Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-07-28

THE LUXURIES OF MODERN HOUSEHOLDS.
There are tens of thousands of house
holds in America that possess more luxur-
les than a palace of the last century. All
of the discoveries in science and in the
useful arts have been made to increase the
enjoyments placed within reach of the
great mass of mankind. A study of what
may be seen in the parlor or living room
of any Industrious and thrifty mechanic or
intelligent tradesman of limited means
would afford the KEY to the industrial his
tory of century. The carpet upon the
floor could have been made formerly by IL
hand loom only. and its value would have
placed it beyond the reach of any except
the very wealthy. The furniture may be
made of choice woods from foreign coun-
tries, easily obtained by the development
of railway and steamboat service. and
quickly manufactured by aid of the labor
saving machinery of our day. The walls
are not coverad with paintings by the
masters" each worth fortune. but with
beautiful engravings, of even finer work
manship. and the work of the chromolith-
ographer, scarcely distinguishable from
oil paintings, all of which were obtained
at Il cost comparatively nominal. AT an
expense that any person can stand, all Of
the standard books in the English language
that are really worth having can be OBJ
tanned. The twenty five and fifty cent
editions of books that formerly sold for
three or five dollars. or even more, are
something not dreamed of until quite
recently. Those are supplemented by the
daily or weekly journal, containing the
general news of the times. Two OF three
periodicals of the right kind will enable an
intelligent man TO keep up with the cur
rent history of the world, and to be famil
lar with the best thoughts of the greatest
men in all departments of intellectual
activity. The pictorial press is welcome
visitor, giving vivid impressions that could
not be conveyed by the pens of the most
gifted authors Then there is music, the
greatest of civilizers and the source of
almost infinite pleasure and comfort to
our race. A trhe saved from the month
ly earnings pays the instalment upon a
piano, which is owned absolutely in two
or three years. or very small invest
ment procures parlor organ that excels
the most costly organ that coul1 have
been constructed in the not distant past.
Thanks to the advances in the art of
printing and engraving, there is no diff
Guilty in obtaining the best compositions
of the best authors, and there is II never
ending source of delight in rendering them
The stereoscope, with the aid of photogra'
ply, brings within reach of every one Il
panorama of the most noted and interest
ing scenery of all tho countries in the
world. The small things that go to make
up the collection of household gods" are
innumerable. 1t was not so very long
ago that it was as impossible for II person
OF small means to enjoy these comforts as
it would be for him TO own and navigate
steam yacht to-day. They are the result
of the combined study of several genera
tions of scientific research. They mark
the progress that mankind is making in
carrying out the iniunctions to d" subdue
enumerating the advances that have been
made in obtaining what are deemed the
necessaries of life. These marvellous i'm
provements in the modes of civilized life
vastly more than Offset vices which arc 81
often the theme of our writers. They
account for the increased longevity of the
people. They show that the course of thu
human race is ever onward, and are sug
geslivs Of still greater triumphs in the
near future. We have hardly begun tC
enjoy what science and art in their presen
condition are capable of doing for u.s.
California Illustrated NeUs.
Young scientist wants to know abou
what ago u fly attains 10. We have see
several reach the mucilage, but they stuc
right there. SO we think they never gro'
older-Post.