Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-04
REGARDED AS DETRIMENT.
Sixty Years Ago Seamstresses Opposed
the Sewing Machine.

3It has not been sixty years since the
sewing machine made its appearance in
Washington" said an old timer to a Star
reporter land there are quite number OF
not very old people who remember the occa-
sion. During the great mechanics falr
which was held in 1916. opening May q of
that year. In a specially constructed frame
building in Judiciary Square. 1t was one OF
the star exhibits. 1t was said at the time
that one of the main objects Of the fair was
to influence legislation in Congress on the
tariff to show what the American working
man could do. and how little we were de-
pendent on other countries for the neces-
saries Of life
Il remember that the sewing machine was
the greatest attraction of the fair and In
terested the crowds about 1t, and there was
difficulty experienced in getting near 1t. AS
may be supposed the machine at that period
had not been brought to the perfection 1t
reached by subsequent improvement, but
it did It's work to the amazement of the
thousands Of visitors. and as labor saw
Ing. machine, together with McCormick's
reaper, then first exhibited here. caused
much discussion. Among the seamstresses
the sewing machine was looked upon as the
instrument which would deprive them of
living and 1t was predicted that Its adoption
would drive hundreds to poverty. At that
time the price was high. and many hoped
that so much would be asked for 1t as to
prevent it's general use.
THE effect of its introduction was to some
extent discussed in the papers Of the day,
and believe in some Of the manufacturing
cities the working people were much excited
over the revolution its adoption was ex-
pected to bringsI read an abstract Of an
address by pastor In one such city In
which he said to the factory people and
seamStressesrthatt they had nothing to fear
from it's intxoduetion. He said notwith-
standing so much more sewing could be
done by machiae the tastes Of the women
were such that should the cost Of making
a dress or other garment be cheapened more
elaborate garments would become the style
and there would follow such demand that
instead of taking. work from the sewers
there would be more. In other words, while
the cost of making plain dress would be
lessened. the additional trimming, extra
pleats. seams, etc.r would make up for any
loss. ~ 81
mower and reaper would have such an
effect upon the masses, continued the mar
rator, for ali recognized that should it be
effective the cost of daily bread would be
lowered. l should mention that the revolv-
ing pistol. patented by Col. Samuel Colt.
some ten years before was an object OF
much interest," especially to military men.
and the fact that. 1t was then on trial in
warfare-the Texan rangers Of Capt Sam
uel H. Walker. engaged in the Mexican war.
being armed with the pistols-imparted an
additional interest to the subject:
There were many other exhibits at the
lation to the masses. a great educational OBJ
ject lesson, and probably the most import
ant exhibits were those named. L should
not, however, omit to notice another AS Is
customary, admission tickets were issued to
ALI exhibitors, and hundreds of our younger
people were benefited thereby, these being
mostly girls who had specimens Of sewing,
embroidery etc. There was boy living IN
the old second ward. who got up an elab-
crate aggregation of cogwheels. levers,
shafts. etc, so intricate in looks as to
bewilder any but the initiated, whose sole
object was to obtain an admission ticket
This he entered but not for prize, and
called it wing wang By winding up
the motive power clock spring, went
into operation with such a clatter as to
drown the noise Of some of the larger ma
chimes Curiosity led to many INQUIRIES as
to IT'S use. but the only reply obtained was
that it will grind smoke. when forced IN the
homer. and cool the abr with its revolving
finpers Useless though the machine was
at the time 1t drew the attention OF an m
fuential gentleman to the boy, who made
him his protege. and the results of the
hov's ingenuity were subsequently seen by
an improyement in draw bridges and in the
matter of lanterns for light houses.