The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1879-05-21
OLD TIMES.


A hals century ago, large part Of the peo-
/ pie Of the United States lived IL houses uu-
painted, upholstered, and utterly devoid Of
adjournment. A well.f fire in the yawning
chasm Of a huge chimney gave partial warmth
to single room, and it was common re-.
mark that the inmates were roasting ono side
while freezing the other in contrast, ma
jority of the people of the older states now
live in houses that are clapboarded painted,
blinded, and comfortably warmed Then,
the household furniture consisted of few
plain chairs, plain table, bedstead made
by the village carpenter. Carpets there were
none. To-day, few are the homes, in city or
country, that do not contain carpet of some
sort. while the average laboler by week.
work may earn enough to enable him at night
to repose upon spring bed.
Fifty years ago the kitchen "drcssers y
were set forth with shining row of pewter
plates. The farmer ate with buck handled
knife and an iron or pewter spoon, but the
advancing civilization has sent the plates and
spoons to the melting pot, while the knives
and forks have given place to nickel or silver
plated cutlery.
In those days the utensils for cooking were
dinner-pot, tea-kettle, skillet, Dutch oven,
and frying-pan to-day there is no end Of
kitchen furniture.
The people of 1880 sat In the evening in the
glowing light of pitch-knot fire or read their
weekly newspapers by the Pickering light OF
"tallow dip = now, in city aud village, their
apartments are bright with the flame of the
gas jet or the softer radiance of KEROSENE
Then, If the fire went out upon the hearth, It
was rekindled by coal from neighboring
hearth, or by flint, steel, aud finder. Those
who INDUCED in pipes and cigars could only
light them by some hearthstone to-day we
light fire and pipes by the dormant fireworks
in the match safe, at a cost of one hundredth
of cent.
In those days we guessed the hour of noon,
or ascertained it by the creeping of the sun
light up to the noon mark /" drawn upon the
floor; only the well-to.do could afford clock
To-day who does not carry watch ? and as
for clocks, you may purchase them at whole
sale, by the cart-load, at sixty-two cents
apiece.
Fifty years ago, how many dwellings were
adorned with pictures? How many are there
now that do not display print, engraving,
chrome, or ithograph9 How many pianos or
parlor organs were there then Reed organs
were not invented till 1910, and now they are
i'll every village.
Some who may read this article will remem-
Der that in 1880 the Bible, tue almanac, and
the few textbooks used ia school were almost
the only volumes of the household. The die
tionary was a volume four inches square and
an inch aud half in thickness. In some Of
the country villages few public spirited men
had gathered libraries containing from three
to five hundred volumes in contrast, the
public libraries of the present, containing
more than ten thousand volumes, have an ag-
gregate of 10, $50, 900 volumes, not including
the Sunday school and private libraries of the
country. 1t is estimated that altogether the
number of volumes accessible to the public
is not less than 20,000000l OF Webster
and Worcester's dictionaries, it may BIO said
that enough have been published to supply
one to every one hundred inhabitants of the
United States.--C. O. Coffin IN May Attain
tic. aft