The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-08-28
SOUTHERN QUILTING BEES.
ehey Were Decidedly the Social Feature
of the Long Ago.

ehey Were Decidedly the Social Feature
of the Long Ago.
To quilt well and rapidly was consid-l
cred q fine art in the old south, AID,
strange as it may seem, the house
wife's station in life was fixed among
the negroes and poor white trash" by
the number Of bed quilts that she pos
sessed. The family that owned dozen
was considered well TO do, while one
whose calico bed coverings, OF as many
hues as Joseph's coat, ran into the thir-l
ties was thought to be quality" and
treated with the utmost Difference.
The making of the quilts was de-
:idcdly the social feature of the long
ago. 1t was common to see a half
grown negro boy ride up to the front
bate Of a country home and hear
him shout: "Hellor His livery usu-'
ally consisted of tight jeans trousers
geared up well under his arms by
means of cotton homemade "galluscs.
and rolled'nearly up TO the knees; blue
and white plaid shirt, and crownless
straw hat in summer, or a felt with
broad, Tapping brim at other seasons
If the hello was not answered at once,
the lad would lszily flick the flies
away from his horse with a peach tree
switch and finally call again without
tismounting. He would say TO who
ever appeared: ''Mistess sont dis"
which usually proved to be an invita-
ton to a quilting party worded thus:
Mrs. Mary Jane Smith and family are re-
quested 70 attend the quilting st drs- susan
Browns on nex. Thursday"
Every family OF the same rank and
station for miles around would receive
similar invitation. and by ten
o'clock on the appointed day the home
of the hostess would be filed with
rnatrons, maide dens..And' children galore.
Two or three quilts would be framed
and lined off in straight lines or fancy
patterns ready for quilting. The ma
irons would assemble around one. the
young women around another, and
those who were most expert in the art
would undertake 10 finish one OF the
fancy designs
The frames were generally of homo
Uanufacture, ana consisted OF four
boards, each about three inches vioe
aud one inch thick; two were from
eight TO nine feet in length, and two
from three TO five feet All were
bound over with stout lasting cloth,
and the frame was either built 70 set
up or be suspended from the ceiling.
usually the latter The quilt was
tackled upon the frame. and after all
four sides were quilted - far as the
Quilters could reach. II was rolled As
far as quilted, and work was resumed
on q smaller square Il ~as customary
20 line OF the quilts with cord dyed Ia
pokeberry juice os q brillian; purpiish
red
Th. quilting would 90 ca very brave
II until the old men AID swsins OF the
families invited began 70 drop In for
the midday dinner. which w2s 10 small
p4rt Of TIE occasion The hos,ezs
usually spent dsys preparing sor TIC
feast. and the menu generally con-
sisted of roast Pig and as,ton, turkey.
fried chicken. chicken pie. vegetables
pickles o. Infinite variety. End a. for
s~eex- there were cakes- pssdc21gs.
PIES. TART. ieltes. creams and pre-
serves iunumersole. al served in
heterogeneous mass On long table
Dinner over. tae 9alte.s seald 70
back 20 their Sork. but s1it Eoa1y
trials ald ,riszisssouS- for Tic znsn de-
lighted IN teasing them and tie yosrs
:orc. II order .o make :he yoanx Noa1-
er 4u.. xork. ~oal2 resls-t 70 sack
strategic means ss stealing sSsooas -
thread. scissors au1 :s.imtseS TIE
girls en5oyed this as1 didn't ~ very
bard 20 stop i. because . euiitiaS %
them mean; rery Little xo<s .as . gres;
de2. Of play
One quill; was always aH2sssd ~
E.a-asteySsoa go .A.sS x<.3 s-s