Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-20
The Atrocity of Feather Beds.

HE cackling of the goose is SAID to
have saved Rome. The feathers of the
same bird are dealing death to America.
We are reminded of this as the summer
approaches, and the hospitality of rural
friends occasionally introduce us to the
feather bed" which has come down an
heirloom in the family for five genera
tiOnS. 1t is u capaciOus bag, holding
some thirty to forty pounds of good, hon
est geese-teathers, plucked hundred
years ago, and held in high esteem by
succeeding generations until it has come
into the possession of the present incum
bent Of the old homestead. Underneath
this feather bed is the straw bed, filled
annually with clean, sweet, Oat straw.
This relieves the pressure upon the
bed-cords, which are annually frightened
at the spring housekeeping with old
fashioned winch and pin until the tense
cord makes music to the stroke OF
the hand This feather bed was toler-
able institution in the days Of log houses,
with the free ventilation of big fire
place, and riffs in the roof through
which the wind whistled and the snow
drifted in every winter storm. But now
with tight houses and stoves that heat
everything from cellar to garnet the case
is altered No amount Of airing and
sunlight will permanently redeem the
bed from the odor of old feathers, which
is anything but agreeable, and the more
atrocious effete animal matter that has
escaped from the sleepers that have
sought repose here for generations past.
Think now of John Giles coming in from
his days work in the field where he has
been following the pillow or driving the
mower or reaper, his body all day long
in a vapor bath, to repeat the process in
the night watches as he stretches his
weary limbs upon this unpatented per
spirator. Here he tries to sleep, but
wakes often from fitful dreams and
losses as if fever were raging in his
veins. Is it any wonder that he rises
from undressing sleep with the early
dawn, that he grows lean and cadaver-
Gus, and becomes cross and dyspcptic?
The poor wife who shares his couch
has possibly, in addition to his dis
comforts, the care of nursing
child. Is it any wonder that she comes
to the morning meal more dead than alive?
Is it any wonder that so large per cent.
of the inmates of our lunatic aSylums
come from our farms? The old proyerb
that the rest of the labOring man is
Sh CCb uCCNtS " NC lCCC1NCNl NlllI oCN u dl
grains of allowance. There is not much
sweetness or refreshment on this pile of
feathers in the sweltering summer nights.
1t is surprising to see how long it takes
modern improvements to invade the agri-
cultural districts, even with the help of
railroads and newspapers. Hair mat
tresses and spring-beds are unknown
luXuries in many of these districts where
the civilization is at least two hundred
years old. THE age of home-spun,"
supposed by some of our brilliant writer's
to have departed fifty years ago, is still
continued in unbroken force. Some
thing cool and soft to sleep on and under
is still a desideratum in most farm
houses. The apology for feather beds
and cotton-quilted comfortables is not
poverty, but convenience of manufac-
ture. The feathers are home product,
and a tea-drinking makes the quilts and
comfortables. Yet John Giles owns his
farm, is out of debt, has a good bank
account, owns railroad stock, and could
have mattresses, fine linen, and blankets
he understood their comfort and
economy. Where are our advertisers of
good beds and bedding