Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-06-12
How PEOPLE LIVED ONLY. 4 GEsER-

How PEOPLE LIVED ONLY a GENER-
ALTON AGo.-Mr. Goodrich (Peter
Parley) in his "Recollections of a
Lifetime" thus depicts the life Of his
youthin New England:
Money was scarce, wages being
about fifty cents day. though these
were generally paid in meat, vegeta-
bles, and other articles Of use-seldom
in money. There was not factory Of
any kind in the place. There was o
butcher, but he only went from house
to house to slaughter the cattle and
swine Of his neighbors. There was q
tanner, but he only dressed other peo-
pies skins there was clothier, but he
generally fulled and dressed other peo-
ple's cloth.
Even dyeing blue portion of the wool,
so as to make linsey woolsey for short
gowns, aprons, and blue mixed stock
ings-vital necessities in those days
was q domestic operation. During the
autumn, a dye-tub in the chimney cor
ner-thus placed so as to be cherished
by the genial heat-was as familiar in
all thrifty houses as the bible or the
backlog. 1t was covered with board,
and cosy seat in the wide mouthed
Fireplace, especially of chill evening.
y Our bread was
ofrye, tinged with Indian meal. Wheat
bread was reserved for the sacrament
and company. + +
All the vegetables came from our gar
den and farm. The fuel was supplied
by our own woods-sweet- scented hick-
ory, swapping chestnut, odoriferous oak
and reeking, izzling ash. X
Sugar was partially supplied by our
maple trees. These were tapped in
March, the sap being collected and
boiled down in the woods. This was
wholly domestic operation, and one
in which all the children reioiced.
Rum was largely consumed, but our
distilleries had scarcely begun A half
a pint of it was given, as a matter Of
course, to every day laborer, more par
ticularly in the summer season. In all
families, rich and poor, it was offered
to male visitors as an essential to hos:
pitality, or even good manners. Wo-
men-I beg pardon-ladies, took their
schnapps, then named "Hopkins' Elk
ir," which was the most delicious and
seductive means of getting tipsy that
has been invented. Crying babies were
silenced with hot toddy, then esteemed
an infallible remedy for wind on the
stomach. Every man imbibed his NOR
ming dram, and this was esteemed tenn
perance. There is story Of preach
er about those days who thus lectured
his parish. 81 say nothing, my be-
loved brethren, against taking little
bitters before breakfast and after
breakfast, especially if you are used to
it. What | contend against is this dram
ming, drumming, draining, at all
hours Of the day." =
We raised our own fax, rotted it, hack
led it, dressed it and spun it. The lit
tie wheel, turned by the foot, had its
place, and was as familiar as if it had
been one Of the family.
The wool was also spun in the family,
partially by my sisters, and partially by
Molly Gregory, daughter Of our neigh
Dor the town carpenter. l remember
her well as she sung and spun, aloft in
the attic. In those days church sing
ing was one Of the fine arts-the only
one, indeed, which fourished in Ridge
field, except the music Of the drum and
fife. The choir was divided into four
parts, ranged on three sides Of the
meeting house gallery. +
Twice year, that is the spring and
autumn, the tailor came to the house
and fabricated the semi annual stock of
clothes for the male MEMBERSHIPS be-
ing called whipping the cat. Mantau-
makers and milliners came in their turn
to fit the female members of the fami-
ly. There was similar process as to
boots and shoes.
At the period Of my earliest recollec-
ton men Of all classes were dressed in
long, broad-tailed coats, with huge
pockets, long waistcoats and breeches.
Hats had low crowns, With broad rims
some so wide as to be supported at
the sides with cords. The stockings
Of the parson, and few others were of
silk in summer and worsted in winter !;
those Of the people were generally Of
wool, and Of blue and gray mixed
Women dressed in wide bonnets- some
times of straw and sometimes Of silk !;
the gowns were Of silk, muslin, ging-
ham, &c. --generally close and short
wasted, the breast and shoulders being
covered by full muslin kerchief. Girls
ornamented themselves with a large
vandyke. X
Tavern haunting, especially in winter,
when there was little to do, was common
even with respectable farmers. Mar
riages were celebrated in the evening,
at the house Of the bride, with gener-
al gathering Of the neighborhood, and
usually wound off by dancing. Every
body went as to a public exhibition,
without invitation. Funerals general
~ drew large professions, which pro-
ceeded to the grave. Here the minis
ter always made an address suited to
the occasion. IF there was anything
remarkable in the history Of the deceas-
ed, it was turned to religious account
in the next Sabbath's sermon. Singing
meetings to practice church music, were
q great resort for the young in winter.
Balls at the tayerns were frequented by
the young the children Of deacons and |