The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-06-01
Centennial Correspondence.
PHILADELPHIA, May %, 1876.

MAJ May -cJ 1OtOs
ED. PREss.-The stranger who visits
the Centennial this season, if he has
any desire to see aught else than the
exhibition proper, can find much of
interest that will well repay the extra
time it takes to see them. Perhaps no
other one building on the grounds
to the lover of old times and manners
that have entirely departed, than the
Old Times Cabin situated few rods
from the Woman's Pavilion. 1t is
built in the style of the log cabin of
primitiye times, its wooden latch and
handle suggestive of hospitality and
plenty within. Once within it, and
the visitor, if he ever experienced
anything of pioneer life, is forcibly
reminded Of his childhood days, for,
turn where he will he sees only the
rude furniture and fixtures of the early
homes of the frontiersman of half
century ago. The beholder is sur
prised to see in so well preserved con-
dition the implements of housewifery
of a period SO long since passed away.
1 should think the whole of the New
England states were ransackcd from
one end to the other TO find these an
tique articles. How old garrcts have
been explored, closets turned topsy
turvy, every nook and corner of old
diIapidaIed barns and granaries in
spected, and here is shown the result.
Aside from the old fashioned rude
furniture our forefathers made and
used, there are many articles in this
cabin of eye Olden time" of great his
torical value. On the crane in the
good old fashioned fireplace, i'm which
a good fire is burning, hang pot and
kettle which came over in the "Speed
WELL" the second ship which came
to the rugged coast when first the
Mayfiowcr cast anchor. Here is the
cradle il which was rocked Peregrim
White who was born on the Mayhow
er. TheIe lies a mould in which Paul
Revere cast pewter spoons and which
was taken from his foundry. On the
wall hangs The sword Of Capt. Nathan
Barrett which he wore in the Concord
fight on the morning Of April 18th,
IT'S and what i. of more interest
still, near by in a plain frame, hangs
the Captains Commission from Geo.
the Third, king of England, dated
Nov. 10, 1773, and which he held at the
time of the Concord fight He was a
rebel sure-fghting the kings SOL
dies and his Majesty's Commission in
his pocket
On the rude table whose years have
passed the hundredth number, lie a
collection of old newspapers publish
ed in Boston from 175S to 176O. You
are shown an old Bill of Sale of -lGSS;
among the column of entries you no.
tice, "House EXPENSES DIR. to Moses
Draper for one hogg-1f. 9s. 3D."
from which we infer that either they
or we are mistaken in our orthogra-
ply. On the wall hang powder horns
over 200 years old clocks of similar
age, muskets ditto, churn no less aged
"a pair Of snowshoes and a veritable
New England warming pan. The
housekeeper of to day, favored with
all the modern. appliances for house,
keeping, is surprised to see the old
wooden ladies and skimmers our
grandmothers used. The strings of
dried apples and rings of dried pump
.kins, the old iron lamps and candle
sticks and an almost. endless number
of other articles of ancient date and
use, are wonderfully suggestive of the
good old fashioned hospitality of our
fathers; and the pleasing reminisccnc-
es called up during half hours visit
to this log cabin well repay the visit.
But beg leave to mention one other
thing 1 came across there, curiosity
in itself as well as of interest to the
seeker after revolutionary relics. And
that is recruiting sergeants call for
volunteers, address to '.all brave,
healthy, able-bodIed and we'll -dispos-
ed young men in this neighbOrhood
who have any inclination to join the
troops now raising under Gen. Wash
ington for the defense of the liberties
and independence of the United States
against the hostile designs of foreign
enemies" Then follow the names of
the towns and the days on which the
sargeant will be found at these lOcali.
ties and also the pay and bounty offer
ell TO each recrnit as an inducement to
enlist, which was $50 annually and in
gold. and n bounty OF twelve dollars!
And then our sergeant closes his ap-
peal for volunteers "a follows: "Those
who may favor this recruiting party
with their attendance as above, will
have an opportunity of hearing and
seeing in q more particular manner,
the great advantages which these brave
men will have who shall embrace this
opportunity of spending a few happy
years in visiting The different parts of
this beautiful continent in the honor
able and truly respectable character of
a soldier; after which he may if he
pleases, return home TO his friends
with his pockets full Of money and his
head covered with laurels.
GOD SAVE THE UNITED STATES
There's patriotism for you.
While in the city the stranger should
not fail to visit Independence Hall
where was signed the Declaration of
Independence, and where, during the
Exposition, is placed in an iron safe
made especially for the OCCASION, the
original document ITSELF with the
names of the signers gradually fading