WHO WAS ELIAS HOWE ?
Elias Howe
invented the sewing machine in 1807. Few
consider how important his contribution was to life, society, and the gift of
serenity.
I have many
artisans in my family who were seamstresses and tailors. One of my grandfathers was a tailor, one
grandfather made shoes (using a sewing machine!), as did some of my 6 or 7
great-uncles. Two aunts on my mother’s
side sewed all their clothes…and these are only the ancestors I know of
who were immigrants who came to America in the early 1900’s and
first-generation relatives.
With no pun intended…sew, it’s in my blood! I first learned to sew in Junior High school,
in the not-so-long-ago- remembered required course for girls, then known as
Home EC, short for Home Economics.
While I did not quite appreciate its value at the time, nor did I like
my Home- Ec teacher, learning to sew was,
hands-down, the most valuable skill I learned throughout my entire
education…and that includes
college!
Suffice to
say, I believe the greatest invention ever is the sewing machine. While many people might opine that it was the
telephone, or many other technological inventions of the last 50 -75 years, I
believe few modern inventions, though great time-savers, lends such joy and
serenity to its user as the sewing machine. Though, I have to admit, I would not want to do without my food-processor,
using it does not make me too serene, (though,
indirectly it does, as it allows me to get to my sewing machine a lot
faster!!!)
Sending
messages via horseback or writing letters, in my opinion, would have been
slower but much more relaxing
than having to always cater to and being interrupted (from sewing !) by answering
the phone. And who thinks sitting at the
computer is a joy? The television,
though a form of entertainment, was probably the worst thing invented. Think
of all the marriages ruined from having a TV in the bedroom, time wasted, and
breakdown of family communication
because of having a television in every spare corner of the home. And are we really better off having to listen
to news broadcasters spreading slander and gossip about politicians and movie
stars? Actually, are we really better off having politicians
and movie stars in the first place?
But, the
sewing machine? Before it was invented
clothing was sewn by hand-stitching. I
have no idea how long it took to sew a shirt, skirt, or pair of slacks by
hand! For those who do not sew, it is
difficult to imagine the calm that takes over when seated at this amazing
mechanism. Watching the needle go up and
down, is itself, a bit of meditation. And
then there is the fascinating process of just putting two pieces of fabric
together. I see it as nothing less than a miracle. And then, of course,
one who chooses to spend time sitting at a sewing machine usually also enjoys the partnering of the use
of the iron, another great invention which
is also too taken-for-granted.
I love
life’s simple pleasures.
Thank you,
Mr. Howe, and most of all, thanks to G-d for giving him life and his ingenuity
