The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-03-31
Local Correspondence.
JoHNsTowN, March %, 1870.

member beholding. That time was in 1920,
when we first saw the folks planting corn
The ground had Leen plowed with a wooden
plow-mouldboard, share, and all, and af-
terwards smothered over with large thorn
bush. The trappings of the horees were
made OF ropes and the bark of trees The
stumps and stones were hauled off on sled,
there being no wagon about, except kind
OF trundlc, the wheels of which were made
of cuts of wood sawed off the but end of
white cak tree. The following harvest was
reaped with sickIes, the grass NOV ed with
Dutch sCythe, which was sharpened by beat
ing it with hammer. The hay was hauled
in on a sled and pitched with wooden pitch
forks. The wheat. rye and corn were ground
at tread-mills. Two or four horses were
placed on one side of a wheel which was
nearly but not quite horizontal, aad their
weight caused II to reVolve, and to propel
other machinery. Corn was husked. build
lngs erected, aud fax scutched and even
blankets fulled by ,fToLics. It was amusing
tc witness six or eight persons kicking fan
mel, on floor which flannel was saturated
with soap suds. Threshing was done alto
gether with fails The grain and chaff
were separated as follows. large tow
sheet was fastened by cords at one end to
the wall of tee barn, while man caught
the other end. and, by waving the sheet,
produced n current of wind, while another
shook the chaffy grain through sieve or
riddle just over the current aforesaid, and
the chaff was thus blown away. Such was
the condition of things in l820-or fifty
years ago, Flint locks, brush fences, burn
ing log and brush heaps, loom up before our
Imagination as we write, and we fancy that
we can smell the smoke of the burning rub
bish even now, and inhale the fragrance of
the green grass, as OF yore. when we had to
herd the cows. Many a rural sight, such as
these, have we witnessed-such as burning
clearlngs, and woods on fire, viewed after
ulghtiall but the mostmagnihcent sight we
ever witnessed as night view of field of
standing dead timber on fire. If all the ship
masts in New York harbor were on blaze
at one time, the scene could not be more
grSnd than that OF a thousand standing trees
on fire, with high spring winds driving the
sparks. like dense shower of meteors, in all
directions. Nothing could excel the sight
except city or prairie on fire. We saw
the falling meteors in 1882 and the city of
Pittsburgh on fire in 1914, but we think the
burning timber transcended both in grand
eur and sublimity.
The examinations of the Milviile public
schools were largely attended, and the exer-
eight schools in this borough, under the
charge Of S. B. Mccormick, Kate Young,
Linnle Lardih, Maggie. L. Davis, Ada Car
penter, Bella LardIn, Lucy a. Dickcy and
Annie b. H.ch. The term was six months.
The closing exercises consisted of series of
examinations, with iaterudes devoted to
singing, defamation, dialogue, etc. The
Co. Sup't was present and made addresses.
tie PASSED a glowing eulogy upon the efforts
of both teachers and pupils. The crowd re-
tired from each school room pleased and
gratied.
The Conference of the n. E. Church last
week was largely attended. About three
hundred ministers were present. The dis
trlct represented embraces Western Penn
sylvania. West Virginia, and Eastera Ohio.
ln regard to numbers, the Conference was
about equal to Congress, while it was not
Inferior IN intelligence and far Superior in all
the other elements of greatness. We never
saw better looking body of men assembled
in this or any other place.
From the honey which feeds the bee, is
extracted, by some chemical process, the
poison which flows from its sting; SO from
the very acts of kindness which we bestow
upon others. is generated the malice with
which they too often requite friendship
means by which l live" and professed
friends often do this.
The M. E. Conference published daily
paper while in session here. About twelve
hundred copies were printed and sent away
daily from the Tribune Office. This was the
first daily paper printed in Johnstown.
we have been accused of grolcing old
We can neither help the accusation nor the
grO1cing old. We have spent thirty five
years Of our time in teaching for wages en-
tirey inadequate to the labor performed,
and now our thanks for all this is taunt.
We can only say, in the language of an elo-
Quent IDdian chief, Il am branchless
trunk, strike me down" But let those who
strike remember that they too will gr0tc
old, and then, perhaps they will feel the force
of these t0unts as we have done. There is
a time to become foJsitized, but even this is
vanity.
Your paper is spoken of in this place as a
respectable, high-toned family journal-an
encomium we'll deserved, for we do think
that you do religiously study how to avoid
giving offense. Continue on well doing.
The weather on Saturday night and SUM-
day was exceedingly wet and stormy, which
no doubt put stop to the excellent run OF
sugar water which was witr essed during the
TWO or three Gays pTeCeulhS tuo SlOFtu'
We had a visit from L. j. Chapman. Co.
Superintendent, last week, who is looking
well also one from Rev. B. M. Kerr, the
worthy gentleman who was waited on by
Mr.. Donation and who deserved all he re-
ceived. A large number of other Ebens-
burgers were also here last week. Hope
they may have the gift of continuance. We
would reioice to see them all here.
The District Court commences its session
on next Monday. A number of trivial ca
ses are on the list for trial, but we are not
aware that many cases of importance will be
adjudicated.
Johnstown must be growing large. A
child was lost in the 5th Ward on Friday
last and two children were lost in the Sd
and 4th Wards on Saturday last in the after
noon.
j. G. Keller, house and sign painter. is