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310 THE CULTIVATION OF
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
_. . . . The Irish Female Population Has...
The large number of women that became engaged in the needlework effort formed a serious item in the population : 300 , 000 are
claimed by sewed muslin , and 20 , 000 by our indigenous lace . These constitute a grand forceavailable for the benefit of the
, community ; and in the hour of necessity it effected good service , the memory of which is still warmly cherished . "When men ' s hands
were useless , little girls' fingers , by means of lace-work , provided for families ; and like the _^ widow _' s cruseit failed not while the famine
, lasted . But all earthly blessings are liable to the taint of our mortal natures , and this was no _excejrfcion . Money became a snare
to the ill-trained female multitude . An injurious expenditure of it occurred ; and the results were apparent in the disimproved morals
of the lower classes . This fact is cited as an evil attributable to crochet work ; and many condemn the industrial movement
altogether , in consequence of the social inconveniences they erroneously ascribe to it . . One of these is the withdrawal of women front
domestic occupations . Increased rates of wages failed to induce them to become servants , as long as they could procure any sort
of a living * by needlework ; and a strong tendency to neglect the useful application of the artin the desire to pursue the
orna-, mental , prevailed very extensively . It must be confessed that these circumstances have produced a very marked effect on the
community . The national characteristics came out in full force under them , and a deplorable condition of educational destitution was
betrayed . The Cork districts especially presented the distressing spectacle of increased means without corresponding social elevation ,
as an indirect result of the industrial movement . In some parts of Ireland , this lace trade met with exceptional circumstances . At
Clones , the poor were better prepared to receive the manufacture , and a marked difference is to be seen in its progress and effects .
In 1854 the lace makers made a brave struggle to retain the direction under which they commenced work ; and their address to
Mrs . Hand , the lady who began the movement there , interestingly attests the superior intelligence of the people of that district .
ADDRESS TO MRS . HAND , Rectory , Clones . Madam ,
of Plate We , as the a small undersi token gned of , beg the your very acceptance sincere respect of the and accompany gratitude ing we Piece feel foun towards d us you in a for state your of unremitting the deepest kindness distress . utterl On your destitut coming e of to Clones , loy you
ment , unskilled in any art . By your unaided , personal y exertions any you emp introbefore duced , then and unheard had us instructed of in this nei in , hborhood the manufacture You of patientl crochet bore lace— with a work our
under i and gnorance now God you , kindl . of have enabling y encouraged the satisfaction 1500 our individu g efforts of knowing al , s liberall ( at . that least y rewarded you ) in hav this e us y been ari for sh the our to means earn labor a , _,,
, p but respectable we beg living you . -will Dear accept madam this , effort we are on not our skilled part , to in writing evidence addresses in . some ,
manner that we are conscious of your goodness . We entreat you not to
310 The Cultivation Of
310 THE CULTIVATION OF
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), July 1, 1862, page 310, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01071862/page/22/
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