The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-05-22

Ago and Hoo They Live No'o.
A half century ago a large part Of
tho pooplo of tho United Statos
lived in houses unpainted, uuplas-
tored and utterly devoid of adorn-
ments. A we'll fed fro ina yawn-
log chasm Of a huge chimney gave
partial warmth to q single room, and
It was a common remark that tho
inmates we're roasting one side while
frceslng the other; in contrast, q ma
,rity Of tho people Of tho older
States now live in houses that are
clap-bosrded, printed, blinded and
comfortably warmed. Then tho
household furniture consisted OF a
few plaiu chairs, plain table, a
bedstead made by tho village oar :
pentor. Carpets thero wore mons
To-day few are the homes, in the
city or country, that does not con-
tain q carpet OF some sort, whilo the
average laborer by q weeks work
may enable him to rcpose at night
upon spring bed.
Fifty years ago tho kitchen "dross.
ers' were set forth with shining
row of powtcr plates. The farmer
alto with buck handled kuiie and
an iron or pewter spoon, bat the
advanciog civilization has sent tho
plates and Spoons to the melting pot,
while the knives aud forks have given
place to nicklo aud silver platter cut
lery.
In those days tho utensils for cook.
ing were dinuer-pot, tea-kettle (;
to-day there is no end of kitchen
furniture.
The people Of 1880 set in the oven
ing 10 the glowing light Of q pitch
knot FIRE. or read their weekly news
papers by the Pickering light of a
"tsllow dip; now in the city aud
village, their apartments are bright
with the fame Of tho gas jet or the
softer radiance Of kerosone. Then
It the Ere went ont upon. tho hearth,
It was reklndled by o coal from a
neighboring hearth, or by flint, steel
aud tinder. Those who INDUCED iu
pipes and cigars could light them only
BY somo hesrthstone to day We
light fire and pipe by the dormant
fre works In match sale ut tho cost
Of one hundred for a cent.
In those days we guessed the
hour OF noon, or ascertaincd it by
the creeping Of the sunlight up to the
moon mark" drawn upon the floor /;
only the we'll to do could afford
clock. To-day, who does not carry
watch and as for a clock, you may
purchase them at wholesale, by the
CARLOAD, at sixty-two cents piece.
Fifty years ago how many dwell
ings were adorned with pictures I
How many arc there now that do not
display print, engraving, chrome.
or lithograph How many pianos or
parlor organs were there then Reed
organs were not invented till 1910,
and they are iu every village.
Sorio who may read this article
will remember that In 1880 the Bible,
tho aImsssc and the few textbooks
used in schools were the only vol-
umes Of the household. The die
tiouary was a volume four inches
squrare and an inch and q half in
thickness. In some Of the country
villages few public-spirited men
had gathered libraries containing
from three to five hundred volumes F;
10 contrast the public libraries OF the
present, containing moro than ten
thousand volumes, having an aggre.
gate of 10, $780, 900 volumes, not id.
cluding the Sunday school and
private libraries OF tho country. II
is estimated that altogether the
number OF volumes accessible to the
public is not less than 10000, 900
OF Webstsr's and Woresstsr's dic-
tionaris, il may be said thst enough
have been published 70 supply one
10 every ono hundred inhabitants Of
the United tss.-xcy Aas1assic