Daily camera., 1901-01-14
HoMESPUN LINEN TREASURES
Great Stores of Garments and ker-
chiefs Preserved by Women
In East tPennxylvania.

The distribution to the heirs Of old
Mrs. Bashore of III frilled night caps,
"a calico sun bonnets. SO calico and
gingham aprons. ~ homespun che
misses, 56 calico handkerchiefs and a
variety of other articles of female at
tire was nothing unusual in the Hill dis
tricts of East Pennsylvania. Nearly
every elderly woman there takes pride
in the handmade garments she ac-
cumulates. An elderly resident of Mil
lersburg has six large drawers filled
with handmade linen garments she had
spun out of flax and made up in the last
so years, says the New York Sun.
These old women in the hill districts
live with their children and have very
little to do. All have spinning wheels
and they are experts in the manipula
tion Of fax. Here and there are ancient
looms to weave their linen thread. The
old women have nimble fingers for
drawing threads. for knitting, for
crocheting and for sewing. Their de-
signs are primitive.
Thousands of substantial linen gar
ments. yellow with age. can be found
in DAYS travel hereabouts if the Wis
itor is known The old women would
not think of parting or selling with
ANYTHING they make. Their handiwork
is well preserved and looked over once
a month. on a Sunday while the others
are at church.
The old women do not care so much
If they haven't thousands of dollars to
bequeath to their heirs. if 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 is
for Mary Ann" This is for Jacob" for
Sarah Eliza. for little Maggie, for Ma
linda Almaretta. and so on. In the case
of Mrs Bashore all her accumulated
wearing apparel was wiiled 10 her four
nieces. Not long ago old Mrs. Swensen
died. She left seven drawers He'd 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. All III llllS tid"tI guys W
Tillie." Tillie was her daughter. Every
drawer contained such card, and one
written line showed to whom il was to
60 Yet every heir was specially en-
ioined by note found in the old lady's
Bible that Not stitch is to be sold of
what freely give. because my fingers
have made these articles only for you,
my dear"
With few exceptions such articles are
rarely used. but are held as keepsakes.
Some Young housewives can show
drawers full of homespun linen which
has been handed down from gene ra-
tion. Some of the linen is worn through
at the folds. The other day aged F.
becca Akers died. Each of her three
daughters received two drawers OF
linens. Nearly all the garments are
made on a pattern common century
i ago The towels and sheets are coarse
homespun. home bleached and wide of
hem.
An oddity are the long gray wool
stockings knit by the old women in the
style in revolutionary days. Some of
| the hosiery was so large that the stock
| ings could he worn over the shoes in
snowy weather. 1t is common thing
to find 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.