The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-26
From the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.
The Progress OF our naev.

In the enjoyment OF almost every physical comfort
Americans are II almost impossible to realize the
day when the ordinary conveniences of lie were I'M
known 10 our British Yet we do not hay 10 go
back far in order to nd period when baths were almost
unknown, when forks were novelty, and when chin
neys used in the houses OF the rich only A curious
book this bect has lately appeared in London emit
tied "The Domestic Architecture OF England from the
Conquest the End OF the Thirteenth Century" from
which learn how little civilized foIeialhers WERE
notwithstanding their proximity to the continent.
II appears from this work that 1t not till the six.
teenth century that chimneys came into ordinary
Before that period the hre kndled against the wall
and the smoke as in an Indian wgwam, allowed to es
cape through the roof Only the mansions of the
bilty and gentry had chmneys. The common people,
meantime lived in huls of watiles and mud, not at all
superior in construction the cabins of the beaver Few
of the better sort of dwellings were built of brick
wood being the usual material employed and il was not
until the thirteenth century that the present kind of brick
this, too, at time when magnificent palaces of marble
being erected in Italy, al but few days journey
from Great Britain
la the door conyenences of life our foreathers were
equally deficient 1t was not until the thirteenth century
that conduit OF water was first established in London
before that period the precious fluid hawked about by
carriers, milk in our own time. Earlhenware plates
first made their appearance in the century, though
they did not into general use until long afterwards
Forks rare even in the palaces of kings and the
lower orders totally unknown Edward the First
when he died had but SIX among his effects very royal
supply certainly The other dinner service was equally
meagre Except the huge salt cellar placed conspcu-
wooden renchers in the houses of the poor and scanty
display OF gded silver dishes in the mansions OF the
rch constituted the entire furniture OF the table Spoons
Were, ii would seem, plenty though they were of wood
universally, unless among the wealthy The meat was
served by being brought in spit when each guest cut
oil much he liked The were almost bare of
furniture. There generally huge stone bench in
the hall Of the dwellings OF the gentry but the
monalty had no seats, except perhaps settle in a
chimney corner. Rushes supplied the place Of carpets,
in the mansions of the great late the reign OF
Elizabeth while the peasantry were content with bare
mud floors and frequently uDdained at that Baths in
stead OF being an ordinary convenience, were a luxury
confined to the few, and were unknown even to Eng
lish monarchs, till the reign of Edward the First
1t is instructive to to facts like these, for they
hibt in forcible manner the improvements in material
civilization. Our ancestors, five centuries ago, were in
all the ordinary comforts of life, but little advanced be.
yond the Indians first discovered in this country
Their habits of life coarse, and their fields and houses
undained, wonder they fell victims to pestence az
history records, by millions. Fortunately we live in a
better age The poorest lives more comfortably
than did the proudes baron in the days of which we
speak With material Improvement goes moral progress
that we better well healthier people Let us
still cultivate the physical Moderation of race. salts
fed that in it lies the true advance of humanity let Wis
ionary theorists say what they will