* * * * *
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, Mass., and Providence and Johnston, R.I.,
all from the "Salem Mercury."
ATTLEBORO', _June 20_. Yesterday, 63 respectable young
ladies, belonging to this town, asslembled, at 2 o'clock,
P.M. at the house of Mr. Daniel Balkum, 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 sex, 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 assembled, 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 sex. 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 assistance 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, asslembled
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
friendship, 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
assembled, 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 God, 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 sex are; who,
at present, deservedly bear the palm, as friends to their
country.
"SPINNING BEE. On the 1st inst. assembled at the house of
the Rev. Samuel Deane of this town, more than one hundred of
the fair sex, 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
assembly. 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."
_Cumberland_ (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.