The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-11-30
MoDDRN COMFORTS.

u Is very common 10 taIR OF the "Boou
old times of few scnturies back, and
there are some who live so entirely In tho
romance Of the past, that their eyes are
shut to the conveniences and comforts that
modern science, skill and intelligence have
provided. History seldom presents us with
the details of the domestic life OF our fore.
fathers and as posterity colos and groups
them for her particular purpose. we insen.
sbly become used to looking back upon
the "oIlen time" with reverence that
hides its impcrfections and exaggeraies its
virtues. But this "oldcn time" was with.
out doubt vastly inferior to the present age,
in morality, intelligence refinement, whilst
it was utterly destitute Of the comforts and
appliances which constitute 30 important
an item in the aggregate Of human hapi.
ness. Some Of our most common enjoy.
mcnts were in the middle age unprocura-
BILE even by the wealthy. Indeed, when we
come to examine how our. ancestors lived,
we almost wonder why they lived.
A Roman Senator, who In the Empire .
palny days possessed estates in Naples and
Britain from which he drew an income that
would he equivalent to royal revenue In
this day, had neither glass to his window
nor shirt to his hack, and when he rode In
his coach Of solid gold, without spring or
covering, might envy our laborer who goes
out to his work in railroad car. An Earl
OF Northumberland breakfnsted off OF
wooden trenchcrs and dined in state off Of
pewter; and when he was absent from
Alnwick Castle, the glass was taken out Of
the windows and laid up in safety. Not
cabbage, carrot, tunip. or other edible
root, grew in England during the earlier
part Of the reign Of Henry the Eighth, and
from tho scarcity Of fodder, fresh meat
was only Obtained during the summer, salt.
ell hogs Acsh being generally used by all
classes the rest OF the year. SO important
an article, then, was cattle. that II was
known as live money" and our word
capital" which signifies stock generally,
was derived from the Latin word capita
or heads of beasts. The etymoIogy Of the
law term " "chatiels" j. similar.
Queen Elizabeth was satisfied to break
fast off of tankard of ale, and dreamed
no, Of the day, tea, coffee and sugar would
bccoue neccssarics to the poorest household
in her kingdom. The cause Of oil tho In
creased comforts which the most inodest
income will now procure, and many Of
which were formerly beyond tho reach Of
even the richest, is found In the sccumula.
lion Of capital, augmented and diveni6ed,
in its employment by tho security given to
IL by the demand which Il 10 turn produces
for labor, and the reward Il holds out Tor
the discovery Of the new and useful IN sef
ence, arts and mechanics, and BY the iae'''.
,y ofcxchange, by which all the products OF
labor and skill arc bsnered, directly or in.
directly, for one another Civilization aud
prosrcss have brought 10 every country In
which they have found Judgement, more
real luxury and bsppincss than were to bo
found In any Of the regions pictured BY the
poe.s even though fruetuous fancy rep
resented their rivers a flowing with milk,
the trees dropping honey and their seons
a. edible - ehessnuts. A single bright
thought worked out into means Of extend
Ing the happines and dominion Of man.
does more for tho world than oil the iabIed
Eiits Of the gods Of classic antiquity.