HOUSEHOLD MANUFACTURES.
As some of the premiums under this head are designed to encourage spinning, your committee will take the liberty to spin a little yarn before announcing the result of the their deliberations in regard to the awarding of premiums, and though we may not hope to weave a web of any value, we trust our efforts will serve as knitting work, to beguile a few moments of time while we rest from the severer labors of the farm and the household.
In the good old days of our grandmothers, and less so in the days of our mothers, the loom and the spinning wheel were important items in the list of household goods, and the measured bang bang of the one, and the busy, spiteful hum of the other were the music of the fireside , under the influence of which childhood and youth were trained to habits of industry and frugality; and possibly, as we now think, to a somewhat too laborious and cheerless mode of life. We should now, in the wisdom of the present generation, be disposed to mingle a little of the music of the piano with that of the loom, and the sound of merry voices with the buzz of the spinning wheel. Indeed, we have doubts as to the wisdom or economy of continuing the use of these ancient articles of household machinery, in the days of steam and water power, and with the improved and systematized methods of manufacturing cloth upon a large scale, except as a sort of curiosity of the past, and for the gratification of here and there a good dame, who has a veneration for the customs of her mother, and a pride in seeing her worser half dressed up in good homespun of her own make. To the gratification of such feelings we would make no objection, and for such purposes are glad to see the continued use to a limited extent, of the loom and the wheel.Needle work, to be sure, must continue to occupy much of the time of our wives and daughters until sewing machines shall be so far perfected as to perform advantageously all kinds of sewing required in the family, from the sewing on of a button to the mending of a coat.
Knitting and crochet work, too, must continue as a sort of half work and half play for ladies, old and young, until some better means are devised to fill up the odd hours of ever working, never idle women. We should be glad, however, to have an improvement made in knitting, which should dispense with the seam needle, so that the work could be dropped without always being obliged to knit into the seam needle, and we suggest the offering of a premium for such improvement. But the knitting must go on, and ought to go on for it serves to while away many an hour of old age that would otherwise be weary: and young ladies must knit, too, so long as the hose are wanted of the best sort, and mittens are in demand for gifts, for friends on certain occasions.
Certainly your society should encourage the manufacture of bed-quilts, and the darning of stockings, and other plain, and fancy needle work, as well: but at the same time should never fail to give greater encouragement to the manufacture of that first of all household manufactures, good bread; and here let us suggest that the list of articles upon which premiums are offered under this head, should be so modified as to encourage improvement in cooking, and general housekeeping labors. Perhaps a premium might be offered for best managed household, with a committee of old bachelors and maiden ladies to decide between the competitors, in the same manner as a premium is sometimes offered for best managed farm, with a committee of merchants and mechanics for judges.Seriously, though, we regret that young ladies of the present day are so imperfectly trained to the performance of the most common, and at the same time the most important household duties. We make no objection to a suitable proportion of fancy work, or amusement. They may do fine needle work, or study and practice music and drawing-manufacture various kinds of pretty nothings, and paint pictures-if they will not paint their faces-but all this is secondary and subordinate to the homelier and more needful exercises of the kitchen and the cook room.
But since the exhibition of articles upon which you offer premiums under this head, is so small, we conclude that the ladies are fully occupied with other domestic duties, or are engaged in labors less useful and more ornamental.Of the limited number of articles presented for examination, most were very good, which affords us some consolation.
Of Wool Flannel there was but one piece,-No. 6, presented by Mrs. Sarah Gifford, of Fairfield, which was worthy of the first premium of .75.
Of Cotton and Wool Flannel-none.
Of Wool Carpeting-none.
Of Cotton and Wool Carpeting-none.
Of Rag Carpeting, one excellent piece, by Mrs. Mehitable Hamilton, of Belgrade, is worthy of a gratuity of .75.
Of Hearth Rugs there were nine entered-most of them very good. No. 2, by Ellen L. Flagg, of Benton, was pronounced worthy of the first premium, and No. 4, by Mrs. J.W. Lamb, of the second premium. Nos.1 and 14 were worthy of special commendation.
Of Wool Shawls, Wool Capes, and Bed Quilts, there were none.
Only one lot of mittens were presented, and in that not a pair a piece for the committee. However, as they were pretty good, we recommend the second premium of 25 cts. to Mrs. F.A. Davis of Sidney.
Best wool yarn was No. 18 by Mrs. Asa Mayo, and second best, No. 11 by Mrs. F.A. Davis.
Of Wool Stockings but one lot, No. 10, by Mrs. F.A. Davis are worthy of the first premium.
Of Plain and Fancy needle work there was none.
Of worsted work, one very beautiful specimen, by a lady 74 years old-No. 3, by Mrs. Ingalls of Waterville, is fully deserving the premium offered.
There was no specimen of darning Stockings, from which fact we are not to suppose however, that no such work is done at the present time, but may infer that the men do their own darning, and that it is of a kind not suitable for exhibition.
Two linen Table covers, No. 5, by Mrs. Sarah Gifford, Fairfield, deserves a gratuity of .50.
A pair of linen Hose, by Mrs. Jonah Crosby, of Albion-74 years old are entitled to a gratuity of 25 cents.
A Cotton Bed Spread, entered for exhibition only, by Mrs. A.N. Gower, of Winslow is a very nice article.
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