The Olden Time Series Volume II Part 11

From the "Salem Mercury," Nov. 25, 1788.

S. Breck, Esq. member of the House of Representatives for Boston, appears in his seat with a complete suit of American manufactured broadcloth, of an elegant colour.

About 1787 and 1788, spinning-wheel meetings seem to have been very popular. We copy notices of meetings of young ladies in Attleboro', Dighton, Gloucester, Rehoboth, Ma.s.s., and Providence and Johnston, R.I., all from the "Salem Mercury."

ATTLEBORO', _June 20_. Yesterday, 63 respectable young ladies, belonging to this town, a.s.slembled, at 2 o'clock, P.M. at the house of Mr. Daniel Balk.u.m, and, to the surprise and great satisfaction of all the friends to industry, spun, before sunset, 199 skeins of excellent linen yarn. Industry is the genuine source of all laudable pleasure. On it depend all the conveniences of life. Health, the greatest of blessings, depends on industry--beauty, on health. If ladies, then, wish to be beautiful, they must be industrious; they must animate their countenances with that blooming health which comes from the SPINNING-WHEEL. The fair s.e.x, when rightly and industriously employed, are justly termed the beauty of this lower creation. Beauty without virtue is contemptible. Merit only gains the heart.

Idleness is disgraceful. Industry is the ornament of wealth, the support and consolation of poverty. We hope soon to see the time, when the fair daughters of America will be clothed in the manufactures of their own hands. Happy are we, that some have already set the example. May it never be said, that American ladies rise 15 minutes later than the sun. May they ever have thread enough in their hands to make a halter for a Shays.

On Tuesday last, thirteen young ladies a.s.sembled, with their spinning-wheels, at the house of Mr. Joseph Whipple, in North-Providence, and, between the hours of eight in the morning and six in the afternoon, completed fifty skeins of excellent linen yarn.

July 1, 1788.

The spinning-wheel, a few years ago imprudently neglected, begins to be held in general reputation by the Fair; and the exploits of some on that useful machine, are deservedly celebrated, as worthy of imitation. To those good works of female industry may be added the singular attachment of two young ladies in Dighton, who spun, the 11th instant, between the rising and setting of the sun, thirteen skeins and eleven lees of good linen yarn; one six skeins and seven, and the other seven skeins and four lees. The spirit of industry is becoming more prevalent, especially among the fair s.e.x. They begin to lay aside their useless and idle visits, or, at least, make them less frequent. When persons become more industrious and mind their own business, they talk less, and to better purpose; they become more contented, and the world around them is more peaceable and happy.

_Providence Gazette_, July 1, 1788.

PROVIDENCE, _May 24_. On the 7th inst. 71 ladies met at the house of the Rev. Mr. Ellis, in Rehoboth, and lodged 187 skeins of good linen yarn, which they had spun for Mrs.

Ellis; and others have since added 31. Solomon, in describing a virtuous woman, says, "She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.--She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff."

Industry is certainly a virtue, which, while it adorns, enriches, society; it banishes the languid hue from the countenances of the fair, and adds vigour and vivacity to the mind.--The spirited exertions that the daughters of Columbia are making, to manufacture our wool and flax, which are necessary for our consumption, are praise-worthy, and demand the approbation and a.s.sistance of every true patriot.

We flatter ourselves with the pleasing expectation of seeing the virtuous fair clothed and ornamented in the genuine productions of their own labour.

We hear from Gloucester, that on Thursday last nearly thirty young ladies, inspired with the love of industry, a.s.slembled at the house of Capt. Philemon Haskell, for the praise-worthy purpose of a Federal Spinning Match, when, to their honour, their spirited exertion produced 99 skeins of excellent yarn--practically declaring, that they neither laboured in vain or spent their strength for nought. The day thus industriously concluded, finished not the harmony of their federalism; in the evening, to crown the pleasure of the day, with additional company, they regaled with an agreeable dance, and, at a modest hour, parted in love and friends.h.i.+p, with hearts convivial as they met, leaving others to admire their female patriotism, and to go and do likewise.

In Scotland, the farmers knit as well as the women of their families; but they do this while they are watching their sheep or cattle, or while they are sitting by their evening fire in winter. Why cannot our American farmers and their sons adopt this frugal practice? Time is the most precious thing in the world. Its very fragments should be saved.

PROVIDENCE, MAY 17. Monday last, eighteen young ladies a.s.sembled, with their spinning-wheels, at the house of Captain Jonathan Treadwell, and spun 40 skeins of good linen yarn.

MAY 22. A correspondent desires us to mention, that at Johnston, a few days since, four industrious young ladies, by "laying their fingers to the spindle, and their hands to the distaff," completed, in one day, the spinning and reeling of 21 fifteen-knotted skeins of good linen yarn.

Would to G.o.d, that the Gentlemen at the head of our political affairs in this State, were half so zealous in encouraging our own manufactures, as the fair s.e.x are; who, at present, deservedly bear the palm, as friends to their country.

"SPINNING BEE. On the 1st inst. a.s.sembled at the house of the Rev. Samuel Deane of this town, more than one hundred of the fair s.e.x, married and single ladies, most of whom, were skilled in the important art of spinning. An emulous industry was never more apparent than in this beautiful a.s.sembly. The majority of fair hands gave motion to not less than sixty wheels. Many were occupied in preparing the materials, besides those who attended to the entertainment of the rest,--provision for which was mostly presented by the guests themselves, or sent in by other generous promoters of the exhibition, as were also the materials for the work. Near the close of the day Mrs. Deane was presented by the company, with two hundred and thirty-six, seven-knotted skeins of excellent cotton and linen yarn, the work of the day, excepting about a dozen skeins, which some of the company brought in ready spun. Some had spun six and many not less than five skeins apiece. She takes this opportunity of returning thanks to each, which the hurry of the day rendered impracticable at the time. To conclude and crown the day, a numerous band of the best singers attended in the evening and performed an agreeable variety of excellent pieces in psalmody. "The price of a virtuous woman is far above rubies, * * * She layeth her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff."

_c.u.mberland_ (Portland, Me.) _Gazette_, May 8, 1788, copied by EDW. H. ELWELL, Esq., editor of the _Transcript_.

When spinning-wheels ceased to be used altogether, we are not able to say. Probably they were not in use for any great length of time after the opening of the present century; but possibly in some country places they were used down to the time of the War of 1812, and even later. We are informed that in some remote places in Rhode Island and in Maine spinning-wheels are in use to this day; but these are exceptional cases.

The "Ma.s.sachusetts Centinel," April 30, 1788, has this advertis.e.m.e.nt:--

[Ill.u.s.tration]

WILLIAM SCOTT, At the Sign of the SPINNING WHEEL, In MARLBOROUGHSTREET, (_Resolving to quit Trade in the Fall_) WILL sell all his GOODS on hand at the STERLING COST and CHARGES. Among which are, Some elegant _Mersailles_ Bed-Quilts, _Mersailles_ Quilting in pieces, Irish Linens, Gauzes, Shawls and l.u.s.trings of a superiour quality, &c, &c.

A large quant.i.ty of silk Gloves, Mitts and Fans --> _CASH for POT-ASHES._

THE following very curious notice in the "Ma.s.sachusetts Centinel" in reference to funerals shows what had been customary upon such occasions; the object of these "wholesome regulations" seemed to be to induce economy. Gloves and rings were given to mourners in Salem to within the last fifty or sixty years, and wines or liquors were also furnished.

_TAKE NOTICE._

AN economical plan of mourning was adopted, before the Revolution, and its salutary effects have been experienced by almost every family in this town; since which those wholesome regulations have been pa.s.sed into a law: Notwithstanding which, it has lately been broken in upon in several instances.--The _Inspectors of the Police_--that no one may hereafter plead ignorance, have caused the law respecting the same to be published, and give notice, that any future breach of it, will be prosecuted without any favour or affection. _Boston, April 30, 1788._

_To prevent excess and vain expense, in Mourning, &c._

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, That in future no scarfs, gloves or rings shall be given at any funeral in this town, nor shall any wine, rum, or other spirituous liquor, be allowed or given at, or immediately before or after, any funeral in this town, under pain that the person or persons giving, allowing or ordering the same shall respectively forfeit and pay the sum of _twenty s.h.i.+llings_ for each offence.

_And it is further ordered_, That whatever male person shall appear or walk in the procession of any funeral in this town with any new mourning or new black or other new mourning coat or waistcoat, or with any other new black apparel, save and except a black c.r.a.pe around one arm, or shall afterwards on account of the decease of any relation, or other person or persons, put on and wear any other mourning than such piece of black c.r.a.pe around one arm, shall forfeit and pay the sum of _twenty s.h.i.+llings_ for every day he shall put on and wear or appear in the same.

AND no female, of whatsoever degree, shall put on, wear or appear at any funeral in this town, in any other mourning or new black clothes whatever, other than a black hat or bonnet, black gloves, black ribbons and a black fan, on pain to forfeit and pay the sum of _twenty s.h.i.+llings_; and also forfeit and pay a like sum of _twenty s.h.i.+llings_ for every day she shall at any time at, or after such funeral, put on wear or appear in such new black clothes, as or for mourning, other than black hat, bonnet, black gloves, black ribbons, and a black fan as aforesaid.

In 1790 the town of Salem published in the papers some regulations about funerals; among the fees fixed were these:--

"For each Tolling of the Bell 8d."

"The s.e.xtons are desired to toll the Bells only four strokes in a minute."

"The undertakers service in borrowing chairs, waiting upon the Pall-holders and warning the Relations &c. to attend 8/."

"B. Daland and B. Brown are appointed by the Selectmen to see that Free Pa.s.sages in the streets are kept open." (This was before carriages were used at funerals.)

Extracts from Mr. Colman's Agricultural Address.

MANUFACTORIES AND THE SPINNING WHEEL.

"The establishment of extensive manufactories, and the introduction of power-looms and spinning-jennies, has nearly destroyed the usual household manufactures, and put our other Jennies out of employment. Our ears are seldom greeted now a days in the farmer's cottage with the flying of the shuttle, or the deep base of the spinning wheel. We confess that we have looked upon their departure with a strong feeling of regret; and deem it no small abatement of the advantages, which the establishment of extensive manufactures has obviously yielded to the country, that it removes the daughter from the shelter and security of the paternal roof, and places her in a situation, which certainly furnishes no means of qualifying her for the proper department of woman; to preside over our domestic establishments; to perform her part in the joint labors of the household; and to know how and when and where to use, prepare, and to apply to the best advantage within doors, the products of man's labor without doors. Many occupations of female industry, strictly domestic however, of a healthy and agreeable nature, are constantly presenting themselves, so that there is little danger that the race of industrious women, and accomplished wives, at least among the country girls, will soon be extinct; and the silk culture, fast gaining ground among us, promises to furnish an unexhausted resource and a profitable employment of female labor."

_Salem Observer_, 1834.