The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-30
Harrison, 1902"

| MIS-. darrlson'5 beautiful blue Dordered
Limoges china, Oespangled with American
stars and emblazoned with American flags
by the manufacturers in France, is likely to
furnish the platters upon which will be
served hot some OF the choicest tid-bits of
the approaching campaign. Already the
pretty plates have been passed around
among the editors, and the pottery manu-
facturers are understood to be getting
ready to fire shot at them. The news
paper men have left finger marks all over
the dainty ware; when the potters get hold
Of them nothing but the imprint, Harrison,
1892" will be left.
| Comment on this aesthetic crockery has
caused it to be deemed necessary that an
explanation should be made by somebody
at the white house, and it has been given
to the world through the Washington Post.
The name of the apologist is not given. II
it is Mrs. Harrison, the lady will have the
credit Of innocence and sincerity; otherwise
she showed bad judgment for protection
ist politicians wife, look at it as we may.
After detailing at length the need of
china for the executive dining room, it is
said: American manufacturers were con-
suited last fall or in the summer, but they
could not make the plates. The blue Dor
der cannot be made here in its perfection,
because it is a secret Of the Limoges people,
never divulged. If the order was given to
them the plates must be imported from
France by the manufacturers, and decora-
ted in this country, and. even in that case,
they could not be finished in season for che
state dinners this winter.
The American potterS will lie disposed to
resent these criticisms upon their ability to
produce effects as pretty and artistic as the
FrencEmen. Indeed they claim to possess
q knowledge of the art of coloring china
which makes it almost impossible to detect
an American piece among lot of imported
| ware. In recent article one of the leading
protection journals in the country printed
pictures of American china, which it de-
clared to be equal to anything that could be
produced anywhere, and descanted proudly
of the benefits of a protective law that
produced such results.
One Of the nice points about the Limoges
china mentioned in the inspired explanat ton
is its pri ce. Mentioning the number Of pieces
ordered six dozen each Of four articles
the concluding sentenceis, "And the sum ex-
pended was but S700" AS the money to pay
this bill is supposed to come out of the pub
lie purse, the economists will have a word
to say about that.
The most interesting point of the matter,
if q dinner plate may be said to have a
point, is that gilt legend on the bottom of
each piece. Here is the explanation vouch-
safed: "Then, to guard against the recur-
renco of such dearth of china by auction
sales of good articles, and also as matter
of record, the name Of the administration
and the date of purchase were put on the
bottom of the plates, which is quite q COM
mon practice with china made to order. "
Happy thought! Matter OF rec ord! His
tory writ on porcelain-porcelain with stars
on it, and flags. Blus-bordered, naturalized
American porcelain, made in Francs at
$29 II per dozen
1t is perhaps a laudahle ambition in Gen.
Harrison to desire that knowledge Of his
having once been President Of these United
States be handed down to posterity; but it
does seem that the chief executive Of this
great republic would prefer that that
knowledge should be transmitted through
other than the scullery department.
1t may be vitality important that some
practical plan be adopted to reduce the
cotton acreage and increase that of grain /:
but do these conferences, being so frequently
held appear to approach the desideratum?
Last winter a number of such meetings
convened in different sections of the south.
resolutions and recommendation were
adopted and planters were urged to di-
versify their crops. But last season the
cotton acreage was as large as ever. 1t isa
very difficult matter TO get cotton plan tiers
to reduce their acreage, and it would appear
that the only way to do it is to make a
personal canvass among all of the planters
in all of the states and have each one sign
an agreement to that end. 1t must be a
general movement, or it will be Of no effect.
Half dozen men in half dozen localities
reducing their cotton acreage one-half
would produce no result in the cotton
market; and to get the unanimous consent
of planters to a reduction is herculean
task. However, talking over the matter
} can possibly do no harm. and some happy
plan to relieve the situation may be hit
upon.