The National tribune., 1899-12-21

do not let me leave out the
sorghum molasses made on the farm, which
I still prefer to sugar-house sirup. Surely,
God put it into the hearts of the people
to cultivate and make this very useful
article just before the war, as it became
the staple, and l believe in hundreds OF
cases but for it starvation would have
ensued.
Our house in Richmond was a large
one, and the 80 occupants lived pretty
much by housekeeping, though there was
board in the central part for transient or
permanent dodgers.
There had been such a change in Rich
mond made by the influx Of strangers
from every section of the Confederacy,
and The eXigencies OF the times, that ii
was scarcely recognizable. Social equity
was in measure inverted, and law and
order went to the wall. Women, delicate,
sensitive, and refined, had 10 assume
mems work, aud in every department held
places Of high official importance, with
salaries ranging from 5000 to 81 200 and
upwards month; all struggling not for
wealth to hoard up, but for bread to keep
tie body alive.
\ TOMAN'S WARDROBE.
When four years Of wear and tear have
exhausted lady s wardrobe, with no goods
in the country, except few running al
long intervals the blockade, and at prices
too e1or5:.ant, what can a woman do who
has the wish, the laudable wish, to look
well through everything, without the ma
teriaI for its fulfllment? Well. take two
dresses OF different material and color,
IL
q quarter Of yard of one into the skirt
Of the other. make pufings OF the lighter
color al the top of the sleeve, and Of the
darker form the tight-ftting part, and
notice the effect. This we did, and though
mingled and mottled, IL was still pictur-
ssqUe.
Womcn's bonnets will wear out; and as
hats were more easily procured, hats became
the style. Every woman learned to plat
straw and 10 make her own hat, which
she decl;ed with rich plume from some
old stock. or with a guinea fowls bright
wing.
Shoes we learned to manufacture. and
every rag-bag was brought into requisition
TO furnish thick poplin pieces or hastings.
Stockings we knit. Gloves we made, in
which art | myself became so expert thai
could easily get $50 for each pair could
furnish the merchants.
Crinolinc was harder to find a substitute
for, bat we arranged that by covering old
steel bands with strips of cotton cloth and
then reshaping and hanging together with
cord. Nothing was lost
The greatest tax upon us was the clothing
for servants. which was sometimes sup
piled by cutting up counterpanes and blank.
cts. Shoes with wooden soles were made
TO answer.
Invention was the order Of the day. and
Confederate puddings and pastries, with
sorghum molasses taking the place OF
white sugar, were pronounced delicious
Coffee made from everything under the
sun, from acorns to rye. gave zest TO trade
and emulation TO spectators, who deaf
in pure coffee mixed with rye" Rye
coffee is good substitute when war and
blockade shut out every available resource
have made and drunk it on a cold Winter
evening, clear and strong, and enjoyed
1t with relish, end thanked God for it
1t was curious sight in those DAYS tc
look into drug store, and in place of the
usual paraphernalia of bottles. TO see 6
secondhand bridal dress of white satin
stretched at full length in the show-cas,
with label bearing, For sale; $1,000.
In the windows of the extensive auction
houses, whose business had been brisk in
other days, dresses now hung, mingled
with all articles of a lady's secondhand
wardrobe. l deposited dress, white
counterpane, and $50 old novels in one OF
these houses for sale. Books were in great