The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-07-27
For the Clarion.


!. The curfew tolls the knen of partinI
day."
How poetical My youthful imagina
ION had pictured it of an immense size
sending its clear and pealing notes ia
nrer hill and valley at the delightful hou
Ii evening twilight. 1t was one OF th'
.rrors Of youth. Webster defines it
fire cover, bell, which was tyranni
al institution introduced by William thu
,onoueror of England, who directed
hat at the ringing at eight o'clock, every
H. should put out his light and go tt
L. | have read an old book giving
account Of customs and regulations Of
inf times. which thus describes the
eurfew: "though it might pass for half o.
hre Of those bells preserved with such
hh;ous care in Ireland, was really piece
| 8 furniture to cover fire on an old-fash,
1 j fre.nIace. The word is a corruption
IL the French colpre.feu equivalent to
e,e.corer. 1t was made of copper-plates
,iveted and ornamented, shaped like a
Aell with one-half cut off from the handle
sownwards to the rim or opening, and
Vas a municipal regulation existing in
most of the towns in Europe, requiring
iphts to be extinguished at eight o'clock,
md was signals for every one to termi-
ate their visits and go home. The fire
vas raked apart, and the embers covered
nth ashes on the back of the hearth,
yer this heap was placed the curfew, the
pen part against the chimney-back, pre-
Fenting the embers from consuming, or
bling out" Perhaps, in those days,
here were no lucifers, and there
Eas 10 means of starting fire if once
ntinguished, if we could believe there
ver was a time when people did not in
lent and discover just as they now do
Ehich 81 am free to confess" | do not.
though there are many evils in our time
| at are disagreeable, and many wise peo-
h. think might be remedied if they had
be regulating of the world, yet we ought
! be thankful that they are no worse,
lnd that no one prohibits us from burning
hr lamps in peace all night. What
Eould mothers do, if we had laws requir-
hg lights to be extinguished at o'clock.
half of their work is done after the
hildren are nestled costly in bed, and
bund asleep. Why, Tommy would have
20 to school with hole in his trousers,
/ ed with his shoes down at the heel, and
hole in his stocking, and Jenny with
h awful rent in her dress. In the early
.ttlement of New England it is said, a
ell was rung at 9 o'clock requiring all
lmilies to put out their lights and go to
ed, and if they disobeyed this law a
eavy fine was the consequence. Only
link of having TO lie in bed long win
n night from 9 o'clock until dawn. Of
L the hours in the four and twenty
here is none so weird and ghostly as the
rst on cold frosty morning; thoughts
onceived during the long dark night
ould then take shape, and give to airy
Dthing a local habitation and a name"
his is the reason why there were witches
nd ghosts in those States in those days.
was attributable to this housekeeping
bought, and early rising that an eccen-
ic old Professor alluded when he startled
lie literary world with absurd and strange
leories. 1t is said one of his pupils
'ked him how he could give out such
nheard of theories. "Why, my good
r, said the Professor, edo you suppose
get up every winter morning at four
clock, to write what people had heard
z" What a sad time the young ones
ust have had-nO social gatherings, no
pws of love, neither billing or cooling.
aylight was the time for lovers to WOO
! for when the moon and stars on earth
leir light shed, Dad made all the young
] ks hasten to bed. Under such strin-
lnt and harsh laws, could their descend
It's be otherwise than domineering and
fannical?
Poems have been written and much
used to show off 'old times" but it
|hll stuff and nonsense to say they were
|tter than new. Men and women were
|od and bad, lazy and Industrious, hon
and dishonest, economical and ex-
hvagant, wise and foolish, when =" this
\ flag was new" just as they now are.
hen this old flag was new" there |
Is neither steamboat, railroad, or mag |
Pic telegraph. Only think, General
|ashington never saw any of these won
|rful inventions, and never had his
telegraph taken. We are long way |
pm ''old times" and our youth, looking |
|ck through the vista of years, was a
Pat, golden haze, full of delightful
fams, sweet songs and blessed antici-
fions. Doubtless, when We were pas
Il through this golden time, we saw
p much of it. was sheer pinchbeck.
Distance lends enchantment to the
Pw, and what is true of scenery is
|pally so of human character and life.
from distance is not always the true
'nd-point from whence to view life and /
Pnners, and We should be careful how
compare what we see with what we
"a, and if there is a doubt, it should
Zine US to the times in which we
when there are neither cuUfeacs or
rhes. III. II. J.
Striking it as bell.
I'VE QUINN-who represented the negroes
euntlower county in the Convention of
+, and in the late Legislature, clerk to
Nh "cOmmitfaa Of fivar oY-Q0itOr of