The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-05-06
How PeOpie lived only q C,cner-
atiOm ago.

Dir. Goodrich (Peter Parley) in his Re.
collections Of Lifetime" thus depicts the
life Of his youth in New England:
Money was scarce, wages being abou,
fifty cents day, though these were gener.
ally paid in meat, vegetables, and other
articles Of use-4seldom in money. There
was not factory of any kind in the place.
There was butcher, but he only went from
house to house to slaughter the cattle and
swine of his neighbOrs. There was tan.
ner' but he only dressed other peoples
skins; there was clothier, but he only full.
ed and dressed other peoples cloth. y
Even dying blue a portion of the wool, SO
as to make linsey woolsey for short gowns,
aprons, and blue mixed stockings-vital ne.
cessties in those days-was domestic op.
peration. During the autumn, dye.tub in
the chimney corner-thus placed so as to
be cherished by the genial heat-was as fa.
miliar in all thrifty houses, as the Bible OF
the back log. 1t was covered with board,
and formed cosy seat in the wide mouth
ed fire. place, especially Of chilly evening.
Our bread vas Of rye tinged with H.
dian meal. Wheat bread was reserved for
sacrament and company. All The
vegetables came from our garden and farm.
The fuel was supplied from our own woods
sweet scented hickory, snapping chestnut,
oderiferous oak, and reeking, fzsing ssh.-
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 opera.
tion, and one in which alI the children re
joiced. y Rum was largely consumed,
but our distilleres had scarcely begun. A
half pint Of it was given, as a matter of
course, to every day lsborer, more par,icu.
larly in the summer season. IE all fami.
lies, rich or poor, it was offered to male visi-
tors as an essential point OF hospitality, or
even good manners. Women-I beg par.
don-ladies, took their schnapps, then
named Hopkins Elixir which was the most
delicious and seductive means of getting
tipsy that has been invented. Crying ba-
bies were silenced with hot toddy, then es.
teethed an infallible remedy for wind on the
stomach. Every nah imbibed his morning
dram. and this was esteemed temperance
There is story Of preacher about those
days, who thus lectured his parish: Il say
nothing, my beloved brethern, against ta-
king a little bitters Before breakfast, and
after breakfast, especially If you are used to
it. What I contend against is this dram.
ming. drumming, dramming, at all hours OF
the day y We raised our own fax,
rotted ii. hack it, dressed it, and spun it.
The little wheel turned by the foot, had it's
place, and was as familiar as il it had been
a member Of the family. The wool
was also spun in the family, partly by my
sisters and bartly by Molly Gregory, daugh.
ter Of our neighbor, the town CARPENTER.
remember her we'll as che sung and spun
aloft in the attic. In those days. church
singing was one Of The fine arts--the only
one indeed which fourished in Ridgefeld,
except the music of the drum and fife. The
choir was divided into four parts, ranged on
three sides Of the meeting house gallery
y Twice year, that is, in the spring
and autumn, the tailor came to the house and
fabricated the semi. annual stock Of clothes
for the male membership being called
whipping the cat Mantua. makers and
milliners come in their turn, to fit out the
female members Of the family. There was
similar process as to boots and shoes.
cat the period Of my earliest recollec.
lion, men of all classes were dressed In long
broad tailed coats, with hugh pockets, long
%aistcoats and breeches. Hats had low
crowns, with broad brims-some SO wide as
so BE supported at the sides with cords
The stockings Of the parson, and few 9th.
ers, were of silk in summer and worsted in
winterj those, u Tho people generally OF
wool, and of blue and grey mixed. Women
dressed in wide bonnets-s OF
Straw and s5tniietfmes Of silk; the gowns
were of silk, muslin, g;nghqm, &C., gener.
ally close and short wdisted, the breast and
shoulders being covered BY a full muslin
kerchief. Girls ornamented themselves
with huge white vandyEe. y y, Tavern
haunting-especially in winter. when there
was little to do-was common, even with
respectable farmers. MARRIAGES were cele.
brated in the evening. at the house Of the
bride, with general gathering OF the neigh
borhood, and usually wound up by dancing.
Everybody went as to public exhibition,
without invitation. Funerals generally
drew large professions, which proceeded to
to the grave. Here the minister always
made an address, suited to the occasion -
If there was anything remarkable in the
history Of the deceased, it was turned to re-.
ligioIs account in the next Sundays SER
mon. Singing meetings, to practice church
music, were great resort for the young, in
winter. Balls at the taverns were
frequented BY the young; the children oI
deacons and ministers attended, though the
parents didnot. The winter brought sleigh.
! ing, skating and the usual round Of outdoor
sports" ax~
0FThers is cockney youth who, every
time be wishes to Get glimpse Of big sweet'
hedrt, calls out "Fite II directly under hsl