[figure description] Page 200.[end figure description]

I don't kno when i hav bin filled so near up tew
the brim with a fond feelink for the fair sek az i was
last nite at mi natiff plase, the good old borough ov
Billingsville, whither i had gone on a visit tew git mi
boots tapped. The wimmin had called a meetin' ov
the fair sekts tew take into konsiderashun the propriety
ov not wareing enny more clothes, that is, forrin
bilt clothes. The meetin waz got into shape bi kalling
Mrs. Peleg Pewter tew the chair. The fust
thing she did waz tew create a silence, which she did
after about 30 minnits, awl excep a fu whispering,
which she could not dry up.

The style ov the meetin' having bin sot up in big
type bi the Mrs. Peleg Pewter, she ced thare waz an
opening, and no less than 4 wimmin started for the
opening at onst; but the president decided that
Mrs. Cynthee Coon waz about one neck ahed, and

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tharefore, waz entitled tew the fust heat. She waz a
woman about 14 hands hi, and wore wollen stockings.
She ced she waz for home manafakter and waz agin
awl luxury excep a nu shawl, and that she must hav.
She ced she waz willing tew giv up silk, but she
must hav 1 more nu shawl if it bust her.

She ced she thought thare ought tew be sum diskriminashun
between what folks didn't want and
what tha did, and for her part she was reddy tew go
her length or ennyboddy else's length agin the noshun
that poor people had ov hankering after imported
goods.

Her speech lasted for about 2 hours, and was listened
to with breathless expense. When she sot
down the wimmin gathered around her; sum ov
them held camphor tew her noze, sum ov them unhooked
her dress, and one ov them, more thoughtful
than the rest, mixed up a gin sling, which she struggled
with for a minnit, and then ced it did her soul
good. A committee ov 3 ov the heavyest wimmin
was appointed bi the chair with power tew draw up a
sett ov resolushuns which was reported as follows:

Whereas, resolved, that silks, and shawls, and so
forth, are a luxury from imported kuntrys, and we
are down on them.

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Resolved, that we are down on silks and shawls.

Resolved, that we wont uze silks and shawls onla
in case ov sickness.

Resolved, that the foregoing resolushuns be published
3 times a week in the Billingsville Weekly,
and that our husbands foot the bills or we foot
them — the bills.

Resolved, that we pledg ourselfs, our fortins, and
our natiff land, tew sustane the above sett ov resolushuns.

After taking a pinch ov snuff, and kissing awl
around, the meeting broke up tew meet “sine die “on
the next Teusday.....: Ov course no male man
was allowed at the meetin', but i receaved a koppa ov
the resolushuns the nex morning, accompanyed with
mi respeks.

p674-228

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