The evening times., 1898-05-23
W0MRN I'M ]
THE CHILL WAR
Renembranoes 81 Thirty
three Years Ago.
Matrons Now Who Kissed and
Blessed the Boys Going to Battle
Relate nemfnlscences.

Civil war "Reminiscences are In order
just now. Always of interest to those
most concerned. they have now an inter-
est to every one. In every company Of
women containing one or more belonging
to the last generation, you will hear ref
erences to what was said or done during
the 'other war;" as tits commonly CALL
ed.
.I don't remember nnch about 1t in
general" said a middle-aged matron at
one such gathering the other day. 'for I
was very little girl. but can readily re-
call this much in particular: My father
was the most loyal Of men and my mother
was dreadfully afraid that he would en-
list. He had promised her many times
not to. do 50. but as the strife waxed
and showed no sign Of waning she fear
ed lest his patriotism would get the better
OF his promises. She accordingly press
ed me into service and was instructed
never to let him leave the house with
out following close after. tight hold of
his coat tails If he were to enter re-
cruiting office / was to hold on tighter
than ever. and cry just as hard as ever
l could. / followed her instructions to
or not I don't know. but my father
didn't enlist. at any rate. and that was
the part l played in the civil war"
my experience was somewhat differ
ent from that" said another woman. II
was a gay young girl at the time the
war broke out, and although We all re-
allied that 1t was serious thing. yet
light-hearted youth generally contrfves to
get some frolic out Of the most sober sit
49, - . - e.
ing on Fort Sumter was staying with
friends in the country, and. Mortified as
We were. the first thing We did was to
rush up to the garret and bring forth
an old musket that had seen service In
the War of the Revolution. Now. girls
said the son of the family, you must
learn to fire 1t of. There's no knowing
what may happen these days So out
on the lawn We went. and spent the
whole day, the entire lot Of US. in shoot
ing at target with the rusty old mus
ket.
When the soldiers went into camp near
my home 1t was the signal for all kinds
of festivities. The camp was the old agri-
cultural fair grounds,' where We were in
the habit of going every Fall and having
a good time, and 1t seemed but natural
that we should go there for good times
at any other season. 1t accordingly be-
came the mecca OF all our walks ana
drives; strangers sojourning in the neigh
borhood were taken straight out to see 1t,
and We were always visiting IL with flow-
ers and fruit and whatever other Offer
ings might be acceptable to our beloved
soldiers. many of whom were personal
friends"
1.-The sanitary fairs. toward the close of
the war were what ] remember as of par
ticular interest,"" said az third woman.
THE great and practical good that these
accomplished is well known
through history, while the new woman
is not likely to let usdforget the fact that
they constituted our Governments first
public recognition of women. but no one
has ever adequately set forth the social
delights of the sanitary fair. 1t was not
that we had lacked all other gayety: like
the Southerners. We had had our starva-
ton parties and similar diversions. but
these fairs were glorious combination of
patriotism with pleasure. and We made
the most of them. AS usual the outward
and visible sign of the organization found
expression in our dress. Sanitary patch
es,' consisting of tiny squares of hem
stitched cambric, lace-edged, and with
flag or bow of tri-color in one corner,
were worn on top of the head. the hair
being dressed low over the ears and a big
chignon at the nape of the neck These
patches were very becoming, so much so
that 1t became the fashion for everyone
to wear them and for all the time, though.
of course. they were first donned only by
those actively engaged in the sanitary
fair work.