Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-11-23
The Waste In MaShinn.


England brides went to their husbands
with an outfit not as in these days OF
bewildering dresses and lingerie made
in Paris. but of great store OF home
spun linen. Besides supply OF nee
essary things for personal wear, the
outfit included such matters OF general
household use as napkins and table,
cloths and bedspreads, which were all
in large part the work of the BRIDE 5
own hands. And this useful property
did not soon wear out. In many cases
after doing service for lifetime, relies
of it. in good condition, survived for
the convenience of succeeding genera
tions once or even twice removed.
The wear of these things was not SO
constant nor so hard Two centuries
ago as now, and fabrics were OF stouter
texture; but these were not the only
nor the chief factors in their long life.
Even as lately as the period immed-
lately preceding the Civil War. the
average duration of linen in constant
use, from handkercheifs, napkins and
table-cloths to gentlemen's collars and
shirts, was many fold what it is now,
and the quality of the fabric and con-
ditions of use at that time very closely
Appropriated those prevailing at pres
sent Now, however, everything made
of linen quickly perishes. WhyP
In the good old times the mistresses
of households closely supervised the
washing 1t was done by hand, and
without the assistance fany detergent
but soap, which was then in many in
stances made at home. That sturdily
rracti eal Englishman, Charles Reade,
writing to the London Telegraph
quarter of acentury ago, denounced
the washerwomen of London. "These
heartless knaves," said he care now
rotting fine cambria and lace with soda
and chloride of lime, though borax is
nearly as detergent and Injuries no.
thing The blunt vigor Of the phrase
suggests that he knew how victims
feel whose new handkereheifs come
back thread bare from the wash. What
was an unusual grievance when Reade
complained is the universal experience
now. In American cities as well us in
London, washing has become an oper-
alton which is performed with little
thought or conscience, and which
whether carried on in laundries or
households, hastens all things made
of linen to rapid decay and tatterdom.
1t is a blessing, nc doubt, for the
white goods department of dry goods
stores, but it makes a sad drain upon
the purses of the people. Not only
are washing soaps very generally I'M
trustworthy, but injurious, corrosive
chemicals are thrown in careless guam
titles into the boilers and the tub.
Moreover, the labor-saving machinery
now generally employed in washing
is frequently operated with destructive
recklessness. Much of what survives
rotting is torn to pieces byaaain
strength.
The waste in washing, which short
ems the life of everything subjected
to the process far more than the wear
and tear of actual use, is probably, if
it could be figured up, drain upon
the financial resources of the people
of the United States that would not
look insignificant even in comparison
with the fireloss. Not every Ameri
can '.burns down" every year, but
nearly every American is every week
loser in pocket by reason of the
reckless waste in washing. The loss
is one that is not shifted from the
shoulders OF individuals upon those
of the community at large. No one
ever thought Of insuring man against
getting his new flannel shirt back from
the laundry so shriveled that he can't
crowd into it and is obliged to turn it
over to his youngest boy. There is
no insurance against the rotting and
rending of collars and cuffs and sheets
and tablecloths in the wash. 1t is a
serious matter that articles of personal
and household necessity, which should
last for years, last only a few months.
The loss is not large at a single time,
but it is so large in the aggregate
that economists will study its statist-
les some day, and when they present
their startling figures it may no longer
be patiently borne. evening Wiscon-
Gin