The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-05-23
lCommunicated.1
THE OLDEN TIME.

MIR EDIToR-It would require 4 more
shlllIui pen than mine TO portray in their
true colors all the customs of the 50 Oldeu
Time. But there are some of tAc more
prominent practices that will he noticed here.
The manner of living fifty years ago WAS
quite different from the manner of living ut
the.prescnt time. The t,ials of the early set
tiers more nearly reSembled the adventures
times
CLEARINH LANDS.
The beautiful meadow, the bright field
waving with golden grain, and the shining
orchard OF to-day, fragrant wish blossoms,
We're once dense forests covered with weeds,
bushes and heavy timber, both standing and
fallen. All these had to he removed by the
hand of Inan. The brush had To be gathered,
the logs Cropped and rolled the sapHngs
Sruhbed out, and all burned up. The rOOTy
ground had TO be plowed and the roots cut
away. All these things required combined
labor. Houses and barns ht<i 10 be b'.ilt,
which individual strength could not accom-
pEsh.
THE FEOLIC.
As consequence, neighbors would assem-
bic together and work III concert, and this
was called a frolic. There was the grubbing
trollc, the chopping frolicr the Rolling trolic,
the plowing frolic, and the raising frolic.-
These gatherings were the occasion Of much
mhocent amusement, which had = tendency
20 sweetcn the toll OF pioneer life After the
days hard work was done, varied athletic
exercises were imlulged in, such rs wrest-
ling, jumping, and dancing.
SHOOTING MARK.
Not unfrequently the old iint lock was
called into reqHisition. This would bc taken
down from its resting place, beneath the
rough Joists of the old cabin, cleaned out,
bullets cast, patches cut, u mark prepared,
and the skill OF each marlsmau tested and
the shots were generally well placed, con-
sidering the slow-tirc implement used. Ev-
.sFE -.
the best marksman ranked next i'll honor to
the minister
HUNTING.
The nights were sometimes spent in 'coou-
hunting" The raccoon would be treed ly
dogs, and then Il fire would b,. built in close
proximity to the tree vlF,h u afforded light
for the choppers. The tree would he t"llcG
ami the dogs let loose for the great struggle
Gf, catching the game. On more than one
occasion 4 wildcat would be caught instead
of coon" when the struggle for life would
be fearful, and rs interesting Is a Spanish
bull fight. Trapping fr;iS also attended To
by many Of these early settlers, and Wild
beasts OF different kinds would be thus ell
shared and caught
PROGRESS.
As the settlement became older tho grnl-
lfhg and cf:opping frulics were superseded
hy corn hnskings, apple h'sttcr bo.Iiugs and
+cafchins frolics, The young ladies' and
gentlemen Of tire uCiEIIhOrhOOd would con
yeDo IT & certain dwcl!ing-ho and choose
Partners, after which the scutchiug frolic
would commence in good earnest. A dance
would follow in the evening, and the night
would be spent in Gripping th,. light fan
taStic toe TO vocal music drIwled ont at in
terEaIs by the same 3Iers0iI who called out
the figures. Plenty to eat and so:lethiug
strong to dF7ltis cEHrac terizCtt all these priIn
StiFc asScTnblages. Fifty years ago il would
htve hrcn rs remarkable TO witness Il frolic
without ardent drinks rs il would now b.
remarEahle 70 witness u party at winch ar
dent drinks are used.
RELIGION.
And Yet people seemed TO be quite as rcli-
ginus (pious) iii those days rs At present.
There were no Sunday schools then. no i'll
strumental music i'll churches no ChuirS, and
tho preaching was generally done III houses.
barns or tents, but tlirrc cCtt:timiy vas much
sincerity in the devotional exercises of fifty
years ago. Prayer meetings were held on
Sundays when there was 10 preaching, and
sermons would be read by some leading
member Of the congregation.
OTHER CEEEMONIES.
Although the country was in many places
bat sparsely settled, vet marriages and fu-
ucrI!s would generally he we'll attended,
The people turned out or ssJ;Ch occasions. and
especially at funerals :Eifaust el HsGsae, and
the procession would often march several
miles to the place where ''aShcs to ashes and
dust to dust were laid. The srsticrs had
purchased land III groups, and these places
were sometimes many miles apart, such as
the RetistDne settlement, Armagh settle
mcnt, Fort LiEOnier settlement. and various
others and As relatives frequently lived in
different settlements, the death of one Tgu!d
ncccssit2tc long journey TO the aurN' ora.
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