The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-04-07
INCIDENTS OF OTHER DAYS.
A Grandmother Random Recollec,ions
From 1878 to 1890.

Grandmother Random Recollection
From 1878 to 1890
Looking back into these years, an
! ast0nished at the numerous inventions
and the introduction of SO many article
which are now considered Indispensable
and ask myself, "What did We do nHh
ont them ." | will enumerate few fo
the amusement of my readers. Clothes
pins matches, Tin former years box Of
punk and two tlints were always kept il
the kitchen in case We lost tile .fFt) zinc
washing board, cooking stoves, stee
pens-part of our education was to learn
how to make pen out of n goose-quill-
and spool thread was quite a curiosity at
one dollar Dozen in or about 1880.
About this time also appeared in Bal
timore man who exhibited his " indus
trious tleas.'' He had spent twenty
years of his lie in learning to harness
two fleas, or four, to tiny buggies and
carriages, perfectly made of tissue paper,
and also to dress his fleas in garments of
the same. We all went to see this ridicu-
lous curiosity. The fleas drove their re-
spective vehicles in which reclned an
aristecratic company of flea manity' and
many couples waltzed by the vibrations
OF a music-box. Many friends now liv-
ing will remember my ve1ation (when
my story WAS told) at the looks and
smiles of incredulity cast towards me.
One gentleman, holding re recognized po-
sition in Baltimore society at this writing
my delight at finding voucher for my
truth (about thirty years alter, | re-
quested him to write down his testimony
which he kindly did, signing his initials,
O. H., but to my horror he slyly put an
exclamation after them 60. II y which
at once destroyed the weight of his testi-
mony, and left me stranded on truths
shore. But "speak the words of truth
and soberness" Maelzel came with his
wonderful mechanisms. The automaton
chess player was purchased by gentle
man in this country, but Maelzel was
lost at sea when returning 70 Europe with
his other exquisite automata. 1t would
be difficult to give a graphic description
of the g Burning of Moscow" 1t occu-
pied the length Of an ordinary stage in
public hall. Fancy you see before you
a large city, with its demes and minarets
all in flames, clouds Of lurid smoke reach
ing far into the sky, houses falling, with
a distant sound of crashing, bells ringing,
the great bell of tie kremlin telling,
tolling. in deep tones of terror, while you
perceive the French army marching in
from the far side, and approaching to the
front, plltoon after platoon, each man in
French uniform, and treading his martial
step in perfect time to the music of the
band. In the foreground was seen a
bridge, over which crowds of citizens
were rushing, carrying with them the
household goods they valued most, while
one man carried his wife upon his back.
Over the bridge marched the soldiers as
the perfect little flying figures disap.
peared; and this scene was repeated till
at last, with one loud crash, the Krem-
lin Gin the foreground at the right,
tumbled, and the curtain fell. He also
showed an automaton cornet player,
dressed up in scarlet regimentals, six
feet high, who was rolled on the stage,
and discoursed most exquisite music,
moving his head occasionally to acknowl-
edge the plaudits of the audience, and
apparently evidencing most wonderful
execution. His mentronome, every mu-
stefan knows, but believe the world has
not again produced such an ingenious
mechaniciau as Maelzsl.
Signer Bellini Of the Italian opera,
gave concert in which the professors of
Baltimore assisted him. | shall not crit
else his ability. He sang we'll enough.
but he possessed inordinate vanity, and
insisted upon singing his beautiful song
in English, believing he had completely
mastered the language:
"Sdeel so jantly Ger me sdeeling
Nanny will bring backs de veeling.
Sbite of all my greave reveelin'.
Dat loave dee vondly sdeel,'
The first copy of "Home, Swee
Home was brought to Baltimore a few
years previous to this, and was at once
accepted as the worlds ballad. 1t needed
no critic to herald its praise; each heart
responded, and now, fifty years after,
nine out of ten young persons on being
asked what is his or her favorte song,
will answer, Home, Sweet Home
| should not omit to say that the first
private family who used gas was that oil
Columbus O'Donnell, Esq, but OH the
evening of party, which they hoped
would be unusually brilliant from the
new light, it suddenly went out, leaving
the company in darkness till candles
were procured. Lamps were not in gen
eral use; whale oil only known, and wa,
or spermacetti the only candles, except
tallow dip" for kitchens.
Shall describe family oyster supper
1t was quite an institution during thu
winters, and l really think the elegance
of modern luxury cannot compare to the
charming ease and hilarity of those sup
pers. Our kitchen was large and vel
of in old baronial castles, with the grea
crane, on which to hang over the fire tn
numerous pots and kettles used in cook
ing. Great iron andirons supported logs
on which the oysters rested till the,
opened their mouths to the heat. Tn
| bivalveS were cdrte6 into tie cellar
brought up from the boats landing a
Light street wharf; they were fed eacl
day with meal and salt water, the to-
layer always being chosen for the night
supper. At nine o'clock We all went int
the kitchen, where the long deal tabl
was set, covered with a snowy whit
cloth, with pewter plates and crash NAP
kins, a saucer at each plate and baske
between two persons for the shells. w
could open our oysters very dexterousl
with oyster knives, without feal of acci
dent. 1t added to our enjoyment if
friend dropped in accidentally. but thi
was the jolly family supper; and | wi
add that Il glass of hot Irish whske
punch was not ignored, though my fathe
was temperate man, using, not abGsin