The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-07-06
POLITICS AND PET 1TICOATS.
The Que stiOn Is: Shall the Negro or the
Chinese do our Washing?

Chinese do our w ashing?
Bah in New York StarI
| Thr. quarters of New York We're all of
| last w'ek, l am very sure, obliviouS to the
charms of that article of clothing that we
like So much to send to the Cannibai
Islands-a flannel petticoat. But on We'd
nesday one considered them; on Friday
| they embraced one; and it cannot be de-
MED that the woman who has been careful
enough to pack hers all up in tar paper so
moths wouldn't get at them, sat down and
| bemoaned herself for being a donkey.
| This discourse on flannel petticoats is
| apropos of the weather, which is, without
| any exception, the most varied of its kind.
In my early days | was taught that moths
We're sent into this world so that people
might learn to be careful and put away
their winter clothes. but ! am now con-
vinced that moths, like the Chinese, ought
to "go"
| believe they have been imported by
the Republican party to chew up the be
longings of good Democrats: they will
make blue flannel petticoat, trimmed
| with white lace, look more like commut-
alton ticket on the 30th day of the month
than anything else, and they have no
| hestancy whatever in eating hole in
bodice Just where it will show the most
and bring modification to the soul of the
wearer. l wonder if Mr.. Blaine hadn't
been eaten by moths, and if that wasn't
the reason they called him the 'tatooed"
man. Undoubtedly the wretched moths
thought they'd try it on one of their own
party, and it disagreed so dreadfully that
| they never tried it again. If one goes in
! for studying politics. as | am doing, it Is
curious how the ethics of household econO
my and the true state of the world politi-
cally will combine. Now, for instance, /
| have become so certain of wOman's right
| to bring all influence to bear upon her
husband to force him to do the proper
! thing that | am getting ready a speech to
argue before Judge Bedford in favor of
| the woman who puts few drops of lauda
mum in her husbands morning whisky,
keeps him asleep all day and so prevents
him from voting the Republican ticket
| The end quite iustifies the means.
By-the-by, why Should they go on so
about this Harrison man? That he is
unique in being the son of his grandfather,
do not deny; but gracious goodness. his
grandfather was only President for a
month, and | don't consider that good
example. Then he is in favor of the
Chinese. | am on the side of the colored
race. If it becomes question of race, as
regards my washing, prefer that it should
be done by a nice old colored woman any
day to having it done by dirty, half
dressed, badsmelling Chinaman. If a
colored lady loses any Of the garments.
shes apt TO condoe with you in such a
nice way that YOU almost feel tempted to
request her TO keep on losing your clothes,
and you yearn to tell her that fine col
lection of odd stockings has always been
the desire of your life But if China
man loses your lingerie he looks at you
placidly and insolently: if he has kept up
Z fahI hat ho nd hp
English language, he simply SHAKES his
head to give you to understand that he
don't know anything about it, and cares
less; while if. in a moment Of confidence,
he has let you know that he is capable OF
mastering the difficult tongue, he will in
form you, without a tremOr, that you
didn't put THAT petticOat in. Then, you
know, Dolly, they have the reputation OF
not being quite moral. One gentleman
who presided over d washtub, and whom
| paid for tearing my clothe to pieces, in
variably spread them out in a most re
markable way. If he came while | was
out found my undergarments disportine
themselves all about the room: things tha
are not usually shown would be parade6
on IA chair and look up in a more thai
cOQuettish manner from under a petticoa
laid above them, while it all would bt
topped by masculine waiStcOat and two
collars. Each chair had its person, so t(
say seated on it, while the nightgown
were spread around the bed in an entirely
original way. This gentleman was so pro
fuse in his cOurtesieS that it became neces
sary to ask him to retire permanently; bu
| always maintained that he meant thes
little acts as an expression of admiration
either for me or my belongings.
If the Republican party get in, the Ma
ton will be given over to being washed II
a Chinese laundry, wrung out in paten
machine and dried in a basement; wherea
t if-and really there ought to be no ''if
about 1.-THE Democratic party retain thei
power we will continue to be made swee
and clean with the best soap and plent
! of hot water, wrung out in the old fash
ioned way, hung in the sunshine to dry
5 while the nice old darkey who purfes II
will do it to the tune of ''Clmbing Up tn
9 Golden Stair" If could only finish tina
r up by speech requesting my fellow cit
r zens to stand by me and to agree with m
on this great and momentous question,
s think | might make my debut down
: Tammany Hall in a good, strong, old fash
@ oned Democratic speech. But alas!
; don't believe in women making speeches
r though I'll tell you what they can dc
: Dolly, they can try and Undue the con
ing orator with some Of their wit.
A Northern Republican Likes the Stat