Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-29
UNDER TIE BLOCKADE.
INGENUITY PRAcTIcED BY SOME
WOMEN IN WAR TIMES.

Difficulties Experienced In Providing
Lights-TalIow and Lard Gave Out and
Beeswax and Resin Were Used-songs
Printed on Wall Paper.
Has a proper estimate ever been placed,
wonder, upon the large amount OF wit sharp
ening the constant exercise and consequent
development OF ingenuity practiced by the
fair ladies OF the Confederacy during the last
years of the warl
The exigencies OF the time were great, for
the outside resources OF the south-slim at the
start, II one will recall the small number OF
manufactures 10 BE- found in that section
were dwindling fast away. and often such
supplies as could be developed at home and
among families were the ouly ones that could
be relied upon.
These supplies included articles of every
nature from food and clothing for the fam
ily down 10 TOYS for the children The cues
ton OF dress became a perpexed one after all
ports were blockaded by northern vessels and
all frontier ports were held by northern
troops, and woman's wit was severely taxed
In order 20 make a good appearance from the
material at her command.
CANDLE MAKING BEES"
The subject Of lights was another with
which it was found difficult TO contend. Tai
low was used freely during the first years of
the war; old candle molds were brought out
from their hiding places and put 20 use, and
"tallOw dips became as familiar TO us as
they had been 10 our forefathers. But the
source of supply OF these flights of other
days soon became exhausted, and woman's
ingenuity was again put to the test. Lard
also had been in frequent use, and favorite
light was a saucer or can filled with this
melted substance wherein foated a burning
Jycamore bali IL, too, was growing scarce
however, and new material must be evolved
Several things were tried, but a mixture of
beeswax and rosin was found best of them
all. Through this mixture, when melted,
long coil of candle wick was drawn again
and again until thoroughly coated, and in or
der 10 make this coating even several persons
stood In a row holding the wicking at short
intervals and shaping the wax upon il as it
passed through their hands The position of
greatest honor and difficulty in this under
taking was conceded 10 be the one next to
the pan containing the heated melted mix
ture.
When cold, this waXen rope was wound
row after row, around bottle, with the free
end put through a strip of tin with hole in
IL, in order to hold it upright. These candles
!
Candle making bees" were quite the style
and young ladies and their military beaux
ION leave managed 10 extract a great deal
Of merriment from them. The refreshments
were usually fruit and peanuts
A light for sick rooms consisted of a scrap
| Of paper cut like a miniature cap and set in a
saucer of lard When the point Of this little
| cap was well oiled and lit il gave forth suf-
| dcient illumination 70 see a watch or drop
medicine by. Before lard became 30 scarce
4 lady friend OF ours illuminated her house
beautifully for an evening party with these
tiny jets of flame She borrowed wine
| glasses from far and near, converted them
into these little lamps and placed them in
| pyramids on nantes, brackets and all avail
able places. The effect was very novel and
pretty. Those who lived in the pine regions
obtained their light from the picturesque
and cheerful glow Of pine knots, but IL was Of
30 Pickering nature as TO he very hard upon
the eyes If reading, writing or sewing was at
| tempted.
A vision OF a belated war time supper.
eaten under the fantastic glare Of a pine
torch, held by "A negro boy at the end of the
table stands out in bold relief on the tablets
Of my memory, and can see as vividly as If
today the faces Of those about the board, be-
meath the wavering Rembrandtesque shadow
Of the torch.
PAPER WAS SCARCE
Paper grew very scarce toward the close Of
the war, and newspapers made their appear
snce on wall paper, while the familiar songs
Of the period, such as "Lorena, +" Richmond
on the James. ~ "All Quiet Along the Poto-
mac Tonight" Rock Me 10 Sleep and
when This Cruel War Is Over were print
al on sheets much reduced from the usual
size, and Of very coarse brown paper En-
velopes were always turned, and thus made
to do double duty, and where letters were
written in pencil the first writing was erased
usually with piece OF an old rubber Shoe
and the same paper used for the reply.
School books OF an ancient date we're
brought 10 light, and while in some schools
but one text book Of a certain kind was used
for an entire class, the pupils OF another class
were, perhaps, each supplied with a different
text book on the same subject The greater
number of the remedial agents of the time
were prepared by the ladies, for regular
drugs had been made contraband and were
exceedingly hard 70 procure. Flaxseed, dried
blackberries, slippery elm and other such ma
tural remedies the country afforded were
kept on hand in most families Healing
herbs were largely cultivated and often
times the simplest remedies, such as pine
water or shuck tea, were made 10 serve n
timely and efficient turn.
Sick and wounded soldiers were common
inmates Of private dwellings, and a roll OF
lint and bandages were usually kept with the
medicine ready for immediate use.
And thus woman, in every capacity. as
faithful nurse, cheerful provider for the
house, loving worker for the absent, and
brave bearer Of the great sorrow and priva-
ton wrought by the war shone forth with
the soft and steady nrriAnce OF n star during
the dark and troublOus times OF the Confed-
eracy-Jennie s. Judson in Pittsburg Bulle-
tin.
HI. Investment at Last.