Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-03-03
FIFTY YEARS AGo-NO. ..
CONCERNING HOUSE FLOORS.

CONCERNING HOUSE FLOORS.
Without doubt, the bare ground first
served man as floor. And this forcibly re.
minds me Of the sententious eloquent
and impressive reply of an Indian chief
TO an A mer icpn officer, who had detected
and defeated the red mans shrewj attempt
at treachery and capture, and YET, had
afterward courteously invited h m 10 lie
seated in chair. mo" was the surly
answer of the chief, "the earth is my
mother-I will rest on her bosom, ugh |"
and he sat on the ground, majestically
folded his arms and sternly awaited what
the officer had to say What grander pic
ture Of the native dignity and stoicisin of
man II Now and then, as II to keep in re-
memberance the long ago, copper -hued
chieftain surprises and delights the en-
lightened world with such bursts OF ora
tory, which in any other race, have never
been equ aled, much less surpassed, hut in
general, the Indian, demoralized by the
"6re- water" OF the "pale-face," is but a
semi.human, besotted and abominated
wreck. For this sad change who should
bear the blame?
The first idea OF improvement in house
floors, was doubtless to make the cold,
damp earth more comfortable and whole
some withal. And to these ends, dry
leaves, stra ', shavings, dried skins, furs
and other coverings have been uaed. All
these were found, when put upon the bare
ground, only to increase the discomfort
and unwholesomeness, from the ill-smell-
ing and noxious mold that sooner or later
generated in the midst. Probably stone
tagging undressed or but poorly dressed,
brick fash ioned somewhat after the man
ner of the Hebrews when captives OF
Egypt, and tile smoo,hed and kiln baked,
alternately served the purpose; but all oil
these were found to be damp and cold and
| only sources of rheumatism and kindred
diseases in other forms. At last it occur
red that wood from its greater porosity
and less cnpability Of conducting away
heat, was the thing. But what was done
with it before saw.mils were known
How could standing tree be converted
into floors? Well, Just the ingenious pro-
cess we may, perhaps, not surmise; but we
have faint idea, nj least, in the the fiat
tened logs called puncheons, though the
dictionary applies the name to upright
pieces serving as assistant posts. The
floor OF the second school house in which
| taught the young idea how to shoot, and
and practiced with the ferule and the rod
"a shanty shaped hut of poles with oven
wood and mud for climking, If there prop.
erly lie such work, and shed fashioned
roof Of hnnd.splt stakes, saying nothing
of it's wooden door latch and hinges, and
windows having more shingles than panei
was of whitewood and basswood logs
dressed fiat on the upper side. By the
way the re IL soma distance between the
nomina tive "foor," in the last sentence
and It's agreeing verb. But those punch
cons served me two important ends-one
as, at least, strong heor, and the Other
| HS hinuii1B WoOu. Hhu " ouilu III y
fire; and tell you it was very convenient
to turn up one of those soft wood
logs, and split nice, dry, easily inhamable
kindlings from the other side The sup
ply never gave out, at least, while was
there
But must not digress at such length
The next thought was to make the floor
more ornamental and attractive in looks
And the means used is quite singular, In
deed. Ii q housekeeper worthy oi
the name, in skill and neatness, utterly
abhors anything il is earth, sand, mud
or dirt in the wrong place. In modern
tin es, mean. What will sooner darker
the fairest brow of the warmest friend
than to have her favorile walk in upon
her carpet with his boots loaded with mud
which the exercise OF proper cleanliness
and consideration would have fttingly
left without the doorl And yet, in early
times, the best houskeepers not only put
sand on their spare floors, but deity form.
ed it into ornamental and agreeable de
vices of shape. But, mind you, that was
white and clean sand / have head my
moi her say that, in her youth, people took
more pains to have their parlOr floors look
beautiful and attractive, in their way
than they bestowed on their dress. Ant
they were no slouches in their apparel
either, as they regarded It from their sen
sible stand point.