Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-04-05
.eadiua fur the Sabbath,
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
GOOD OLD TIMES.

GuOD ULD IlmESs
In a recent lecture in Nashville, by DR.. j
B. McFerrin, on the "Good Old Times," h'
said:
GAS the country grew older the people be
gan to build meeting-houses. These were
generally made of hewn logs and seated with
plain benches. A heavy piece of plank ol
puncheon had holes bored with large auge1
and four pegs or legs inserted, and these were
placed in front of the pulpit and occupied by
the men and women, who always sat apart
No backs, no cushions, no kneeling stools, nc
carpets; the naked floor and hard seats; ano
here the congregation would often remain pa
tiently while two long sermons were delivered
The congregations were usually large and
very attentive, considering the unfavorable
physical circumstances
The penple always put on their best clothe:
for Sunday service, hence they were called
the Sunday .go.to-meeting Clothes Many
persons walked long distance to hear the
gospel; women would travel for miles and
carry their children to enjoy gospel feast
Many of the poorer classes of young ladies
went on foot and carried their shoes and
stockings in their hands, rolled up in cotton
handkerchiefs, till they came near to the
meeting.house then they would turn aside
equip their feet and ankles, and appear in the
congregation as nice as new pin. A good
many people who now take on descended
from this web-foot aristocracy.
The boys wore copperas pants made of tow
or cotton, and frequently covered their feel
with moccasins made of buckskin or hog
leather I have seen many starched young
gentleman, with broadcloth, high-heeled boots
long watch chain, moving with an air of ele
gance, indicating that he belonged to one OF
the first families, and was the descendant Of q
long line of aristocrats, whose father, to my
knowledge, wore copperas breeches on Sun
day, and covered his unbrushed head with a
wool hat. No discredit to him, if he only
did not seem to wish to conceal the hole o1
the pit from whence he was digged, and the
rock from which he was hewn.
What I dislike is shoddy or Goldfish aris
tocracy. I have no respect for man who
will deny his poor kin because they are poor
Virtue and genius are often clothed in rags
true nobility of soul should be honored and
respected wherever found"
81. We should honor the memory of oul
ancestors and cherish their virtues. They
we're poor, but, in the main, honest. Locks
and bars we're not necessary to keep out pet
ty thieves and house-breakers. Corn cribs
and meat houses stood open; stores and stock
were free from depredations. And when 9
man did steal he was whipped, branded, and
his ears cropped, and was sent out to steal nc
more.
They were brave. To be sure they did moi
shoot and butcher one another like savages
but when they fought they took it fist and
skull, and when one party was overcome and
cried Enough! his antagonist raised hin,
up; they washed, drank together, shook
hands and we're friends. A man in those
days who would have carried a concealed
pistol or dirk, would have been branded as a
coward.
Public men in those days were always ex'
pected to be men of integrity. Two ques
tions men asked concerning an office-seeker
First. Is he honest? Second. Is he compe
tent?
Our fathers dwelt in ordinary houses and
lived on wholesome, strong food, and wore
homespun; they did not know much about
the 'hi-fa-lu.tin,' but they paid their debts
and dispensed large hospitality.
g. Our mothers spun, wove and made bed
quilts; but they had strength enough tc
nurse their own babies, and thought house
full of strong boys and rosy.cheeked girls
was fortune.
Of verbs, adverbs and pronouns they knew
but little; they did not comprehend etymol'
ogy, syntax and prosody, but they knew how
to make a chicken-pie and call their hus
bands, with sweet tones, to come to dinner
and presided at the head of the table without
the cloud of discomfort hanging upon their
brows. They did not exactly understand how
to arrange long skirts and manage filters, but
they knew how to manufacture butter and
cheese and make the homes Of their husbands
inviting and prosperous"