Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-02-05
WAR MAKESHIFTS.
DEVICES ADOPTED BY WOMEN IN THE CON-
PBDBRACY.
Pathetic Anecdotes and Incidents Of HardShlPs ID Inc
Sou,h-HOw a Wedding Dress Was Made
Recipe for "Jsf Davis" Pies.
.Lennls s. Jedson. IN coerter,J0urnat.

| SluuEDI
ticed by the fair ladies of the C~ontederacy
during the last years Of the war? Inc
uuestion OF dress became a perplexed one
after all ports were blockaded by Northern
vessels and all frontier posts were held by
Northern troops, and wOman's wit was Sc
verely taxed in order to make a good ap-
pearance from the materials at her com
mand.
An occasional fashion journal, however,
as well as dresses, bonnets, shoes, etc,
would be Struggled through the lines or
run the blockade" and a sight of these
interesting and fabulous h~igh'priced arti,
cles, bringing glimpSeS of that outer-Worid
from which he was so completely edged
in. only served as al incentive for further
achieyents, and to furnish models from
which TO fashion homemade garments. For
instance, my little four. year-Old sister De-
came the happy pOssessor OF a small leg
horn chspeau, daintily trimmed with blue
ana gray velvet, which had run the block
AIDE and cost $50. Twas too small
for myself, the elder Of the two, and my
mother determined she would cOntrlve a
hat for me which would rival the pur-
chased one in beauty. She selected soft,
yellow hu.ks, of well dried Indian corn, as
her material to work from, instead OF pal
metto leaves, which were very commonly
used for plating hats. She tore the hnsks
into narrow strips with a PIN, and from
these braided a very pretty pointed plat
of & we strands. This she afterwards sewed
into 4 hat similar in shape to that OF my
sisters, lined it with shirred ~peachblow
silk, and trimmed it With a tringed and
knotted scarf of the same, which silk was
cut from the best remaining parts OF q
dress worn years before az her coming out
party" Of the two little hats mine with
its pretty combination Of cream color and
pink was deemed the most attractive.
Southern manufactured calico was very
coarse and sleazy and sold at this time
ls64-65) at $50 per yard. Aside from
this the fact that few could afford TO pur-
chase it, homespun goods were really pre-
ferted by many. All grades Of these
goods would be found at the stores, but
those desiring really nice dresses prepared
| the material and had it woven, If possible,
at their homes. My coloreG nanny felt
4 profound dismay for what she denomi-
mated dat flimsey, Federch stuff" and
when my hest Sunday dress OF the scOrned
material suddenly and disastrously gave
way, she declared she would make me n
homespun gown hat would as far surpass
it as the sun does the stars.
My fragile mother, overweight by
privations and suspense, was i'll at the
time, and mamma had full sway in the
selection Of material for making the
promised gown. She sought tue attic and
came down with q large bundle o; badly
worn garments of silk and wool, in black
and white, and also bits of silk and wool
cloth. These garments and bits she cut
into very small pieces, and then with
wonderful patience picked them entirely
apart into . species OF lint. This lint was
carded into rolls, which was tnsa spun
into thread, and from this thread the
materially was finally woven. The goods
resulting from this commingiingo Of white
and black were OF u medium gray in color,
their texture vas smooth and silky, and
10 q specimen OF home manufacture were
deserving of great credit. The little gown
was made and donned aS a birthday sur
prise to my mother.
A lovely young lady friend Of my
mothers, hearing Of inammy's wonderful
success, grasped eagerly at the idea rs a
means OF making for herself q handsome
wedding gown. The result of her efforts
was 4 silky material OF a greenish SilVery
hue, III accordance with the cOlOrs from
which the lint he'd been made. From this
she fashioned a stylish gown and long
pelisse, trimmed with bands Of sheeny
green feathers, woven by Ter own fair fin
gers, and the costume, when complete, was
handsome enough for the wedding travel
ing suit OF q young princess. Handsome
ornaments for hats, such as aigrettes,
flowers, cords, ~taSsels, etc, were also
wrought by delicate hands from corn
shuCks and palmetto.
Two ladies Of our acquaintance, wealthy
aud exclusive at the beginning Of the war,
were glad during its latter years, through
the great change wrought in their fortunes,
to find that their skill in making shoes,
slippers and CATERS could furnish them
with a modest income. These shoes were
constructed from old broadcloth coats and
pants, pieces of b0mbaZine and any avail
able black goods; their soles were often cut
from the leather tops of vermont shoes,
aud their lacing5 were the coverings of
hoop skirt wire dyed black. Toward the
close of the war many Of them sold for $50
and $40 per pair.
Dyeipg was an industry much practiced,
and all dye materials were highly priced.
Black walnut gave rich brown, swamp ma
pie q clear purple, one species OF oak an
excellent yellow, and madden red. Wild
indigo, poke berries and many other natu-
raj dyes were also used.
Dainty neediework, lace work and GRO
Chef, for ali of which Southern ladies are
so Justly famed. were used by them for
beautifyipg their homemade and often
hOmespun garments.
One thin, cream colOred gown of foreign
weave, made over from a grandmother's
w~edding-robe, which | recall, was hand
sonely embroidered by a young lady with
strands Of a scarlet silk drawn from the
fringe of a China crepe shawl.
Where bacon, COrnmeal, sorghum, rice
and cow-peas formed he only supplies for
the table, a problem was presented to
housewives as TO the means OF providing
appetizing and attractive meals. Corn
meal was made up in every conceivable
form, but batter bread seemed TO be the
f~avorite compound. COwpeas and rice
were mixed when cooked, and called
TON aud Jerry" Confederate" fruit
cake was made of -four. if one could pro-
cure it-meal, not-sorghum and minced
dried apples. JEFF Davis" pies, a mix.
ture of sorghum and eggs, we're quite pop.
ulsr, aud fig, peach, ounce, pear, plum,
apple and citron preserves were made with
sorgham. Indeed, sorgham reigred su-
preme, and in many cases those who cult.
waited it realized from 81. 900 to s., 900 per
acre Confederate money from its sale. 1t
was a very sweet and sticky condiment,
and l regret to state that | never hear any
mention of the Confederacy but straighta,
way springs up in my mind a very vivid
recollection OF that black, cloying aud i'll.
refined molasses. Parched rye and goo,
Der" peas, ~(peanuts) were used by some
for coffee, but sweet potatoes, cut in cubes,
dried in the oven and then ground, seem
ed to be regarded with the highest favor as
a substitute. Dried raspberry leaves were
,,saJ for too