Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-07-16
Before the Revolution,

CHARLES M. BRADSHAW.
-e-
Before tho Revolution.
The abundance and excellence Of the timber
which still covered at least two-thirds Of the
area of the then States, enabled the common
people to supply themselves with habitations
which, however rude and uncomely, were more
substantial and comfortable than those pos
sessed by the masses Of any country on earth.
The luxuriant and omnipresent forests were
likewise the sources Of cheap and ample sup
plies Of fuel whereby the severity Of our
Northern winters was mitigated, aud the warm,
bright fireside of even the humblest family. in
the long winter evenings of our latitude, rem
d, red centres Of cheer and enjoyment. Social
intercourse was more general. less formal, more
hearty, more valued than at present. Friend.
ships were warmer and deeper. R~ls-
tionship. by blood or by marriage, was more
profoundly regarded. Men were not ashamed
to own that they loved their cousins better
than they did the resto mankind. Tospend
a month, in the dead Of winter, in visit to
the dear old homestead, land in the interchange
Of afectionate greetings with brothers and
sisters, married and settled at distance Of
twenty-five miles apart, was not deemed an
absolute waste OF time, nor even an expert.
ment on fraternal civility and hospitality. q,
And though cultivation was far less effect.
i've than now, it must not bsinferred that food
was scanty or hunger predominant. The
woods wore alive with game, and nearly every
boy and man between fifteen and sixty years
was a hunter. The larger and smaller rivers.
- yet unobstructed by dams and wheels Of
the cotton-spinrer and power loom weaver,
abounded in excellent fish, and at seasons
fairly swarmed with them. The potatoe,
usually planted 10 the vegetable mould left by
recently extsrmiuated forests, yielded its edi-
bic tubrrs with bounteous profusiou nm.
known to the husbandry of our day. Hills,
the most gigantic and apparently sterile, from
the next year produce any kind Of grain in
ample measure, and ut moderate cost Of Ia
Dor and care. Almost every farmers house
was hive, wherein the "great Wheel and
the - little wheer'-the former kept in motion
by the hands and feet Of all the daughters, ten
years old and upward, tho latter piled by their
not less industrious mothar-hummed and
whirled from morning until night. In tho
back room. or some convenient appsndage,
the loom responded. day by day to the move
ment Of the busy shuttle. whereby the A~eces
of the farmers flock and the fax Of his Aeld
were slowly but steadily converted iato cub.
stantial though homely cloth. sufficient for the
annual wear of the family, and often with
thing over to exchange at the nsighboring
merchants for his groceries and wares. A
few bushels Of corn, few sheep, fattened
steer, with. perhaps. few saw-logs, or loads
of hoop poles, made up the annual surplus Of
the husbandman's products. helping to square
accounts with the blacksmith, the wheel.
wright, the minister and the lawyer. II the
farmer were 90 unfortunate a. to have any
dealings with the latter parsonage. His Life
during peace was passed in narrower round
than ours, and may well seem 70 us tame. lin.
tied, mono.onous; but the sun which warmed
him was identical with ours the brseses
which refreshed him were like those wsgiadly
welcome; aud while his road to mill and ts
meeting was longer than those We daily tsav-.
erse. he doubtless passed them unvexed by
apprehensions Of snorting locomotive, &
least contented as We, and With small suspi.
einn Of bis iIl.fortuue in having been born 10
the eighteenth instead Ut the ninstesnth cen.
tury-Greeieys Hissory efske Re6el1ios.
AKENrucxY 0ExEnAL on TIE wan.
The distinguished Kentuekian. Major Gsnsr-
Il Rosseau, recently delivered speech On po-
litical subjects, from which the following b %
extract, Z
As Southern man." the 0encrsl said.
I" have always been opPos~d to political sb-'
olitionism, yet. cannot avsst the feet that
slavery 10 the sole cause of I'll our tsoablss.
Those who brought on the war. hs said. "ih-
sidiously took advantage of cur political az.
6sssoees, and forced us to 6ghs aoaiase ~asA
oahsv when there was nothiag "a AG6t
absut." .os. .1s 80 III -n,
TIE Genesal said that h was . nan 4
psejadiess. bat stiIl man efjudgmsnt. He
went into The war With stroag psqsdiess. and.
- tims rolled On. his jsdgnsss ssill tspe M
shove bic pscjudiess. A. . 6asthes1 naA
visAseta dep Of Nesthsra 6oed b - vsies.
naturally he had many pwjediess. Fen ths
eommenesment Of his manhood hs haA bttap
9ro.siavvry: but thu speaker Guid . ltha1k