Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-20
grave. satisfed smile. he left VI. and
went back to his dreary work"

VIEW shSh hpoPhhi attaHkthttUtS hhA
provided clothing bureau. Nurses and
matrons were needed In the hospitals regu-
larry to perform the services hitherto
rendered by volunteers and large num-
Der were thus employed-efiicent help In
that department being imperative.
Many who were well educated were
engaged as clerks in the commissary.
Quartermas'er. and other government Of
fees. 1t was found women could do the
work as well as men. allowing
the latter the privilege OF fighting the
battles OF their country.
Women and girls were also engaged
In the laboratories, manufacturing car
ridges. waile scores and hundreds
thronged ale clothing bureau 10 obtain
soldiers clothing. there distributed. 10 be
taken home and made at nominal prices.
Perhaps OF all the sad scenes enacted
around the Confederate capital none were
more heart-rending than those that met
the eye around this place. where grim
want hunted for the boon of work to
supply food for hungry children.
AT early daylight women with drawn.
pinched faces. took their positions In
line at those doors. BY the time they
were open and ready for business vast
ihrong was on hand. which had 20 oe
he'd back by policemen. so eager were
they 10 Sc. the sewing. as they marched
w, procured their bundles, and passed
out by another door.
often the pressure OF the crowd was
80 great delicate female would faint
and almost die before the surging mass
OF humanity could give her fresh AIR.
The chief OF the bureau would send ner
down in an elevator and back 20 her
iyoverty-strlcken home. When this De-
came known willing hands were stretched
forth to relieve her necessities; but. alas!
/ hoy, many suffered in those days III
pangs of hunger and despair whs never
brelthed their wants 20 mortal ears.
Only when these occurrences came 10 the
knowledge OF the rushing world, inter-
es.ed in news from the seat of war was
40 hidden anguish Of the times I'M
vei!ed.'
In chapter q Of the volume Is the
following, on the means resorted TO by
the ladies 10 make themselves present.
able:
Perhaps our readers have had some
curiosity with regard to the subject or
dress at this time. as feminines have al
ways had the reputation for partiality
10 indulge themselves in this particular.
Silks. satins, or velvetS were not pro-
durable at all, but a few merchants 1t
the capital, with an eye to business, ran
risks Of blockade-runners, and kept
themselves supplied, to a limited extent.
with a nice quality OF woollen-goods. inc
prices were, however fearful to contem-
plate: $50 per yard for good article OF
nerino (the cashmere of the present day.,
so for alpaca. $50 for calico and bleached
domestic. So for white Irish linen. and
so for unbleached domestic: and cotton
dress goods manufactured at the Almana,
mills. in North Carolina. which bore the
trademark, almanac Plaid" This was
quite the style, made up with cape OF
the same, and afforded quite a respect
able stretches. Embroideries, laces.
trimming of any kind, could not be pur-
chased at any price. nor was much time
consumed In making it by hand. as more
important work was pressing.
THE mills manufactured a good article
OF woollen cloth, both gray and black.
which became quite fashionable for
cloaks, made In the style Of a long.
loose sacQue. falling to the bottom OF
the skirt, with straps crossing at the
back Of the waist. confined with buttons.
shaping it TO the figure. With a cape,
this cloak served the two-fold purpose
of wrap and dress. as II effectually con-
cealed the costume beneath. and made
double-breasted. closing with two rows,
Of buttons, was quite stylish outfit.
HUNTING THE ATTICS.
"Old dresses that had been relegated
TO the attic were hunted up. Old clothes
bags. trunks, and chests gave up their
long-hidden treasures, every scrap Of
lace or trimming was carefully removed,
washed, and pressed to do duty else
where. 1t IS wonderful how much in
genuty was exhibited. 1t became COM
mon for friends to purchase articles of
clothing from each other. especially when
those who aid aside colors for mourn
ing had no use for things unsuitable.
and so many were now wearing sombre
hues as badges Of grief for dear ones
slain in battle or wasted by disease.
There was a regular establishment
an old clothes bureau-where ladies took
articles Of wearing apparel they did not
need. and exchanged for others. pur-
chasing often two skirts of different
colors. and II the material was wool or
silk, when cleansed or dyed one color
and made up. 10! a new suit was the
result.
"Often a zouave Jacket and skirt was
the preference. when the old -bosoms
Of the gentlemen afforded the white
vests. linen collars. and cuffs OF the
period.
Women exchanged their ideas and in
NtIlllOnS Win tdiH OtUcI. us All were
interested In having the best results from
the most limited means. rivallng even
the French women in their devices and
expedients.
Plating wheat straw for making hats
became the fancy-work everywhere, and
the different methods and patterns were
subjects of absorbing interest After the
straw was soaked in water all night and
plated zone soon grew expert in manipu-
latlng IL nimbly) IL was then sewed into
shape. taken TO a milliner and pressed,
and II desired black the dyer again came
into requistion. Chicken. goose. and bird
feathers were used as decorations. and
feather flowers were made by a tasteful
grouping OF colors under practiced hands.
There was quite a trade in the stripped
palmetto from South Cago.ina This
light substance was easily converted into
punches Of artificial fowe-s-the fibre
susceptible of being shred into trailing
penGants-the hats looking like the light
chip substance sometimes 80 much liked.
With one Of these chapeaus poised dain-
tily above fresh young face, dressed in
q costume. perhaps. manufactured from
one worn by her grandmother with rare
old lace, an heirloom in her family
shading throat and wrist, the Confederate
beauty was an enhancing picture to all
beholders-queen regnant over all the DIS
advantages of her situation.
Cloth shoes were worn at this time.
and here again woman's skill! found q
solution for the problem Of being nicely
shod. pattern was obtained from az,
old pair OF shoes. the upper part cut from
the discarded broadcloth unmentionables
OF male relatives. neatly stitched together
and then soled by the shoemaker for ten
or twenty dollars. IL is wonderful how
many pairs one garment would supply,
and how long they would last with con-
slant wearing"
The volume follows Hoods Texans on
the march. la camp. and through en-
gagements. and contains many anecdotes
and extracts from private letters.
Those on Board the Ship Norris.
NEWPORT NEWS. VA, January 49,
l,nncial LII haX. Lenl !. hln % al.