Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-01
1t is one of the little things that naturally
| falls to yoman's share

1t is one of the little things that naturally
falls to woman's share.
Thus it is that we mention that silk culture
should become a home industry-not to
| find place in the homes of the rich, but
in the homes of the poor and industrious.
In just such as yours, my dear Ruth, Will
the fairy of the silk-worm smile and wave
her wand. Your daughter and smaller
| children have no value attached to their
labor, but they are wild to earn little
money for themselves. They can spend
| thirty-five days, all working together, each
! spring. bringing mulberry leaves to feed
the ravenous gourmands that have Just
| come into life and are preparing for long
| fast. They can learn the best methods and
study all the silk-worm habits, and en-
deavor to raise the very best cocoons-for it
makes a big difference in the quality
of the silk-and big difference in the
price per pound-whether they are prop
erly cared for or not and then they can
send their supply to the State Board, and
obtain from 81 to 81 40 per pound for the
cocoons. One might as well undertake to
raise a good number of pounds as only a
| few, for the time required is the same in
each case, and the result of the seasons
work is very discouraging if only pound
or two is sent to the city. Two or three
dollars is miserable result, but what can
one expect if he undertakes no more? II
would be the same as raising several dozen
eggs to send to market In this way silk
culture may succeed, by the utilizing of IN
productive labor In Italy and in China, ii
is the women and children who develop
the unproductive labor into the productive
by means of the silk industry.
Now, would it not make all the difference
between the pinch of poverty and little
comfort to have that fifty or sixty dollars
come into the family each year. just by en-
ployiDg the children's spare moments be-
tween times? | could write you many
instances where this is being done, both
here and in Philadelphia. One is of Bay ard
Taylor's mother She was old and feeble
(about 75), and too lame TO walk. But each
day she had her chair rolled into her room
set apart for the purpose, and there with
her own hands, she fed and raised her
worms, receiving 800 for her labors from
the Philadelphia branch. | have myself
seen one of the cocoons and a sample of
silk thread made from her collection.
A certain school teacher of our own
city, while taking a vacation for her
health over in San Rafael, raised and sold
$50 worth to our silk market. A certain
French lady in Sonoma county raises them
every year. and sells the eggs to q f-m in
Italy Several old Frenchmen. VINO are
past active life, and who know all about
silk-culture, are now devoting themselves
to its interests in Tuolumne county, and
are anxiousiy hoping that it may be placed
on firm basis. Hundreds of cases
prove that it will work; but it
must be those who are con-
tent to add little to a mar
row income, and not those who
are anxious TO get rich in a day.
With the State to continue its encourage
ment, and keeping up a market for the
buying of cocoons, with plentiful growth
of mulberry trees dotting the foothills,
with farmers wives and daughters to sup
ply the demand, the industry of silk culture
will run itself, and become in time the
source of great wealth to our State.
The ravens still croak, and will to the
end but we must remember that all new
industries provoke opposition, and that the
silk manufacturers consider that home
sales.--future is their worst enemy. They
fear that if it succeeds an extra tariff will
be placed on raw silk, to protect the home
industry, and that this will involve an ad-
ditional outlay and larger capital in their
business.
1t is narrow policy for as nation we
80 SUHNi "a iNJplSc t'SCbHtI. w hat llIlS
us must lift them in time; and theirs. like
any other system, can adapt itself to
events. Another thing which looms up in
the future is in regard TO the Chinese prob
lem, which will be solved before many
years are past, and then, when in return
China shuts her ports to us, and keeps her
raw silk at home to manufacture herself
(for China is nothing if not paternal in her
government aflairs) then. perhaps with
manufactures closed for lack of material,
they will see the wisdom of our course.
and be glad that we have accomplished
even so much.
Now | hope you understand the silk
question as it stands in California If we
could get thousand women like you to
take it up, persuading their husbands to
plant mulberries. and every spring raise
the cocoons, the same as chickens, with
patience and intelligence-then the silk
culture would have fair start, and make a
grand record for itself
Remember me kindly to your daughter,
and believe me, my dear Ruth, your earn
est wellwisher and friend.
ELLA STERLING CUMMINs.