University of Virginia Library

LADIES' FAIRS.

The art of sewing was the first invention of
human skill; and probably one of the first manufactures
of Tubal-cain was that of needles. The
art has never been lost; wherever man and woman
are found, savage or civilized, sewing, in some
manner, is practised; so universally, indeed, that it
seems an instinct rather than an art, and a distinguishing
characteristic of the human race, from
every other species of animated nature.

It must be obvious that an art, so long and constantly
practised, has had a powerful effect on the
character as well as comfort of the world; and had
we time for the investigation, it might be easily
shown, that the refinement of society is dependant
upon the perfection to which needle-work is advanced,
and the estimation in which it is held; and,
consequently, that woman, to whom this branch of
ingenious industry is almost entirely conceded,
wields over the destiny of nations a weapon more

powerful than the sword of the conqueror. Such
a dissertation is foreign from my purpose; however,
my readers will easily, without any prompting,
refer the improvement of manners to different eras
in the art of sewing, from that of necessity to the
needle-work of convenience, of elegance, of luxury;
and then comes the crowning grace, when the work
of fair fingers is made subservient to the luxury of
doing good.

We are slow to learn that, though

Charity of opinion and feeling was, doubtless,
what the moralist intended to inculcate; but, in a
world like ours, where physical wants press so
heavily on the helpless, where so many are poverty-stricken,
and require to be fed and clothed, before
kind words can soften their hearts, and convince
them that compassion is really felt for their
moral wretchedness, and a deep interest in their
eternal welfare, we must always consider a disposition
to give alms, if not the purest kind of charity,
the most certain evidence of feeling pity.

In what manner alms may be best administered,
so as to bless those who give and those who take,
is a question of much importance. Doubtless, the
most essential preparation, by which we are fitted

to receive benefit from any action, is to keep the
heart right; but of the hearts of others, we may not
judge, and of our own, we are too often partial
judges. We must then, in considering the value
of the benefits conferred by a particular charity,
estimate its effects on the conduct and character of
the giver and receiver; and where the tendency of
the chosen mode of relieving the distressed is, on
the whole, productive of much good, we should
not relinquish it, though some objections may exist;
for there is no perfect manner of charity. If we
are too careful, we shall always be troubled about
many things, which a more trusting heart and mind
would have avoided.

The expediency of Ladies' Fairs has been, with
some excellent people, a subject of doubt, if not of
disapprobation; and it has been our lot to hear the
matter discussed, feelingly, by those who held opposite
opinions, and yet were equally entitled to
that best of human appellations—the benevolent.

Those who disapprove this mode of charity, urge
the impropriety of the display—that it encourages
vanity in young ladies, and makes the motive of
being seen and admired, the predominating one in
their hearts.

Another objection is, that the real benefits of the
charity are, to the poor, very problematical—if one
class of sufferers is helped, another is injured, because

the articles sold are principally made by the
rich, and, being disposed of, prevent the sale of
fancy works of a similar description, which would
be made by those who have the skill, and depend
wholly on their industry and ingenuity, but who
are, by this competition of the Fairs, thrown out of
employment.

These, we believe, are the principal objections:
let us examine them.

The first objection would be a serious one, if this
were the only manner of display which could foster
vanity, or the most likely one to excite and gratify
it. But this is not the case. Young ladies are
seen at places of public resort, and seen, too, in
their promenades, with quite as much freedom to
the observers, and hazard to the observed. While
the sexes are permitted to mingle together in elegant
amusements, in the pursuits of literature, in
the worship of God, we cannot discover any impropriety
in their occasionally meeting at the
shrine of Charity.

But it is said the Fairs offer encouragement to
those who would not otherwise be permitted to
approach the ladies who manage the show: that
the purchase of a ticket will give to any fellow the
freedom of the apartment, and the privilege of
gazing on the fair managers. So will the purchase
of a ticket admit the same fellow to the public concerts,

the hall of the lecturer, and the picture gallery;
and yet what elegant, intelligent and virtuous
lady, refuses to appear at those places of fashionable
resort, because the ignorant, disagreeable, or
vicious, may gain admittance? With such she has
no communication; nor has she any when they
appear at the Fair where she presides; nor while
Fairs are managed discreetly, will there occur any
opportunity for insolence to wound the feelings of
the most delicate lady. Gentlemen may, perhaps,
purchase the articles more readily when presented
by a fair hand; and the beaming of a bright eye
may melt their hearts to unusual generosity in the
prices they pay for what is to them of no value,
but as associated with the fair—yet mingling with
these visions will be the thoughts of the objects to
which the money they give will be devoted, and a
disposition to encourage other benevolent plans
will be fostered by this exercise of benevolence.
The man who purchases articles at a Ladies' Fair
is more likely to bestow charity on the next applicant
than he who condemns all such means of obtaining
money for charitable purposes is to give at
any time.

The second objection has more apparent reasonableness;
for if the poor are deprived of an employment,
the same amount of money they could have
earned will not, as a charity, be equally beneficial

as would the opportunity of gaining it by their own
industry. Giving alms to those who are able to
work is a very bad plan. We should not do this.
Better let the poor earn what we can afford them,
even if the labour they perform is of no manner of
use to us. To a poor woman who has nothing to
do, the fairy's task of assorting feathers and winding
tangled skeins of yarn, if she can have pay for
her industry, will be better than a support without
labour. But we think the articles sold at the Fairs
have increased the demand for fancy works of a
similar description, and so, instead of injuring those
who make such trifles for a livelihood, they benefit
them. Those who purchase at the Fairs, with few
exceptions, would not otherwise purchase at all; but
the fact that they did buy, has a tendency to make
fancy works fashionable, and when that is accomplished,
their sale is secure. Whatever is fashionable
is soon necessary; and the circumstance, that such
articles as have been sold at the Ladies' Fairs are
now kept at many fancy shops, is proof that the
ingenious and industrious poor are reaping benefits
from this trade in trifles.

It is true, the articles for the Fairs are chiefly
made gratuitously, and by ladies who are exempt
from the necessity of earning; and this circumstance,
we consider, will have very beneficial consequences.
It is exceedingly difficult to give habits

of domestic industry to those who have no
need of labour; yet on such habits mainly depends
the physical health of woman, and much of that
cheerfulness of mind which makes her useful and
agreeable at home. We regret to see that, in
female education, needle-work has, of late, been so
sadly undervalued. The old-fashioned accomplishments
of embroidery and tenth-stitch were preposterous,
when they demanded all the time of woman;
and so would be music, or drawing, or any accomplishment
we term literary. A young lady should
be trained to vary her employments, and display,
in every department of womanly knowledge, good
sense and refined taste; and she may as truly exhibit
sense, and taste, and elegance of fancy in her
needle-work, as in reciting philosophy, quoting
poetry, or playing the harp.

The truth is, that in female education there is
now danger from excess of mental culture. The
mind is dragged and driven to make exertions beyond
its abilities, and the constitution fails in the
effort; and from the confinement to which girls are
subjected at school, particularly when their studies
are likewise continued at home. Some relaxation
should be allowed, and then a taste for the beauties
of needle-work, and for all feminine employments,
in which fancy and skill are blended with industry,
may be cultivated; and surely, when these are called

forth, and directed by the pure motive of relieving
the distressed, they are deserving of high
praise.

“I have made all these articles during mornings
and holidays,” said a pretty young lady, as she
showed me a variety of butterfly needle-books, pincushions
of many forms, and other ingenious and
beautiful creations, that completely covered her
work-table. “I engaged to make a dozen articles
for the Fair,” continued the lovely girl, “but I liked
the employment so well, that I have made double the
number. Mother thought I would be soon tired
of rising so early—and I thought so too; but I have
felt the better for it every day, and I learn my lessons
at school better, because I must study and be
industrious there, so that I can have more time at
home to work on these pretty things.”

Here is the true secret of making the rich industrious—it
is to give them a pleasurable motive
for exertion. The poor must labour to live; but a
young lady who can have every pecuniary wish
gratified, without taking thought for the means, is
in great danger of becoming indolent, selfish, useless
and unhappy.

So far as the Ladies' Fairs have relieved the rich
from ennui, and the poor from suffering, they have
done good, much good—and we hope they will be
continued. The money obtained should be sacred

to the sick and helpless; suffering age and destitute
childhood seem the proper objects of this charity;
and the young and rich, while devoting their time
and thoughts to these, may be assured that they
will do honour to themselves by exhibiting their
industry and ingenuity, their skill in needle-work,
and the devotion of that skill to benevolent purposes.