The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-03-30
LESS THAN SEVENTY YEARS AGO.

DEAR FREkMAN-Two weeks ago we told
your readers something about "sHvsnty years
ago" end spoke of foI-hunts kicking frolics
etc. We will now describe the fs1 hunt: a
number of men would get mp meeting in the
fall or early spTiI e appoint marshal AMI de-
puties. aud instruct them 10 define boundaries
for n fox hunt These officers would first
lsct point at which all the parties in tho hunt
would meet, saw some 'ayern, or sill house
other public place They would then reckon
ten miles in every din ection from that centre.
making a diameter of twenty miles and cir
Gle of more than sixty miles / he MARSHAL
ami his aids would then ride round that circuit
and tie risps OF straw to trees fences and other
pl ices thus indies ting the starting pOiut for all
the nei.hbors. Closing lines were also indi
Gated bv straw basrages OH fences, trees, etc
A day appointed, and at 10 O'Clock on said
dav the neighborhood would a II repair To the
outer line with tin horns, drums and every
thing else that would make II n"i-e Alta sig-
nal given 10y the marshal at some point horn
WAS blown, which was Immediately sounded
rOnud the entire circuit i'll lew minutes. when
a" -,~r.~d tor the center. blowing aud making
the most hiuGous I..S~~~ imapiuahIe M p.
spect paid for fences or grain .4-,-lA In,
every one pushed forward for the centre, up
hill. down hill. through fields and through
streams, tili all, some thousands in number.
would reach the inner line. At signal the
dogs would be let loose on the ioxes, which at
some hunts would humber flUm six TO twenty.
After despatching the game resort was had to
whskev, then To fighting, wrestling. Jumping,
ETC., till the close OF day, and often till late
in the night. Sometimes deer were captured
within tue enclosures intended only for foxes
but this did not often occur. The reign of
fox hunts ir w eotmorelonu county Was from
lo2O to lS40
Another occasion for the assemb ling of the
people in large crowds was review day, under
the old militia system In my locality at that
time review day about the second or third
Monday in Nav each wear. The people from
quite a number of townships would assemble
one place to he review ed. inspected and en-
rolled. SuLler wagons. with whisky, cordial J..
beer. cider, ginger bread. ETC., could be found
in every public corner, and the number OF nights
would be very great. All disputes were set
tied. at the fox hunt, or the review, as law
cults are settled at court There was no appeal
from the result of fight
| promised to tell you something OF IL kicking
frolic." Well. imagine crowd OF stout Young
boys and girls gathered at neighbors 8 house
The girls would heat water, clear the floor AMI
nut down thirty or forty yards of woolen blan
kets or htuLel in a heap This would be well
saturated with soap suds made quite hot
Chairs were placed round and tied together by
ropes. so that they could not move. mum
Der OF young bows would then strip their feet
bare, and get on the chairs. all around the
flannel, and kick Just as hard and as long as
their muscles could stand it The suds would
fy all around. and often some poor. dlscomtit
ed wight would be seen sprswling on the floor
or Oh top Of the cloth that the rest were kick
ing. i have seen some girls join in the amuse-
ment, though the boys generally did the kick-
ing. Such we're some of the pastimes of less
than seventy years ago ROE Roy.
1t is said that time and tide wait on no
man, and we don't prstend TO deny the truth OF
the axiom Not so. however. with timepeces,
Tor We know to certainty that there are lots
OF them of the most desirable makes aud quail
tiles. and of all grades. at c. T Roberts ele
egant clock. watch. jew elry fancy goods. cigar.
tobacco, stationery and general variety store.
waiting Tor all persons so inclined to come right
along and buy them at lowest cash rates. Go
and see if this amt true to the letter.
--On Saturday night. one of the car inspec
tors a Derry had his arm broken aud was other
wise injured by some means while in the per-
formance Of his duty.