Daily globe., 1883-10-29


DOWN the bed ba5ween the sheets to give il a
more en3urable temperature So obsolete
has the warTuilg-pan become that recently q
lazy from the city at an old-fasfioned farm
house desired to buy one to add to her parlor
ornaments.
The family bed of 1912 was double the pres
ent height and the bed usually sustained by a
support Of rope, or, as it was termed,
CORDED" Heated bedrooms were not COM
mon, ssand retiring on winter nights was a
martyrdom for many.
There was more family silverware than
now, and it was genuine and heavy. Plated
ware was scarce. Wedding rings were of
'guinea gold"
The family rags were saved thrown into
the rag bag, then cut into narrow strips,
these rolled into big balls, attractive to the
infant eve through their variegated hues, and
when enough had accumulated they were
taken to some local weaver and made into
rag carpet. The domestic. rag carpet sug-
gested in appearance the Turkish rug; when
rev it was pretty floor covering and in du-
rability would last generation.
The goose quill was still in use for writing.
Steel pens were an innovation. To 's1nake'
or '"mendn the quill was a necessary accom-
plishment for the writer. ''Blotting sand''
was used in place of blotting paper. Gummed
envelopes were not in use. To fold letter
properly was another requisite accomplish
men6, and when folded it was secured by q
wafer or sealing wax. A careful, precise,
round hand was mostly taught at school.
Journeys from many of the smaller ports
near New York were made by sloop packet.
The fare was 81 and meals a shilling each.
Some sloops were famous for their chowders
and parties on board made rum punch by the
pailful.
Billiards were unknown in the smaller
towns. The very word sounded badly to the
good people of the time. 1t conveyed an idea
of something foreign and wicked Cards also
were condemned. The young people played
Wrist" OF seven up" in secret places and
esnerally in state Of delightful alarm and
Jrepidation.
Wood was a common article of fuel Every
family kept its ''saw buck" and ''buck saw" 7"
The demand for telegraph poles and railroad
ties had not depleted our forests.
Iron OF brass ''andirons" maintained the
architectural formation of the wood fire,
built of the big backlog" the smaller "top-
log' and the ''forestick," on which were
piled green end seasoned wood-a combina-
ton of wet and dry fuel that made the fire
last longer and send out more heat. Chin
neys caught fire frequently from the accumu-
laton of SCOT. Chimney sweeps abounded in
the larger towns In rainy weather our
grandmothers would set the chimney on fire,
the wet roofs rendering the sparks harmless.
Il blazing sheet of paper or wisp of straw
was held up the chimney's mouth on stick
and the roaring of the flames when fairly
1indled was awesone to our childish ears.
Wood ashes were saved and sold to the
farmers for fe-'tilizing material; it served
also as an important factor in the 'leach-
tub" Every family kept s1each-tub' for
the manufacture of ''lye." "Lye" was made
by allowing water to drain through the ashes
at the top Of the leach-barrel and accumulate
in q cavity prepared for it at the bottom
Once a year the family called this into
requisition IN the making Of their barrel of
soft soap, for which the refuse fat {soap-fat)
had been saved.
Soapnaking, putting up sweetmeats, and
log killing were important periods in the
yearly family history. 'iSpare ribs" and
pigs liver graced the table on hog-Hlling
days. Sausage-making followed. The fam
iiy sausage was cut of for cooking in slices,
the cloth adhering to the rim Of each slice.
Nor were these sausagas recklessly and me-
chanically put together. The proper mix
turas Of beef, pork (fat and lean) and the
seasoning with sage, summer savory, and
other herbs were matters to the housewife Of
deep and careful study.
the ''swill" for the family pig was clean
article compared with modern town or city
swill. For the last four weeks of his life the
victim was allowed all tie corn he could eat.
Pig feeding was then almost aesthetic in its
methods