The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-03-30
H0MEsPUN LINEN TREASURES
Great Stores OF Garments and KsF--
I 81 sshietfs Plreserved by Women
a East Pennaylvania.

The distribution to the heirs of old
Mrs. Bashore Of III frilled night caps,
s4 calico sun bonnets, SO calico and
gingham aprons, n homespun che
misses, So calico hand kerchiefs and q
variety Of other articles Of female at
tire was nothing unusual init hill dis
5tricts Of East Pennsy lvania. Nearly
every elderly woman there takes pride
in the hand made garments she ac-
cnmulates. An elderly resident OF Mil
lersburg has six large drawers filled
with handmade linen garments she had
spun out Of flax and made p in the last
SO years says the. New York Sun.
These old women in the hill districts
I live with their children and have very
little to DO. AL have spinning wheels
and they are experts ia the manipula-
ton Of hax. Here and there are ancient
looms to weave their linen thread. The
old women have nimble fingers for
drawing threads, for knitting, Tor
crocheting and for sewing. Their de-
signs are primitive. q $3.
Thousands Of substantial linen gar
ments, yellow with age, can be found
in days travel hereabouts If the vis-
itor is known. The old women would
not think of parting or sselling with
anything they make. Their handiwork
is well preserved and looked over once
a month, on a Sunday while the Others
are at church. ,.;e$ s~..-5. d. < &C. .@s
The old women do not care so much
il they haven't thousands Of dollars to
bequeath to their heirs, il they have
plenty Of such garments to devise. In
some instances the old women have
each article marked with slip Of pa
per, upon which is written: ..''This 10
for Mary Ann. = This is for Jacob. for
Sarah Eliza, for little Maggie, for Ma
Linda Alnaretta, and 50 on. In the case
ct Mrs. Bashore all her accumulated
wearing apparel was willed to her four
nieces. Not long ago old Mrs. swensen
died. She left seven drawers filed with
linen sheets, pillow cases and . large
variety of old linen homespun gar
ments. When the first drawer was
opened card was found on which was
written: 'sAll In this drawer goes to
Title" Title was her daughter. Every
drawer attained such a card, and one
written line showed to whom it was to
60. Yet every heir was specially en-
joined by note found in the old lady's
Bible that "Not q stitch is to be sold Of
what I freely give, because my fingers
have made these articles only for you,
my dear" -, %.'* .. ..r
/ With few exceptions such articles are
rarely used, but are held as keepsakes.
Some young housewives can show
drawers full Of homespur linen which
has been handed down from genera
ton. Some of the linen is worn through
at the folds The other day aged. Re-
becca Akers died. Each of her three
daughters, received two drawers Of.
linens. Nearly all the garments are
made on a. pattern common century
ago. The towels ana sheets are coarse.
homespun, home Pleached. and wide Of,
hem. ,5.s..&,ys.. ..:sfs ~ "
.s An oddly are, the long gray wool
stockings knit by the old women in the:
style in; revolutionary days. Some, Of
the hosiery was SO large thatth stock
ings could, be worn over the, shoes In.
snowy weather. It is a common thing
to find a. linen burial shroud, in old
women's effects, they having made.
their grave habiliments with their own
hands years ago, including stockings,
gloves and. cap. r. = e. :.