The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-12-25
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We frequently hear people say that
christmas isn't at all like it used TO be-"
and many frequently attempt to point
out wherein the Christmas of to day
"as it were'-differs from the Christmas
of twenty five and thirty years ago. At
ter little reflection, it does appear to
one who knows something of both, that
there is great difference. But whether
it is fact or fancy that impresses him, he
is unable to tell. Perhaps there were
more old-fashioned "big boys" deeper
SHOWS and colder weather; more and bet
ter candies; prettier girls, and more Of
'em, and more sliding down hill, etc,
than there are now. But to make up for
all that, many new-fangled thIngs-beau-
tifuI, ingenious and amusing-have been
introd duced;" and, though they don't
seem to us to fill the place of the old
things We have spoken of, still they may
be more appropriate to the occasion, and
may make as lasting impressions upon
the rising generation as the customs, etc,
long since departed, yet evergreen in the
memory of the cold ones"
"Just the night before Christmas" it
used to be that the "big boys" bivouack-
ed in the old Court house, which, in
those days, was always left unlocked, and
totally uncared for. On such occasions,
booming fires roared in the two huge old
stoves, and as the night wore on, the
motley crowd would gather closely about
them, and listen to the oft-told tale of
a certain poor unfortunate who event
up" through an ordeal of flame in the
old Jail which many years ago stood
hard by where our Factions friend
brother Yost now doth dwell and whose
partially incinerated body was "laid out'
in the court house, where, ever after, his
restless spirit found favorite stamping
ground" But detailed recital of the
wondrous deeds of this spirit" didn't
seem to make any of the boys-especial-
ly the younger ones-afeard: Oh no.
One by one, however, the boys dropped
off and "slid out" for home; but a few
"stuck it out" and the internal clatter
which the remaining few raised "along
about 3 or o'clock in the morning."
stirred out all those who had sought re-
pose in the apparently more secure sur
roundings of home; and these, hurrying
from their couches, presented themselves
at the common CENTER" in dishevelled
locks, and with strangely coupled words,
inquired as to how the "brave boys" felt
who had "weathered it through" and had
bearded the spook, SO to speak, in his
favorite haunt
On one of these occasions-some
twenty-five or twenty-three years ago-a
number of the invincible "big boys"
concluded that it would be soft thing
rels of "Rodepauch" which, in those
days, used to lie banked up in double
tiers against his establishment-on the
outside and no sooner was the brilliant
conception made known to the balance
of the reckless courthouse bivouackers,
than the entire "outfit" evince1 an en-
thusiastic willingness to participate in
so novel an undertaking. Accordingly,
the barrel was tapped, and plentiful
supply of the obejoyful was drawn
therefrom and distributed among the
boys. And, oh, my countrymen, what
drunk followed! "Rodepauch," dog
leg tobacco, cuba-sixes, and other vii
famous things combined in general
revolution against the "uneducated"
stomachs of those big but brave boys
ard each one solemnly promised his
mother, when he found her--and when
he didn't find her, promised any one
else who happened to be conveniently at
hand--that he would "never, no never
do sich thing agin."
T. B. discovered the theft in due time.
But he felt for the boys-and let them
go, which was most generous proceed
ing on his part; and we have no doubt
but that he is to this day held in CRATE
full remembrance by all who survive
that eventful historical episode.
Christmas is not commemorated in
that way these days. The "big boys"
and even all the men go home early,
Christmas eve, and spendthe hours in
social converse until bedtime, then they
retire and have sweet dreams until the
glorious day is appropriately ushered in.
During the day they eat turkey and
go to church, which is much better than
tapping whisky barrelsl Slightly!