The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-01-22
Prom Goodrich's "Recollections"
OLD CUSTOMS i'm NEW ENGLAND

In most families, the first exercise of the
morning was reading the Bible, followed by q
prayer, at which all were assembled, inc luding
the servants and helpers Of the kitchen ana
farm. Then came the breakfast, which was a
substantial meal, always including hot viands,
with vegetables, apple sauce, pickles, mus
tard, horseradish. and various other condi-
ments. Cider was the common driAk for Ia
boring people; even children drank il at will.
Tea was common, but not SO general as now.
Coffee was almost unknown Dinner was a
still more hearty and varied repast-charac-
terized by an abundance of garden vegetables;
tea was light supper.
The oay began early; breakfast was bad at
six in summer and seven in winter; dinner at
noon--the work people in the fields being call
ed to their meals by a conch shell, usually
winded by some kitchen Triton. The echo
ing from farm to farm, and over hill and dale,
was species of music which even ryalled the
popular melody of drum and fife. Tea, the
evening meal, usually took place at sundown.
In families where all were laborers, all sat at
being served before sitting down. In fami-
lies where the masters and mistIesses did not
stare the labors of the household or the farm,
the meals of the domestics Were had separate.
There was, however, perfectly good under
standing and good feeling between the masters
and servants. The latter were no. Irish; they
had not as yet imbibed the plebian envy Of
those above them, which has since so general
ly embittered and embarrassed American do.
mestie life. The terms democrat and aristo-
crat had not got into use; these distinctions,
and the feeling now implied by them, had in
deed no existence il the hearts of tie people.
Our servants, during all the early part Of my
life, were uf the neighborhood; generally the
daughters of respectable farmers and mechan-
les, respecting others and Were themselves
respected and cherished. They were devoted
to the interests of the family, and were always
relied upon and treated as friends In health,
they had the same food; in sickness, the same
care as the masters and mistresses or their
children. This servitude implied no degrade
ton, because il did not degrade the heart or
manners Of those subjected to il. 1t was new
er thought of as reproach to man or woman,
ia the stations they afterwards filled, that he
OF she had been out to service. If servitude
has since become associated with debasement,
II is only because servants themselves, under
the bad guidance Of ,demagogues, have lowered
their calling by low feelings and low manners.
At the period Of my earliest recollections, men
Of all classes were dressed In long, broadtail-
ed coats, ,ssith huge pockets, long waistc coasts
and breeches. Hats had low crowns with
broad brims-some so wide as to be supported
at the sides with cords. The ockiags Of the
parson. and few others were Of silk in sum-
mer and worsted in winter; tho.e of the people
were generally of wool, ami blue and gray
mixed. Women dressed in vide bonnets---
sometimes of straw and sometimes OF silk; the
gowns were OF silk, muslin, gingham, &C.
generally close and short-waisted, the breast
and shoulders being covered by full muslin
kerchief. Girls ornamented themselves with
large white vandyke. On the swhole, the
dress Of both men and women has very greatly
changed. e. s.tie KS
The amusements were then much the same
as at present-though some striking differences
may be noted. Books ard papers--which are
now diffused even among the country towns SO
as to be in the bands of all, old and young
were then scarce, and were read respectfully,
asif they were great matters, demanding at
tention and thought. They were not toys OF
Pastimes, taken up every day, and by every
body in the short intervals Of labor, and then
hastily dismissed, like waste paper. The aged
sat down when they read, and drew forth their
spectacles, and put them deliberately and rev:
erently upon the nose. These instruments
were not IS now, like tortoise shell hooks, at
t,ched to a ribbon, and put of and on with q
jerk; but they We're Of silver or steel substan-
TALLY made, and calculated to hold on with .
firm and steady grasp, showing the gravity loi
the uses to which hey Were devoted. Even
the young approached book with reverence,
and newspaper with awe. How the world
has changed s4s IL \ sss u