The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-10-10
WAR Time ExPEplENTs.
Some Facts Illustrating the Proverb that
Necessity fs the Mother Of Inyention"
Life In the South During the War.

some Facts Illustrating the Proverb that
Necessity fs the Mother Of Inyention"
Life In the South During the War.
Perhaps, taking everything into con-
siderstion. 40 portion Of the Confed-
sracy "during our late unplessantness"
was so destitute Of the necessities Of
life as that portion lying on the South
srn sea board and forming part of the
States Of Mississippi, Alabama snt
Florida. The great industries of these
States. that is, that portion situated as
explained above, was timber, lumber.
resin, tar, pitch and turpentine. The
soil is not favorable. except in favored
spots, for cultivation. Consisting of
vast level fsts, the top soil Of loan is
very thin, while Immediately beneath it
is heavy pipe clay, while the only
vegetation that seems to thrive are the
great forests of pine. These, skirting
the Gulf of Mexico, following the coast
line for several hundred miles. and with
a breadth ranging from one to two
hundred miles, form the well-known
pine meadows, destined in years to
come to be a prolific sottrce OF wealth
to the South. Perhaps with us.
who resided in this portion Of the
Confederacv, the first necessity, after
the small supply on hand was ex-
hausted, was salt. = This was a need
soon felt, and it is unnecessary to add
that pound of it soon became very
precious. Old brine that had done duty
until it could be used no longer was
boiled down until every particle of
saline matter was extracted from it,
and the salt thus obtained was again in
its turn used in the same manner. As
the supply became scarcer and scarcer.
the next method, or rather recourse,
was to dig up the smoke-house and to
filter water through the earth thus OBJ
tanned, this in turn being subjected to
the usual process of boiling in order to
obtain the precious condiment, Sd
scarce did it become as the war wore
on, that when beeve was killed. in
stead of sailing down in barrels as at
first, it became more economical to.cut
the flesh into thin strips and dry il in the
sun. 1t must be confessed that beef
treated in this manner is more palatable
than most persons would imagine. They
who lived near the coas. Jared somewhat
better, for taking the boilers from the
various saw-mills, they separated
the shells from the .fues, and splitting
them into equal halves, strong head
of wood was fitted into the ends and
thus treated they were placed over a
furnace and filled with the salt water
from the Gulf OF course the business
had its reverses. for sometimes the
blockading squadron, attracted by the
smoke, would move up and with few
shells completely demolish the salt
works. The salt kettles, Being made of
old boilers, were too heavy for the
enemy to carry off, and as no damage
beyond knocking out the wooden heads
could be inflicted, the salt manufacturers
would, with indefatigable energy when
the hostile fleet removed to safe dis
lance, gather up the debris make few
repairs and recommence boiling.
The ingenuity of the people was to
replace the various articles of clothing
and the different domestic Injuries.
Old dresses, old coats were turned and
made over, remodeled and cut down
The writer remembers well what pang
Of envy was awakened within his
bosom going to ball one night to find
| that the attentions of-the fair ones were
all bestowed on an acquaintance who
made his advent that evening in a
bright, spick, span new pair of panta-
| looms, made of new ticking, with
broad, blue stripes, cut bias.
Perhaps the easiest problem for us to
solve amid our various troubles was
that of making hats. Fortunately the
81 <,f rxal. l.
swamps is in 3 manner speaking mex.
haustible, and from this source we were
soon compelled by the course of events
to draw our supply of hats. We soon
learned to improve upon the first rude
models, and when the war was brought
| to close some of the ladies, especially,
had acquired taste and proficiency
The palmetto hats they made would not
have reflected discredit upon fashion.
able halter The heart of the palmetto
is generally selected as being still hello
together, and not being sprouted out
and unfolded into the fan-shaped leal
so familiar to travellers in the South
| While in this condition the folds lie one
upon another, and are perfectly white
and pliable. After being severed from
the main trunk it is opened out and
hung in the shade to dry. About
weeks drying suffices to pre-
pare it for use. 1t is now
separated, each fold from the other
ard cut into convenient lengths, then di
vided into little strips about an eighth
of an inch in width, and these in turr
plated or braided together into one con.
tinuous braid until of sufficient length
to make the hat. The hat itself was
always commenced from the center Of
the crown by sewing the braid together
in slightly overlapping circles. The
rim, as finishing touch, was generally
bound with braid.
Keenly felt was the need of ammuni
ton. Owing to the stringency of the
| blockade it soon became almost impos
sible to obtain either powder or lead
The latter was the first to give out, and
in order to supply this need all the ma
chinery was taken apart and all the old
boxes, filings, etc.. were put to new
use-converted into shot. As there
we're no shot towers the favorite method
was to climb the tallest tree one coulc
| find. melt the lead as well as we could
in the top and let the liquid metal drot
into a tub of cold water beneath. The
result thus obtained would scarcely
have awakened envy on the part o.
some Of our modern shot manufacturers
but in the language of an old moss
back" who was compelled to resort tc
this expedient lit beat nothing all
holler. Detroit Free Press.
DIDN'T KNOW HOW.