Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-09-29
OLD CONFEDRRATR DAYS.
A southern Wsmanss ReminiAcence,
Thrs- +. G. De Fontaine in New York Hon

n.
Ghrs- F. G. De Fontaine in New York Home
Journal
The subject of clothing coon became q
problem. Old garrets were rausaoked for
discarded garments that were brought out
and given fresh lease of life in new char
scters. Bonnets were made of old black
SILK dress waists, lined with the red or blue
sAtin from the lining of old coat sleeves
and trimmed with goose feathers. New
hats were constructed from discarded ones,
trimmed with old velvet coat collars and
cocks plumes cut from the rooster In the
yard. Psimstto and corn shucks were slso
forced to do duty In this line.
A lady in Columbia, S. C., was fortunAts
enough to receive through the blockade g
beautiful imported bonnet The frst Sun
day that she made her appearance In
church with the startling revelation upon
her head, there was not woman in The
congregation, l venture 10 assert, who
heard one word of ths sermon, aud the fol
lowing week that bonnet had more visitors
than any ten Of the most fashionable wom-
en- In tine city.
Our jackets were made of our fathers
old fasbionea-cloaks, these of the style
represented In the pictures of John c. Cal
houn, doing splendid service by supplying
all the girls in the family at once. One
velvet jacket came out triumph ant at the
close of the war, having done heroic duty
for five girls of the family on sll festive oc-
cssions. If there were two girls in the
family, they went out sinsly. in order that
the same dress might do double duty. We
borrowed, loaned, patched, Heightened,
shortened, turned and twisted our garments
| until there was nothing left of them.
One Richmond belle laughingly told, af-
ter the war, of going TO party In bor-
roTed dress go short for her that she was
| ashamed to walk across the floor. Usually
the gayest of the gay, she was asked on the
| evening in question, why she was go
quiet, why she was not dsnoipgI'
''Dancing" esid she. Good hesvensl
Pm only to thankful that can breathe. 1
don't dare to laugh, for / should burs.
this girls dress 20 pieces and it's all she
has,"
Some of the situations wers ludicrous In
the extreme. We made q journey once
With pair of worn-out confederate mules
and while the distance was only thirty
miles, 1t necessitsted camping out for the
night. In the morning our ablutions were
performed Ia stream near by. One of the
party pinned her hair switch to the back
| of ths wagon preparatory to arranging her
toilet after returning from the water; bat,
| 10 and behold! when she came back the
/ switch bad disappeared. Primus, the
/ driver WAS questioned, but the only salts
faction to be CLEANED from him was: az
dunno muffin I all 'bout no switch, man:
/ bin zee dat black mule he chaw pom
| somep'n dat look like a boss tail. specs
dat war yon' bar dom gone, missis." Pic
| ture i'll think of itl a woman bletsed by
| nature with only slight hirsute adornment,
| thus suddenly bereft Of her ''crown of
| glory" without the remotest possibility Of
| replscing t,snd the prospect If protTsct-
| ed war bsfore her.
1t was not an uncommon eight to come
| suddenly upon beyy of pretty girls sit
/ ting tailor fashion, making and mending
| their own shoes, the material Used for the
| purpose beiDg IA rabbit OF squirrel skin.
l fhe nestest fitting gloves were made of the
| silk stocking that had bsen rsveled, and i
knew of a dainty pair of shoes being made
/ for the baby of the house GU. of an old mo-
rocco needle book that had been ripped up
/ for the purpose. Blltons being out of the
i question and pins s5 a pspsr, a substitute
/ wss made by brricg holes in psrsimmon
seed and sewing them onto ths children's
clothes. An cid colored nanny wss the
| first TO devise this clever substitute. Old
men and little boys helped to wind thread
| and hold brooches and even knitted on the
soldiers seeks after the mystery of turn
in the hesl" had passed. Aa the merry
spinning wheel went round, you could FIRE.
queBtly hear the strain of patriotic song
like the following
Our wagons plenty big enough.
| The running gear Is good;
It's stuffed with cotton round the sides.
And made OF southern wood.
Carolina il the driver.
With Georgia by her side.
| Virginia II hold the iisg up,
| And well all take q ride.
| a fsvoTite night employment wss making
envelopes. Litter Tr.tiUg wss one OF oul
luxuries. White paper could not be wasted
on the outsids OF the letter; this bad Il
bear the messages Uf 1--we 20 our dear one
on the bsttle-felds Wall paper and shsei
with pictsres on one ride served for tn
purpose of envelopes. These were stucl