Noble Southern women.
--Much has been written about the Spartan women of old-- much about the noble Roman matron — much about our excellent ‘"foremothers of the Revolution;"’ but it has been reserved for the women of our sunny South to blend the virtues of these heroines all in one, and present to the world the brightest examples of firmness, courage and patriotism. Look at the hundreds of women all over our land,--delicate ones who have been reared in the lap of luxury, who have heretofore been shielded from every rough blast, women who a year ago were lingering over the ivory keys of their pianos, or discussing with their dress-makers the shade of silk which became their complexion best — and see how they have risen without a dissenting voice, to meet the exigencies of the times. ‘"What shall I wear?"’ is now a question seldom asked. The only attention that dress demands is the consideration, ‘"will it be a piece of economy to purchase this or that,"’ and daily we hear the remark "I want homespun dresses — they are the best for us now. -- Instead of finding our women at the piano, or on the fashionable promenade, we find them busy at their looms, busy at their wheels — busy making soldiers' uniforms, busy making bandages — busy in hospitals — busy girding up their sons, their husbands, and their fathers, for the battle-field. Tell me, are they not a noble race?--luxury has not enervated them, adversity has not depressed them.There was once a French queen, who, surrounding herself by her maids of honor, wrought day after day on delicate tapestry, with which the churches in her realm were afterwards hung. It was thought to be enact of Cheat virtue in her. The fact was registered upon the page of history, and she has been held up to her sex as a ‘"shining example."’ But she did not as the excellent wife of our Governor has done, set herself down to sew on heavy woolen goods for soldiers — she did not throw aside the silken robe, and the golden chain, and apply herself, day after day with unwearied assiduity, ever stiff Tabrices which make the shoulders and the fingers alike ache.
Nearly all the bandages that were used on the bloody field of Manassas, between the twenty-first and twenty-third of July, were made and forwarded by two Georgia women, Mrs. Robert Hardaway and her sister, who reside, we believe, near Columbus. Southern matrons are indeed the jewels of our land.--Southern Field and Firesides.
