The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-29
A Miracle OF Rags.
ISan Erancisco CALL


1t only shows what a woman can do, and
there's no disputing the fact that a woman
can do more, when she makes her mind
up to it, than any man living. They
tell OF one Xerxes who split mountain
I'm two with one blow Of his club, and they
tell OF one Hercules, who did divers and
sundry stupendOus things, but these stories
are all too fiimsy TO stand the test Of in
vestigation. The fact Is, Xerxes, so far
from subduing mountain barriers. was
himself incontinently overcome and van
pushed at Thermopyla, and AS to
Hercules and the Lernian hydra and
the Augean stables, and all that,
they never had any eXistance at all,
except In the Imagination OF some story
teller. And even IL they had done all they
are credited with, the world Is none the
better of for IL. One good woman, with
knitting-needle In her hand and few
rags at her command, will accomplish more
for the good OF her fellow-being In twenty
four hours than the whole catalogue Of
ancient heroes and deni-divinities OF whom
volumes have been written and cantos
sung. Nor need we go away from Califor-
mia to find these practical female head and
hand-workers. At the rear OF No. 20il
Dupont street lives Mrs. Kate Hammas and
her husband, Lars II. Hammar. They are
both swedes by birth, but Americans by
adoption and In spirit. Mrs. Hammar has
set an example to the women OF California
and everywhere else worthy OF imi-
tation. In their unpretentious dwelling
she has small apartment which she and
her husband call their "rag parlor." 1t Is
filed with beautiful articles OF her bandi-
work, wrought with the tatting-needle, the
knitting-k needle. and little steel hook.
The product OF the latter, especially, is
something to excite admiration. She buys
few common jute or grain-sacks, for
which she pays 10 cents each, and quantity
0f such little bits OF common material as
dressmakers throw away as useless. for the
merest trihe. With these. and the applI-
cation OF her genius and manual skill.
she manufactures a carpet or rug
which challenges comparison with the
famed fabrics that are imported from
the Orient. The most conspicuous
piece Of work is carpet twelve feet
square, In enc piece. With the exception
OF the base, or ground, II is made entirely
OF little scraps Of cotton or other goods.
II has right side and wrong side, but
The figures show the same on both sides.
The design represents q rural home en-
powered among the trees, with birds fiyinp
among the branches. A stream flows pasi
the home, and In small pond In the fore.
ground swins graceful black swan. The
carpet has the appearance, except upon
very close inspection, Of heavy Administer.
IL IL soft TO the tread, and will
last On ordinary lifetime. II was
made by Mrs. Hammar during her
leisure moments, and although 1t appears
70 represent vest amount Of labor,
yet the lady says II was the pastime Of her
leisure hours-the hours she could spare
from her regular housekeeping DUTIES
during period OF about six months, and
she does all her own homework, even TO
the family washing and taking care Of their |
child. This piece Of work alone, 10 say |
Dothing 81 the Iace-ciutains, the Tides, the
'ttcmsns, snd sofa-coven she has wrought,