The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-10
In Olden Times

what their name indicatcs-viz., strips
of paper suspended from the ceiling in
such manner rs to cover the imper-
fections of the walls. They we're used
exclusively in the houses of the rich
the poor man in his hut had no suoh
device, but must needs patch hole to
keep the winds away. The carpets of
our forcfathcrs once consisted of rnshcs,
among which the dogs hunted for the
| bones that had been thrown upon the
floor.
In England, ono end of the hall was
the kennel for tho hounds, and above it
the perch for hawks. In the reign of
Queen Elizabeth, the host at table used
to hold the joint of beef with one hand
and the carving-knifo with tho other,
transferring the meat to the plates of
his guests with his fingers, rs forks were
not yet in use. Those who first adopted
forks were much ridiculed Some said
the Bible was opposed to it, and it was
all insult to the Almighty to use fork
whom He had given them fingers.
The art of making glass is of high an
tiquity, but it belonged to modern in
genuity to develop the value of the in
vention, and to apply it to multitude
of important, and in some cases inlis-
ponsable, uses. Not many centuries
ago, window-glass was only found in tho
houses of the very rich its use began
i'll palaces. For II long time it was 80
scarce that Mt Alnwick Castle, in 1867,
the glass was ordered to be taken out Of
the windows and laid up in safcty when
the lord was absent.
There was another luxury, so cxpcn-
slvc that for more than two thousand
years it remained completely above the
reach OF the poor, and none but the
wealthy could indulge in it's use. We
mean cotto1 CLOTH The material of
which tho cloth was made was both
plenty and easily obtained, rs is the
case with glass ; but the cost of manu-
featuring made it very dear. If IL
Grecian lady could awake from her sleep
of two thousand years, her rnstonishmcnt
would be unboundcd to SEQ simple
country girl clothed with calico dress,
a muslin kcrchief, and II colorcd shawl (!
Within the past one hundred years.
machinery has been invented which has
made printed cotton so perfect. so
plenty, and so cheap, That the humble
scrvnnt-girl can wear better calico
gown than cleopatra ever saw
When tho whole stock of carpenters
tools was valued Mt one shilling, and
consisted altogether of two broadaxes,
an adzc, square and n spokc-shavc, VIC
must expect to find rough work and
none but rough dwelling houses when
there were no chimncys, and the fire
was laid against the wall, with the smoke
to issue out Mt the roof, the door, or the
window, and the people slept on straw
pallets, with log of wood for IL pillow,
we naturally expect rough manners,
unwholcsomc food, and n great lack of
tidincss. This was the condition of the
English people in the reign of Edward
III. Even the nobility went without
chairs md tables and sat upon the
chests that contained their clothes and
linen. The skill of other trades was on
n level with That of the carpenter. and
agriculture was Ms low in the scale as
any of the arts. The first sawmill in
England was built by n Dutchman, but
the opposition of the men who worked
by hand was so great that he had to pull
it down. In 1867 another was erected,
but mob tore it down. 50 progress
has everywhere had to overcome obsta-
clcs. In 1890, some frars in Switzcr-
land wished to build windmill, to save
the labor of grinding corn by hand but
n neighboring landlord, who had bought
the country around, forbade them, be-
cause, ho said, he owned the winds.
The bishop was appealed to, who said
that the winds belonged to the church
and could not be used. A writer of
good authority, speaking of the times of
Henry VIII, says there is no doubt
that the average duration of human life
was, ut that period, not one-half as long
rs it is Mt the present day. The kings
and nobility of few centuries ago
possessed their crowns and high-sound-
ing titles; but there is not, in the
United States, a prosperous mechanic,
possessing fair degree of refined taste
and education, who would desire to cx-
change his manner of life and living for
theirs, so far rs tho convenicnccs of life
are concerned Thus it is that art is
ever at work, breaking down the barriers
which stand between tho rich and tho
poor, and bringing both classes more
and more toward common lcvcl--l Ut
by degrading the wealthy, but by expit
ing both classes to a higher standard of
morality, refinement and education.
Skull measurement.
Professor Flower, the well-known En-
glish anatomist, has published some fur
ther results of his researches with refer
cncc to the human skull. He states that
the largest normal skull he has ever