The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-03-19


er, with dimpled chin and laughing eyes, is
thrustlng Its chubby fist into my face, or pull
ling at my curls. Just such baby as Aldrich
sings of:
"Have you not heard the poet tell
How came the dainty baby bell
| Into this world of ours?
| The gates of heaven were left aiar;
| With folded hands and dreamy eyes
She wandered out of paradise!"
The OLDEN T1ME-In the days of the revo-
luton, men wore wigs surmounted by three
cornered or cooked hats, no higher than the
crown of the head. Their coats had standing
collars, large wide cuffs, and voluminous skirts
lined and stifened with buckram. That of a
beau had three or four large plaits in the skirts,
with an immense quantity of wadding to keep
them smooth; cuffs extending to the elbows,
open below and inclined down with lead there
in; and a cape worn low, so as readily to ex-
pose the closely plated neck stock of fine linen
cambria, and the large silver stock buckles at
the back Of the neck. Their shirts had frills,
hand ruff1es, and finely plated sleeves, but no
collars Gold and silver sleeve-buttons, set
with fine stones or paste Of various colors and
of every kind, adorned the wrists of all. Their
breeches fitted closely, with silver, stone, or
paste buckles at the knee. Suspenders were
unknown; and it was considered the test as
we'll as the pride of a well-formed man when he
could keep his breeches above his hips, and his
stockings above his calves without belt or gar
ter. They wore shoes or pumps with silver
buckles of various sizes and patterns When
riding, hunting &c, they wore long boots or
leather leggings. The boys were dressed like
the men, even to the shaved head and DOW
dered wig. The ladies all wore caps, stiff
stays, hoops extending from six inces to two
feet on each side, causing full dressed lady
to enter door sideways, like crab, high
heeled shoes of black stuff, with white silk or
thread stockings. In the miry times of winter
they wore clogs or patterns Their hair was
most elaborately arranged, being powdered,
pomatumed, and drawn over a pad frequently
three or four inches high. AS soon as wigs
were abandoned by the men, the natural hair
was particularly cherished, ami it became Gus
tomary to plait it, or wear it in black silk
bag or sack, adorned with large black rose.
In time, 'Brutus heads" which consisted in
discarding powder, perfume, frizzles, sacks,
queues, &c, came into vogue. Those who
first braved public opinion by adopting this
fashion were considered very courageous, and
the old men were particularly obstinate in their
opposition to it. Death however constantly
| lessened their number, and the new mode gra-
dually became popular
The transference of vitality which appears
to take place when young persons are habitual-
ly placed in contact with the aged, is not nur-
sery fiction. tits well attested by very compe-
tent authorities. ga not uncommon cause
observes doctor James Copeland, 'tof depressed
vital power, is the young sleeping with the aged.
This fact, however explained, has been long
remarked, and is well known to every unpre-
JUDGED observer. have on several occasions
met with the counterpart of the following case:
l was, few years ago, consulted about pale,
| sckly, and thin boy, Of about four years of
age. He appears to have no specific ailment,
but there was a slow and remarkable decline
| of flesh and strength, and of the energy OF the
functions; what his mother very aptly termed a
gradual blight. After inquiry into the history
of the case, it came out that he had been
very robust and plethoric child, up to his third
year, when his grandmother, very aged per-
son, took him to sleep with her; be continued
to decline progressively ever since, notwith-
standing medical treatment Idirected him to
sleep apart from the aged parent, and prescrib-
ed gentle tonics change of air, DC. The re-
| covery was rapid. cE~. -ss.
But it is not in children only that debility is
induced by this mode Of abstracting vital pow
er. Young females married to very old men
suffer in similar manner, although seldom to
so great an extent; and instances have come to
my knowlege where they have suspected the
cause of this debilitated state. These facts are
often we'll known to the aged themselves, who
consider the indulgence favorable to longevity,
and thereby illustrate the selfsbness which in
some persons, increases with their years.
Every medical practitioner is well aware of the
fact, and parents are generally advised not TO
allow their infants to sleep with aged persons.
T+" 5s. -->-~--~---~-~-~~~-o-~-
A hoosier, having taken looking glass home
in his trunk, one Of his hopeful offspring was
curious to see the contents of the mysterious
box The mirror was on top when the young
ster opened it, and he gave one brief look,
dropped the lid and, with terror depicted on
every feature, cried out: "Oh mother! mother!
father has brought home cub! / seed him
a young bearE'
Gen. Lane, with Messrs. Cobb and Orr, of
the house, have gone to New Hampshire, to
take part IN the political campaign.