise"
In 1908 an appeal to the ladies for
rags was larded with these forcible
and unique Establishments "SaTe your
rags This exclamation is particularly
addressed to the ladies, both young, old
and middle aged, throughout the
northern part Of this state, by the
subscribers, who have erected q paper
mill in Moreau. near Fort Edward nor
is it thought that this appeal 70 our fair
countrywomen will be in vain, when they
reflect that without their assistance they
cannot be supplied with the useful article
of paper. If the necessary stock is
denied paper mills, young maids must
laneuish in vain for tender epistles from
their respective swans bachelors may
be reduced to the necessity Of personal
attendance upon the fair. when written
communication would be an excellent
substitute. For clean cotton and linen
rags of every color and description,
matrons can be furnished with Bibles,
spectacles and snuff; mothers with
grammars, sreIling books and primers
for their children; and young misses
may be supplied with bcnnets, ribbons
and earrings for the decoration Of their
persons, Cby means Of which they may
obtain husbands), or by sending them
to the said mill, they may receive the
cash."
In 1916 "Cramer's Pittsburg Almanac"
contained this advertisement
"RAGs RAGS I'VE again entreat
our economical housewives TO take care
that not an atom of this valuable article
is lost. To them you are indebted for
your Bible, the education Of your
children, and the fair maid, however
nice in handling those nasty things, viii
have means Of holding correspon-
dence with what she holds most dear
on earth-a sweetheart. See how i'm
portant !"
Sweet ladies, pray be not offended,
Nor mind the jest Of sneering wags;
No harm, believe us, is intended,
When humbly we request your rags.'n