The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-02-13
FRAGMENTS OF THE EARLY HISTORY
or OHIO COUNTY.
ny II. d. TAYLOR.
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
Perhaps there never was period in
history in which there was not some de-
gree Of classification OF society, and there
was no doabt more or less OF this in the
early history Of the county. The better
more moral, and law-ahiGins always
standing aloof from the vicious and de-
generated; and never admitting them
willingly into their social circ'es. but
wealth or poverty had little or nothing
To do with the social intercourse of neigh
horhoods, at leas; as far as acts of kind
uess and nei ghbo.ly deeds were involved.
The latter emigranis were worthy, wells
to-do families, who generally had at least
one suit Of store clothes, which they
wore on Sundays, aad at other public
gatherings, but the working dress was al
most universally OF the same fashion.
The geutlemen's consisted OF wool or
straw hat, or coon-skin or some other
kind OF cap, lin-ey or deer skin pants,
aud either coat or hunting shirt. The
latter was most popular or common, es>
pecialiy during the war OF 1872, during
which It was the uniform of the Ken
inckv Volunteers. aud in the make OF
which there was almost a much uIIe
aud labor spent by the patriotic lails in
decorating aud frngins the hun,ing-shlrt
OF their brave soldier boys, as is now
spent on a laiy's dress. The ladies
dress for every day wear, like the fash.
on now, consisted OF two parts, the
lower part being devoid Of u trail 10
sweep the aoor. which they preferred
doing with broom ard tie upper part
was devoid OF the present sweeping en-
tsnglement called a PolonaiSe, and fiji
closely around the body ike boys
roundabout.
The sources of amusement were numer-
Gus, such as house raisings, choppng
matches, log rollings, and corn shuek-
incs. 1t was, perhaps, mastery stroke
of policy to combine with the foregoing
gatherings, quiltings. servings, cotton
pickiugs, &c, for, AS a natural result, the
ladies presence would insure good att
tendance of the genIlemen, aud riee cersa,
As the law books say, GU the part OF the
ladies; and if any one now could collect
into a volume the love aud eloquence
that we're couned over, AMI memorized
by lovesick SWANS, (this writer among
them) TO be poured forth TO their lady
loves at those contemplated meetings,
but which, alas! was never uttered, either
for want of brass, or like the poor mems
Der OF Congress, because he could not
catch the Speakers eve, or worst of all,
delivered, like the printers devil setting
up type, in such a manner as to make
worse than nonsense of the whole man,
uscript, such a book would certainly
amuse if not instruct the reader.
On the part OF the ladies at these gath
erings, the belle, The coquet,e, the prude
and the pure, Sophisticated innocent
! class, all had their representatives, and
the brageart, the true hearted but daunt-
less, the rolickins, daredevil, with his
clownlsh pantomime, and the ready OF
hard wit, were all represented by the
gentlemen in greater or less degrees.
Balls and dances were seldom resorted
TO in the country, partly from religious
prejudice against dancing, and partly
from want of room in the small country
houses, but was some times INDUCED in by
the citizens of town but owing TO the
few ladies who were in the habit of
dancing, invitations were generally sent
to Kincheloe's Bluff (now Lewishurg)
which then rivaled Hartford in wealth
and population, and in the neighborhood
of which lived quite number of very
beautiful young ladies'
As the necessity of log rollings, house
raisings, cotton p;ckings, &c, gradually
ceased the mode Of amusements also
gradually changed, into picnics, singing
schools, candy pulliugs; and the incen-
tive 20 such meetings was greatly de-
creased by the introduction of books and
periodicals., which offered a greater
source of home fireside enjoyment. Blu,
unless THE quasi literary taste can be
directed into better channel, it is doubts
full whether society has been placed in a
better condition by the change.
Reading should be INDUCED in to ex'
psnd the intellect; to train it to habits
OF thought and investigation; TO sif
truth from error aud falsehood TO ac'
quire knowledge OF the useful arts and
sciences; to scan through history the
wisdom and FOLLY Of past ages, so that W.
may initiate their wisdom and shun theil
folly in the present age.
How wofully is this object Of reading
perverted, when ladies will lay in thei
beds dsy and night, regardless of al