Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-04-14
- 4 -
FIFTY YEARS AGO-No. AZ.


CONCERNING BED srEAps AND BEDS.
had not finished treating OF stoves. 1t
win he remembered that when wood began
to be scarce and higher priced, alright
stoves came into use. Al first they had no
regulators OF draft; then they were provid
ed with regulators to be operated by hand,
and afterward some genius invented regu.
lnlors which opened or closed and thus in
creased or essened the draft simply by the
action of heat, on the principle that a high
degree os caloric expands, and low de-
gree contracts. Like every other inven-
ton, they operated almost perfectly while
due care was given them, but they were
soon left TO run themselves without atten-
tion, and insidious rust attacked them and
impaired their usefulness until they were
OF no account. knew OF one whose work.
ing rod snapped like pipe.stem through
neglect How the owner mathematical
the invention-of course
slow confidence yet lively delight, cooking
stoves were first received. And how poor
they were contrasted with the wonders Of
modern times. The material and mechan.
ism, like everything of those times, was
honest and strong, but the finish was rougl,
and unadorned. But how the several
parts were examined and admired
the fire.box, the ash.pace, the grid.
dies and the little oven; and then there
was no wa,erreservoir, few danpers, nor
amy brackets above to keep victuals warm.
But what changes and improvements the
introduction OF coal, especially anthracite,
produced Contrast the old box, cast
heating stove with the purlor stove OF these
days. The nickel plating so much reseni-
bling newly FURNISHED silver would have
made our ancestors go wild And it was
lucky that they never saw such stoves-
lucky for them and for the denlers rs well
they would have been denounced IA too
wickedly extravagant and high-priced for
common people to buy
must allude to the changes tor the bet
ter in stove pipes as we'll as in stoves The
common sheet iron was supplanted with
the more costly and easily frightened
Russia iron, pipe; ana the square elbows
which were 40 apt to be battered out OF
shape and safety by the good man OF the
house in his wrath in stove setting ur
time, have been succeeded 10y the corrus ted
semi circular elbows 80 lifting and comely
besides. OF the useful and convenient
ranges of modern times | need not speak
as they are known and appreciated by
many, ii not all. So OF the heaters and
furnaces of more questionable excellence
safety and desirability, and the steam heat
ing apparatus, which, when its use is war
ranied. is undoubtedly the best warming
means so far devised.
Probably the first ilea of bed was
sort OF a rude shake-up on the floor. Com
fort required it to be elevated and then til,
bed stead consisted OF four posts driven int,
the ground, with four rails or raves lai,
across, and boards or, rather, shakes OF
which the bed could rest. Then, whei
wooden floors came into use, the posts ano
rails were so fastened that they would sup
port the bed. Since that time all sorts o.
changes and improvements and ornamen
ture have. come into vogue. In the torrit
East, beds are made in outer courts, or oil
house-tops, and care is taken TO put then
beyond the reach of vermin, serpents ant
the like. Yet il is no very uncommon
thing for person to find lizard, scorp
ion, centipede or nn aspe in hls bed whel
he retires at night,or before morning to b.
awakened by the cold sliminess of a cobri
or adder on his breast, crawed there Will,
he is asleep to avail itself of the genia
bodily warmth. The idea of bed steat
adornment with the old Romans was, a
in almost every thing else, to cover it will
carvings and paintings representing thei
ugly, hideous idolatrous myths, dragons
sphynxes and other such things. The rag
J in more modern times demanded the in
sertion OF panels of some highly polisha
BILE and beautiful wood like cherry, birds
eye maple or the like. The improvement
in beds and bed-s,eads, including springs
mattresses and so forth, has kept pace will
J the advancement in other respects. / am rc
minded of an anecdote in which my fathe
caused my mothers eyes to open very wide
He told her that he and large family, in
clnding wife and adult daughters, ha'
slept in the same bed on the same night
1t was all right when he explained that j
was double deck Dutch affair that wa
divided and made into three separatebeds