The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-01-17
Our Oliu.
What "0ld Times" Meant.

A half century ago large part Of the
people Of the United States lived ia houses
unpainted, upholstered and utterly devoid
Of adornment. A well fed fire in the
yawning chasm Of huge chimney gave
partial warmth to single room, aud it was
q common remark that the inmates were
roasting one side while freezing the other;
in contrast, a majority of the people of the
older States now live in houses that are
elapboarded, painted, blinded and comior-
tably warmed. Then, the household fur.
niture was few plain chairs, and plain
table, bedstead made by the village car
penter. Carpets there were none. To-day
few are the houses, in city or country, that
do not contain a carpet OF some sort, while
the average laborer by a weeks work may
earn enough to enable him to repose at
night upon a spring bed.
Fifty years ago the kitchen "dressers'
were set forth with shining row of pew.
ter plates. The farmer ate with a buck.
handled knife and an iron or pewter spoon
but the advancing civilization has sent the
plate and spoons to the melting pot, while
knives and forks have given place to nickle
or silyer-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 1890 sat in the evening
in the glowing light of pitch-knot fire,
or read their weekly newspapers by the
Pickering light of n "tallow Dip" now, in
city and village, their apartments are bright
with the fame of the gas-je or the softer
radiance Of kerosene.
Then if the FIRE went out upon the hearth
it was re kindled by coal from neigh.
boring hearth, or by flint steel aud finder
Those who INDUCED in pipes and cigars,
could light them only by some hearth
stone; to day We light FIRE and pipes by
the dormant fireworks in tho match safe,
at cost Of one.huudredth of cent.
In those days we guessed the hour Of
noon, or ascertained it by the creeping Of
the sunlight up to the "noon. mari" 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 wholesale, by the cart,
load, ut sixty-two cents apiece.
Fifty years ago, how many dwellings
were adorned with pictures2 How many
are there now that do not display print
engraving, chrome or lithograph2 How
many pianos or parlor organs were there
then Reed organs were not invented
till 1910, and now they are in every vii
lage.
Some who may read this article remem-
Der that in 1880 the Bible, the almanac
and the few textbooks used in school
were almost the only volumes of the house.
hold. The dictionary was volume -four
inches square and an inch and.ahalf in
thickness. Ih some Of the country vii
lagos a few public. spirited men had gath,
cred libraries containing from three to five
hundred volumes; 10 contrast, the public
libraries Of the present, containing more
than ten thousand volumes, have an az
gregate Of l0,950,0 900 volumes, not inclu
ding the Sunday y-school and private libra
ries Of the country. IL is estimated that
altogether the number of volumes accessi.
BILE to the public is not less than 10000.
900 Of Websters aud Woreesters die
tionaries, it may be said that enough have
been published to supply one to every one
hundred inhabitants Of the United States
-Attantic Monthly.