Print, A SOCIETY of PATRIOTIC LADIES, at EDENTON in NORTH CAROLINA
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A group of women have gathered in the parlor of a fashionable home to sign a loyalty oath, A woman of stern countenance presides at one end of a table upon which rests the document to be signed. Inscribed on it is the following resolve:
We the Lady's of Edenton do hereby solemnly En-gage to Conform to that Pernicious Custom of
Drinking Tea, or that we the aforesaid Ladys will
not promote ye wear of any Manufacture from En-
gland until such time that all Acts which tend to
Enslave this our Native country shall be Repealed.
One lady bends over the table to add her signature while on the other side another is distracted by the attentions of a gentleman who has intruded into the female sanctuary. Directly behind stand two women, one drinking an alternative to tea from a large punch bowl. In the doorway three women pour the contents of tea caddies into the hats of men who will take it away. Other empty caddies suggest the real sacrifice these ladies are making in behalf of the couse. The unknown maker has added a delicate touch to the otherwise stern reminders of the difficult times by placing a small child under the table playing with a miniature tea set. A pet dog affectionately licks the child's face while it urinates on a tea caddy.
The Chairwoman, an unattractive elderly woman, sits at the end of the table holding a gavel in her hand. Placed on the table is a petition inscribed, "We the Ladies of Edenton do hereby solemnly Engage no to Conform to that Pernicious Custom of Drinking Tea, or that we the aforesaid Ladys will not promote ye wear of any Manufacture from England until such time that all Acts which tend to Enslave this our Native Country shall be Repealed."
A young woman in a hat bends over the table to sign the paper. The central figure is seated with pen in hand. She attractive in appearance, and is being kissed by a young man. Behind stand 2 plainly dressed women wearing hats; one drinks from a large punch-bowl, the other helps her to support the bowl. On the right is an open door with 2 men standing outside; one holds out his hat while a lady pours the contents of a tea-caddy into this hat. Two other women stand ready to do the same, holding their caddies in their hands. To the right of the chairwoman is another seated woman holding a fan; beside them on the floor is a dog urinating on their tea-caddies. While urinating, the dog licks the face of a child sitting under the table.
