Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-26

11AAaNo hVic cit,ilF procured AZ from JO I
20 cents per acre. The axe was heard fell
ing the forest and fields were open
ed, while, occasionally, the crack @
the rifie announced that the stag Of the for
est had fallen. Here and there was foun,
contented and happy family, consisting o
husband, wife and rosy children. Thei
wants were few and easily supplied. Tn
men and boys built the cabins, opened tn
fields and cultivated the soil, cared for an,
attended the stock. The women and Girl
clothed the family, cooked the meals an,
did the various hOusewoIk, all eontente,
and happy, voluntarily labOring to secure
competency for the household. The pun
water, mountain air, and daily labor cav,
health and robust constitutions to all. Ii
those days never heard Of case of con
sumption, gOut, or weak lungs. We had
rattleSDake bite occasionally. and an Indian
scare. That was the greatest danger W,
encountered. Families in those DAYS wer,
not enervated and ruined byiuNurieS, whal
is called high living and fashion. They
were clothed at home by their honest labor
The boys in their Jeans and eopperas cot
ton, and the girls in their beautiful stripes
ofcOtton and linsey. Dresses were made
to fit their persons and develop their natu-
raj and beautiful forms. One cannot tell
now which is the girl and which is the dress
L have looked about over this large assem-.
bly, 10 see if could not find one of those
beautiful striped dresses setting of the
rosy mountain pinks Of the pp,sent day,
but the ancient customs have disappeared
since l have been gone. I'm chat day but
| few mothers OF daughters ever had a calico
dress, to say nothing Of the silks. cash
meres, muslins, grapes and popliRs Of the
present day.
When lady went to Dover or Palnvra.
our commercial cities IN those days, aud
bought a calico dress, it aroused and ex-
cited the whole community more than the
killing OF a bear, caught in the COW pen,
which was a frequent occurrence. When a
calico dress was purchased, it spread like
wilddre. Ii is narrated abroad that such a
one had bought a calico dress.
In those days We had our sugar camps,
made our own sugar; coffee was bought at
our commercial cities and only used on
Sundays. Milk, the best and most healthy
beverage in the world, was daily used, and
the rose blOOmed and played upon every
girl cheek. There was no calOmel doctors
bills to pay. They have appeared since /
have been gone. They are a worthy and
useful profession Of the present day. We
had meeting houses in those days, made of
logs and clap boards. We called il going
to meeting. The elegant phrase now is to
attend church, and go in buggies and
carriages. We walked from three to
i've miles in going to meeting, play
ing with the girls all the way. /
have seen not further than five miles
from this place, from 50 to 100 ladies' walk
ing barefOOted to meeting, carrying their
shoes and stockings in their hands and on
arriving. sitting down along the branch,
washing their beautiful feet, putting on
their stockings and shoes, preparatory to 90
ing in. There is a charm in a pretty foot.
There was no shOddy false wealth in the
neighbOrhood to taint society, to drive the
poor to initiate the pretended rich. which i'm
any country is prOmoive Ofvice and win
end in bankruptcy. All did their share OF
and labor, all were Onsocial and equaIter
and made plenty for the rural wants Ofthe
family. They were a eontented and happy
people.
CAMP MEETINGS.
| have always been in favor of camp
meetings. They bring the people together,
make new acquaintances, and revive old
associations. They create religious excite
ment, which is right and proper, and il a
great pioneer in the prOpOgrating OfreiigiOn.
Il is as a storm, il purIties the atmosphere.
IL moves upon the waters and har-
rows up the deep; in its course it fells
the most stubborn oak; it is n religious en-
thusiasm that thrOttles sin and purifieS the
soul. All the churches should unite. and
revive this good old custom. The MethO-
dists are the pioneers in the GOOD work.
They first established and pushed forward
the camp meeting, but it now languishes,
giving place TO the steeples surmounting
the large churches of the country. In the
reyivals of the old pioneers, MctiT1dy,
GwiHD. and Blackburn, there were more
conversions made in one year, than now in
i've, with all the advantage Of increased
population.
In ancient times have seen al one of
those camp meetings the fOrked lightning
playing over the largest asSemblages. and
the wild thunder leaping from head to
head, and have seen hundred women with
tire jerks. The result Of religious enthusi-
asn- ln those DAYS our women did not lie
form their persons with artificial works
about the head in the form Of rats, CHG
mons and waterfalls; there was no rouge,
bespatteriug the rosy cheek, destroying its
natural beauty, nor were their beautiful
forms destroyed by the hoop or hustle; there
was no Que taken in by artificial
flise appearances. The match was fair
upon both sides. In those days there was
No rIe in the now fashionable form OF iii
yOrce. In those DAYS our beautiful WOme-
had long natural black hair, some aubur=
some red, with different shades Of color.
They wore it plated, forming beautiful
crescent upon the head, and when the
stream Of elOquence oOpiOuSly flowed over
the large assembly, when all bhe fires were
lit up, l have heard this plated hair pop
like the crack Of a wagon whip. Girls and
boys did not in those DAYS wear shoes until
they arrived at the age Of twelve. The
boys helped tend the crop in the summer
and went to the old pennyrOyal school
with the girls in the winter. They all
contributed TO their own support, and that
of the family. Such girls, boys and
parents weye not subject to the vicious and
dangerous habits Of towns and cities, nor
eneyated by the luxUries and fashions Of
the present day. They became the found
ers Of good families, and bold and eOur-
ageOus people, who made the best citizens
in time Of peace, and the defenders of their
country IN time OF war.
s.Ill fare the land TO Fastening Ills prev,
When wealth accumulates and men decay,
Princes OF lords may flourish or may fade,
A breath can make them a. a breath has made.
But bold peasautry, their c0Untry'S pride,
When once destroyed, can never be supplied
THE DANCE.
In those days we had our rural and innO-
cent amusements. The log rOllings, the
corn shuckinss, the house raisings and the
reapings Of the harvest, while the ladies'
and girls attended at the same time their
cotton pickiDgs and quiltings, and when
the days work was performed the yard was
swept, covered by the flowers Of the forest,
and the dance commenced The old fash
- ed Virginia breakdown reel, where
tw nty couples faced and eyed each other;
an as the bow was drawn across the
str Igs Of the violin, discOusing sweet
mu C, giving us Jenny put the kettle on,
n IN blow the bellows strong, We will all
tax tea" then "Leather breeches full
Of titches," and by way Of variety, sBilly
in he Wild woods, or NappycOt and petty
90 t, and the LinSey Gown, if yOu
5. ant TO keep your credit Up,pay the money
down." the dancing was really enjoyable.
In old times We had the fiyOrite reel
called "Mrs. McClOud.r When the wOpl
was given, shand all round, set-tO and face
your partners, giving to each full space tO
display their activity and gymnastic skill