Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-08-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Ladies' Repository.
WESTERN STYLE OF LIVING.


inc among the people of the Western States for
period OF forty years. Great changes have appear
ed during that time OF the fiity-two years OF my
life, thirty have been spent in the employment of
an itnerant preacher, affordng me the best pract-
cal means of information. Moreover, am the son
of Western Pioneer, who in the celebrated
battle at Point Pleasant, in 1884, and subsequently
identified with the Indian wars, till Waynes trea-
ty of 1895. OF course it is a matter OF interest TO
me to note the changes in society OF the tar-iamed
West; and il may be of some little interest to the
readers of the Repository TO see some of those
changes briefly pointed out. ! shall limit myself
chiefly to a few items pertaining TO the style OF
living, which may serve to remind US, that, whne
the real wants of men are comparatively few ana
simple the imaginary ones scarcely have any
bounds | shall. however not take into account
the wealthy arstocrat, with his costly mansion
Turkey carpets-silver plate, and thousand dol
lar carriage; nor the extremely poor man, who lives
in wretchel howell, on floor of earth, and sleeps
on his bundle of straw. They are both exceptions
to the general rule. My few observations shall
have reference to the great mass OF Western pop
ulation.
What is now considered an ordinary outfit for
Housekeeping? A domcile with parlors, hall, sit
ting-room dining room, kitchen, chambers, and
cellar. To furnish these apartments, there must be
Scotch or Brussels carpets, hearthrugs, and brass
mounted and-irons; window-blinds, ornamented or
cushioned chairs rocking chairs, sofas, sdeboards
steads, with testers or cauopies, dressed with cur
tains and valance, dressing tables and mirrors,
breakfast tables and dinner tables, with their tea
sets and dinner sets of China and Britannia, and
silver spoons, beside cooking stoves, &c. Now
this NAV answer for commencement as far as it
goes but who would ever think of keeping house
without a centre-tabe, richly covered, on which to
lay the nice little volumes done up in guilt moroc-
co? which, however, beng intended as mere Or
haments, are fortunately seldom or never read
Or who could endure to see parlor so naked, and
out of all fashion, not to have some man,el Or
namens, such as artificial flowers, with glass COW
ers, or some specimens of conchology and geoog-
ical formations? Beside, the walls must not only
be papered, but beautied with portraits and land
scapes. These commonplace notions amount to
quite clever sum, though they are as lew and e.
economical as Western people of this day, who make
any pretension to being stylish, can well get along
with. Indeed they form only part OF the numer-
Gus and indispensable fixtures of modern house
keeping, Again, to procure the vlands, such as
are in keeping with this array of furniture, ant
maintain force requisite to serve up and hant
them round and keep all the affairs Of the house
hold in order, will cost another round sum-to say
nothing of parties and extras.
With this modern style shall take the hbert.
of briefly contrasting the early style Of living IL
the western country. When young married
couple commenced housekeeping, from thirty It
forty years ago. very small outfit sutiiced, not on
~ 10 renuer lHeIn COHlOrlaUie, uul W plaCe tuei
on an equality with their friends and nelghbors.-
They needed log cabin, covered with clapboard;
and hoored with wooden slabs, IN western parlanc
called puncheons, and the openings between tn
logs closed with billets Of wood, and cramme
with mortar, to keep all warm and dry-all who
man could erect himself without any mechan
ical training, with one days friendly assstanc
from his neighbors, who lived near by, to raise tn
logs. Usually one room answered tor parlor, sill
ting-room, dlning-room, kitchen aud dormItory
while the potatoe hole under the puncheons, form
ed of course, by excavatlng the earth for morta
was good substitute for cellar. As to furniture
they needed stationary corner cupboard formed
upright and traverse pieces of boards arranged S
as to contain upper, lower, and middle shelf,
hold the table ware and eatabies. In order
comfort and convenience it was requisite, ALSO
have the following articles: one poplar slab tabl
two poplar oak rail bedsteads supplied vii
suitable bedding, and covered with cross-barrt
counterpanes of homemade, one of which was f
the accommodation of visitors; six spht-bottomt
chairs, one long bench, and few three leggt
stools were amply sufficient for themselves al
friends; half dozen pewter plates, as MAJ
knives and folks, tin cups and pewter spoons /
ordinary use, and the same number OF deli plate
cups, and saucers, for special occasions also, Of
dish, large enough to hold piece Of pork, be
meat, or veison, with the turnips, hominy, or q
stewed pumpkin. All this table ware was kept
the corner cupboard, aud so adjusted to she
oil to the pest auVantaSe, anu lllulculeu mat u
family were well fixed for comfortable living.
When the weather was too cold to leave the door
the window open, sufficient light to answer all
purposes came down the broad chimney, and say
the expense of glass lights and as for androl
two large stones served good substitute. L
whole being kept clean and sweet presented an
of comfort to the contenled and happy inmates
1t is true the cooking was usually done in prosen
of the family, but was soon dispatched, when
Dutch oven and skillet were nicely cleaned a
slowed under the cupboard and the long handl
frying pan hung upon nail or peg on one side
the door, while the water pail was situated on
other, and neat water gourd hanging by it. l
mantle ornaments they had the tin crater, used
grating off the new corn for mush before it "
hard enough to grind, and the corn'spltter bel
piece of deer's horn, very useful in parting lar
ears of Indian corn for the cattle. The walls
the parlor were sufficiently boautfed by the S