St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-10-30
Letter From Boston.
SILK CULTURE NEW INDUSTRY FOR
WOMEN BOOKS AND PLAYS.
Boston. Oct. Is. 1884

ages a silk farm in the outskirts OF
that city, which gives employment to
every member of her family from the
grandfather, an old man of eighty four,
to the little brother of seven, has stim-
ulated other women all over the conn
try to ut least inquire into her meth
DDS. and when people, either men OF
women, are sufficiently aroused to ask
questions and write letters, you may
be sure that something tangible will
be the result. Miss Rossiter literally
controls the silk-worm egg market of
the country, and she has told the story
of her plans of work in very inter
esting pamphlet, which has passed
through its eighth edition, AID is cir
culated III the proportion of five thou
sand copies year. Isn't that n record
for young girl ? Her success has
come largely through her enthusiasm
and how else is success in any
branch induced Half hearted work
accomplishes nothing. One must go
at whatever they undertake with Il
will, that shall compel success. Miss
Rossiter has an exhibition at the Insti-
| tute fair in the wOman's department,
which is full of interest. 1t was Sc
cured by Mrs. Marion Mcbride, the
manager of the department, who is
fully awake to the Importance of this
new industry, that enables women to
carry on remuneratiye employment
in their own homes. Mrs. Mcbride has
made Il thorough and special study of
the subject, and has prepared IL circu-
lar which tells the whole story. viii
you pardon me if allow Mrs. Mcbride
to speak for herself She could tell
the story better than | could and much
more understandingly. She says,
among other interesting things: The
interest in silk culture in Massachu-
setts dates back to 1851, when a man
ual of silk culture was issued by order
of Gov. Lincoln in response to re-
quest of the legislature for general in
formation for the people regarding the
mulberry tree, with practical directions
for the culture of silk. The report of
the chairman of the committee SAYS:
The committee have examined the
subject attentively and find it to be of
much greater Importance than was
at first supposed. They are satisfied
beyond doubt that we have the pow
ter to produce and manufacture silk in
this commonwealth to an immense eX-
tent, and that no difficulty is to he en-
countered either from soil or climate
The white mulberry tree is easily cul-
tivated, does not require the best soil,
serves valuable purpose for hedges,
and is highly ornamental. Little cap
ital is required to commence the cul-
tnre of silk, except that capital which
consists i'll knowledge. The spare
time of many ladies and the whole
time of vast multitude of young wo-
men could he used to good advantage,
and a new revenue he instituted which
would ultimately become self-support-
ing. The results from silk culture are
so purely artistic in nature that the
most cultivated women are its support
ers. The leaves of the tree are valu-
able i'll their silk producing qualities,
while the fruit is excellent for poultry.
Five hundred mulberry trees have
been presented to the woman's depart
ment by Mr.. Porter of the NonOtuck
Silk company of Florence, Mass.
These trees will be presented to any
woman who desires to start the cul-
ture of silk in New England. Orders
received at any time. The trees will
be shipped from Mr.. Porter's nursery
in April, 1885. Orders for silk worm
eggs will he filled through the Wo-
mans Silk Culture association of the
United States. Any woman who de-
sires to know more on this subject can
gain information by writing to Mrs.
Marion Mcbride, manager of the
Woman's Department, New England
Institute, Boston.
! One of the prettiest stories that
have read for many day is Tip Cat"
an English story by the author of f"Lad-
die,n and "Miss TOosey's Mission"
that has been recently published by
Roberts Brothers. 1t is literally de-
light. The style is pure, simple and
clear, the English unexceptionable.
and the story itself sweet and touch
ing. "Tip Cat" is an animal, as the
name would suggest, but is also the
name of rough English squire, Clip
ton Cathcart," a man who has with
| drawn from the world and society, and
who presents the most forbidding ex-
terror to those with whom he comes in
contact; but the crust of reserve and
! surliness is broken through by two
dear little girls, whose childish hands
| the world grow to be on better terms.
1t is a lovely story and one to be
widely read. The same house has also
| published a volume of short stories by
Sherwood Bonner" the late Mrs.
Katherine Mcdowell, whose sad death,
just as she was in the flush of her lit
erary success, seems like a tragedy.
remember when Mrs. Mcdowell first
dawned upon Boston with her wonder
ful beauty, her southern impetuosily,
and her genius, which was genuine,
| though unframed. She made many