The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-05-20
Forty years ago a large portion

H--J $50 e6N - 49, 6N FtisNNN
Of the wearing apparel was cut
from material woven on hand
looms, the carding aud spinning
having been performed by The
same busy fingers that "wove the
web"
Forty years ago an oyercoat was
rarely seen. The "hunting shirt
with its long fringe, great cap, belt
and wooden or metal button, was
worn to the almost utter exclusion
Of the former.
Forty years ago ladies-young
and old-went visiting and at.
tended church in their home made
flannel and ''linsey.wolsey" dresses,
often accompanied by husbands
and bealx in tow.linen pants.
Forty years ago little value was
attached to real estate outside The
valleys, and much Of what is now
the richest mineral lands on the
continent could then have been
bought for ten cents aud less per
acre.
Forty years ago more than one.
half Of the present tiourishing
towns and villages which nov dot
the landscape far and wide had no
existence.
Forty years ago it was said that
many Of the ministers aud sch0o!
teachers in Virginia, west Of the
mountains, could neither read nor
,mtte
Forty years ago Sunday schools
throughout all the interior regions
were unknown.
Forty years ago it was common
for young men Of the legal and
medical profession 10 come into
what is now West Virginia to
make a beginning" and lay The
foundation for after professional
renown. The former often dis.
coursed that "every man was alaw
unto himself" and the latter had
to encounter the then popular
"yarb" practitioners. Hence it
often happened that both abandon.
ed the field in search Of another
with less opposition and where
competition was not SO sharp.
Forty years ago all able bodied
men between the age Of eighteen
and forty.fve belonged to the state
military establishment and were
required at stated times to repair
TO the county seat for Genera
Muster. This usually consisted il
| falling into'line, answeriugtoro
call and then marching round fol
few hours under command ofc
missioned officers, many of whom
did no! know the difference between
a fright shoulder shift" aud
"trail arms"
Forty years ago the greater par
of the work-house.r .raisings, log
rollings, cOrn.huskings, rail max
ing, grubbings, &C., was performed
on the "Co-operation plan"-that Il
every body assisted every body else
and the bigger the job the bette
every body liked it.
Forty years ago a musical instru
ment Of any kind, except the in
dispensible and almost ever presen
"fddle," was a novelty rarely to b.
met with. The dance was thel
much more frequently engaged ii
than at present, and the fiddler
whether blind or not was always
welcome visitor in every neighbOr
hood.
Forty years ago the mails wer
all carried on horseback or by tn
slow going stage, and weeks wer
! often required before the "Govern
or's pleasuce could be made known
| regarding reprieves or other i'm
, portant matters.
Forty years ago the shooting
match was among The most popu
, lar amusements, and the bes
!, marksman was a noted characte
in the community, and one whc
if not elected a member Of the Gen
eral Assembly, was sure to bo rec
commended 10 the Governor by th
County Court as one suitable I
hold a commission in the militia.
Forty years ago West Virgini
+ timber, coal and petroleum was un
known in the markets Of the couu
Try.
Forty years ago the wedding wa
an event Of the greatest import
ance, and everybody for mile
around, unless some deadly feu,
existed, were invited to be present
The bountiful feast, the all.nigh
dance, the race for the bottle, an,
! throwing the shoe, were among th
greatest attractions.