The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-03-21
LAuoAAeLE INolpENr.
HSw Some Tennessee Girls Were Irrii ,feA
by a Negro Woman.

A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Times writes from Tennessee AFTER the
sederals had captured Memphis and Nash
VILE this section of Tennessee felt az forci-
bic the direful effects of the blockade as did
Virginia. Indeed no country felt it more
severely. Our people, however, were by no
means paupers Though it was possible to
smueyle goods from Memphis, the frustra-
ton that generally follows desperate civil
war seemed TO have taken complete posses
sion Of the people. There was grave un-
certainty in succeeding in the effort to
smuggle as well as in keeping possession of
the article when procured. Here, however,
would state that except raids by jay
havkersn and the successful carrying out
BY the homemade Yankees OF their
aseming purpose Of joining our foes--to rob
their countrymen-we were not sorely az
gravated by plundererr. In other words
The regular United States troops conducted
themselves with some civility. When some
sntarprisipg individual did succeed in SNUG
Cling, he was well paid for taking his
chances" A barrel OF salt, for instance,
would readily bring 800 in gold; Calico
81 per yard, and other things in same pro-
portion. 1t would not do to dress family
and slaves in such costly goods as calico, so
the spinning wheel aud loom were made
active. Our young ladies looked as pretty
10 their war costumes - in any other, and
their sweethearts never failed to tell them
SO. Nevertheless, they used tact and oil the
ingenuity known to woman to keep up
with the styles. AT o country residence, at
tending school, were number of very pref
ty young lady boarders. By some means
they learned that hoops were all the vogue
in the fashionable world, and at once re-
solved to have them. The writer, whether
from his well-known gallantry or because of
his acquaintance with the premises-perhaps
both-was selected to escort them 70 place
where there were many grape vines. This
he cheerfully did. Selecting . sufficient
quantity, they were soon polished and so
tastefully arranged that they answered every
purpose. On the farm there lived very
black and robust negress, who, though de-
void of all fascination, was very proud and
always styled herself "a dark-skin white
lady" So when Josephine (for that was
her name) learned "dat de white girls had
hopes outern grape vines" she went
stralghtway and secured very stout ones, but
she failed to polish them aud exhibited
want Of art in the construction as well as ig-
noranoe as to the size the hoops should be.
With the spinning.wheel aud loom to clothe
many no allowance was made ia the cut aud
makeup of Josephine's dress for the great
upheavd soon to be made Anyhow, she
was proud and unwilling not to be In tho
style. On a certain bright Sabbath morn
ing when tho birds we're singing their
sweetest songs aud squirrels gayly "skip.
ping" from branch TO branch-for we could
been taken from as or were well concealed
tive boys" found ourselves "out for
walk" in company with the young ,sdies,
enjoying the SCENERY. JOS phine, In the
meantime, had uuwraped her wool after
six month tie, aud decorated her body with
her hoops aud her best dress. Thus array
ed she started for = de big house." when she
suddenly espieu our party. turning her
steps directly toward US, she made rapid
strides in our direction with proud wall
that was peculiarly her own. She passed il
full view. The cheeks OF tho young ladies
suddenly became rosy. There seemed to be
no way of escape but the young ladies did
oscape-by promiscuous wall-off." Long
will remember poor Josephine's sad coun-
tenance when abe received pcremptory
orders to go and divest herself of her grape
vines