The Republican., 1892-07-15
THE NEEDLE.
An Instrument That Is at Once Help and
SOlace.

An Instrument That Is .. Once Help and
Solace.
That essential feminine implement,
the needle, is much more than the die
tionary defines it-"a small instrument
of steel, sharply pointed at one end,
with an eye at the other to receive a
thread; used in sewing" Such bald.
prosaic statement ignores the real help
and comfort of the needle 1t is not
only what it produces, the useful or or
namental work which in skillful fin
gers it brings to perfection. but its
ability to sooth the spirit, to solace the
grief-stricken. and its power to turn
restless energy into channel of use
fulness. Many woman has reason to
be thankful for the needle which keeps
her fingers busy in hours of sadness or
perplexitv, and which often guides her
thoughts to the haven where they
would be. a peaceful, holy haven, SO
welcome to those who are
sailing er life's solemn main
A woman who can use her needle has
q resource of comfort denied to those
beings who can only find tranquility
or diversion from wearing thought in
pipe or cigar. and she has the satisfac-
ton of knowing that her employment
amounts to something and will not
vanish in cloud of smoke. Bright fam
cies and poetic thoughts are often
woven while the hands are busily en-
ployed with needle-worll and even
homely mending and stocking darning
are no barriers to thoughts widest
range
Margaret Fuller. whose brilliant
mind and wonderful intellectual pow
ers are as yet unrivalled by any of her
sisterhood in American literature, was
an efficient and ever-ready helper with
the family sewing. Her work was al
ways done beautifully. never slightcd;
nor because her mind was broader and
deeper than the minds of other women
who could only sew. did she ever dis
1ain her household task We all know
Penelope and her artful ruse to keep
the suitors at bay. and smile
with womanly superiority at the stu
pidity of the lovers who were so woe
fully ignorant of the capabilities of
the needle. The famous tapestry
wrought by the queen of William the
Conqueror is a faithful picture-gallery
and invaluable to the historian. Other
women in the same exalted station have
left less valuable yet interesting pieces
Of needleworll. and one is brought very
near to the hearts of these royal ladies
who stitched many sad thoughts and
disappointed hopes and batfied ambi-
tions into the rich fabrics, as did beauti-
full, hapless Mary Stuart As remind
ers of the work expected of every small
girl in the days of our grandmothers
and their grandmothers, are the cher
ished samplers with their alphabets.
large and small. and numbers and
quaint verses, the names of the little
Seamstresses being appended with fine
disregard of the principles governing
the division of words. Every stitch of
the canvas is utilized. and the poetry
crowded into one continuous line. in
defiance of poetic usage. Some of the
silken threads are discolored, not by
time alone, but by the tears of the small
damsel who found some intricate letter
or quaint bird beyond ner power to
copy.
The Improvements of machinery have
done away with the necessity of the
seam which was indispensable for
sheet in the days when linen was
woven in narrower widths But the
long white seam" was favorite task
given to young girls. and sweet We're
often the dav dreams sewed into il.
The stock of household linen had al
ways to be made ready against the time
the maiden should leave her early home
for a new one of her own. and every
piece of the ample outfit had dainty
initials marked in the fine cross stitch
Of her sampler days.
Modern invention has done vastly
more than widen the breadths of linen
Or cotton. and the sewing machine has
superseded many of the uses of the
small steel instrument" but it is vet
Indispensable. and we hope that il al
ways will be. There is a personality.
almost, in ones needle. and we cannot
embroider nor darn nor do ann kind of
mending without its aid. and although
pins play an important part in millin-
cry, yet the needle must count for some
thing in the finishing touches of bon
net or hat. and grandma's dainty cap
,an never be "blown together" without
A few of its stitches, ,-Harper's Bazar.