The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-21


IONS who have worn them. One OF tho
skirts, a plain yellow and blue plaid. was
worn by Nancy Hart. Georgia's great
woman patriot OF the Revolution. IL Is
made Of three straight breadths of coarse
woollcn cloth. dyed with copperds T.
dingy yellow.
Another was worn by the baby that
afterwards became Judge DOGGY. another
well known character. The petu;1ts t
persons In the ordinary walks Of life are
despised by Mrs Gouldsbee unless they
are bridal petticoats: then they are trea-
sured. But petticoats of actresses, of wo-
man doctors, writers. lecturers and very
famous people of any description are
eagerly sought and wanted. Every man y
petticoat is desired because of the epoch
II marks I'm babyland. The style Of cut
ting out a baby's undergarment varies
each decade. The collection OF baby petit
coats IS. therefore. OF historic interest in
the annals OF the nursery.
So ardent a collector as this would never
permit her treasures TO lie around
loose" Much less would she hang them
up in clothes press to become 'noth
eaten and out Of shape. Each skirt IS
tenderlv laid away in a place of its own:
and after being tenderly gazed upon at
short intervals is folded smoothly ard
laid back in place.
The collector keeps them in chests OF
oak, hickory and cedar made expressly
for them. The chests are the length
OF n flannel petticoat and only foot
deep, to prevent overcrowding. Tissue
paper is laid between each. as lady
puts away her velvet waists.
The petticoats, as they lie in the chests.
are thickly sprinkled with the roots OF
the china tree and OF sassafras 10 keep
away the moths. Several times each
season they are taken from the chests
and shaken and laid In the sun for sew
eral hours. This scares away the most
persistent woollen worm, and ii IS mat
Ter OF remarkable note that although the
skirts are some of them a hundred years
old there is not a moth hole or nibble in
any one of them. Some are preserved
as though Just brought from the shop.
A little petticOat that belonged TO the
Washington family and was said TO have
been worn by baby George on his first
birthday. is of white flannel. with pep
per-and-salt" effect. 1t is grayish
white Around the hem there Is coarse
feather-stitching in red yarn. Twisted
yarn makes the tie for neck and waist.
one that was worn by Martha WASH
ington. presumably when she went 10
the White House to be First Lady IS
a lovely yellow colored with golden rod.
I'm the fashion OF those days. There is
"A scallop upon it, and a vine running
round It that is done with blue yarn.
colored from indigo. This is very hand
some petticoat.
The fame OF Mrs. Gouldsbee's collec-
ton has spread and become infectious.
There Is scramble among women 10
get the skirts OF famous personages. y
southern woman recently bought very
Of
neil rather coarse but soft, that was
sold as the first petticoat of Winnie
paws. IL was afterwards cut off and
worn as a child's skirt. Then the yoke
was sewn on again to make IT as II was
originally.
Another potticoat in this same collec-
ton A. Mrs CleVcland's bridal petticoat.
IL IS not the original petticoat, as this
Is SIN in the possession of the lady OF
the White House but ii IS an exact copy.
made by the seamstress who had charge
of the bridal rousseau. 1t Is only an
under-petticoat, but OF fine white nannel
almost the texture Of linen. II Is sneer
az "A web ii is made in many cores.
each separated by narrow ribbon.
silk vine runs up each breadth. Around
the foot is a heavy fan Of lace. over
this there was a silk petticoat worn.
This pctticoat was guaranteed 10 be
the only copy made of the original one.
and the purchaser bought II " that
consideration. If a second one fSLound
she Will begin a suit for selling Nnder
false pretcnses." Such IS the passion
which now possesses the collectors OF
flannel skirts.
In Mrs. Gouldsbees collection there
are petticoats dyed with every species Of
homo coloring The older skirts are all
home made. Most OF them are plain
around the edge. but some are scalloped
and edged with coarse yarn. Others ara
finished in different fancy stitches of the
most primitive sort. The Kate Green
away and Kensington stitches and styles.
now so popular in under garments for
young and old. are conspicuous by their
absence. The twist" kensington stitch.
known TO every woman, Is not seen.
The colors of these skirts are varied.
though of home manufacture. Some are
dyed with copperas, some with red oak.
some with cedar and sassafras and some
with sparkle berry. The handsomest have
the hue OF indigo. The weave Is not al
WAYS close and fine. some showing care
less housewifery and poor haudiwork.
One that came from the Priscilla Alden
family IS covered with coarse knots. show
ing that the weaver was either very care
les. or very thrifty, either neglecting her
loom TO talk or else thrinny tying small
pieces together TO make one more yard OF
cloth.
They are as collection. the most in
terestinY relies OF the past Perhaps In
another hundred years. n the dcscen-
dants OF Mrs. Gouldsbee and Of her fol-
lowers keep them in good state OF
preservation. they Will be curiositcs Of
dress. as the buckled shoes. the knee
brooches and the wig: for in the Inn
nat ta
place for the flannel petticoat Neither
the bloomer girl. with her legs. nor the
tailor made. with her slender figure. nor