The Washington times., 1916-08-17
WhereIs the
Rag Bag Of
OtherDays?
Thrift Campaign of Depart
ment of Commerce Unable
To Revive Institution
Which Has Vanished
Along With That High
way Robber of a Decade
Ago, the Ragman.
Asst May the Department Of


Commerce began a rag-saving
campaign. 1t sent out bulletins
OF advice to mothers all over the
land, imploring them to save their rags.
Rags, you see, may be used as material
for paper
The first edition Of the bulletin was
soon exhausted. The second has gone
to press. The Department of Commerce
will make another desperate attempt TO
restore the prestige Of the rag bag In
the home.
This sudden desire to make the domestic
circle more efficient arose from the dis
covery that the United States was
actually importing huge quantities of
rags and waste paper from belligerent
countries In Europe. More than that.
the United States was paying heavy
duty on Us importations. Fifty per
cent of the amount Of paper made In
this country was evolved from foreign
Il was the sudden realization of
American unthriftiness that gave the
Department of Commerce its inspira-
ton to exploit the family rag bag. 1t
reasoned that II all the mothers In the
country saved their rags and string and
paper. we would soon be Independent
of foreign rags and paper making ma
terislS.
Rag Bag Doesn't Exist.
Strange to say. no overwhelming
quantities of rags have the mothers Of
America been able to produce. As a
matter OF fact. there is no such thing
as a rag bag In the modern home.
The present-day woman shows little
tendency to cling. for sentimental rea-
sons to bits of gingham and cotton
cloth. If she lives in an apartment
or a small house. there isn't room TO
keep these odds and ends. Into the
waste basket goes every scrap. to be
disposed OF as the janitor and the city
waste department see fit:
Even in the country the rag bag rs
commercial souls who have been known
to make and sell rag carpets. To them,
however. the rags are tools OF their
profession. and the rag bag supply
housS rather than a museum.
Some one has suggested that the bag
became obsolete with the passing OF the
rag buying gentleman. A decade ago
the mournful cry of Rags" still re-
s buyer was i@mortalissd In popuiai
lyrics Now the race has passed into
oblivion with the invention OF the
standardized home.
Rag Man Highway Robber.
A New York club woman gives the
following tersc account OF an interview
with one of these merchants.
He was an impudent fellow" she
says, feelinSly. After had saved u;
q roomful of rags. expecting to get
about 81, he gave me package OF stove
backing. His scales were dishonest
The way he took advantage OF womer
was nothing less than highway robbery
So general was the experience thai
women finally stopped saving rags. The
last time l ever saved the man tossed
them into his wagon and drove off with,
out paying me. leaving me In tears Of
Indignation.
also. recall the fate OF a neighbol
who protested vigorously when he Of
fered her n pittance for her years saw
Ing OF rags He had already emptjct
her sack into his own. a favorite trick
and had carried It to the top of the area
steps. She stood at the foot Of the
steps. and when she prolonged the con-
troversy he quietly turned the sack up
side down and emptied II upon her no" y
I oan readily understand why the family
rag-bag passed out"
And the Department of ComTe"ce Il
trying to revive 1t In the face of thisl