Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-11-27

Paper-hangings were originally just what
their name indicates-viz., strips of paper
suspended from the ceiling in such man
ner as to cover the imperfections of the
walls. They were used exclusively in the
houses of the rich; the poor man in his
hut had no such device, but must needs
patch hole to keep the winds away. The
carpets of our forefathers once consisted of
rushes, among which the dogs hunted for
the bones that had been thrown upon the
floor.
In England, one end Of the hall was the
kennel for the hounds, and above it the
perch for hawks. In the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, the host at table used to hold the
joint of beef with one hand and the carving
knife with the other, transferring the meat
to the plates of his guests with his fingers,
as forks were not yet in use. Those who
first adopted forks were much ridiculed.
Some said the Bible was opposed to it, and
it was an insult to the Almighty to use a
fork when He had given them fingers.
The art of making glass is of high an
tiquity, but it belonged to modern inge-
nuity to develop the value of the invention,
and to apply it to multitude of important,
and in some cases, indispensable uses. Not
many centuries ago, window-glass was
found only in the houses of the very rich f;
its use began in palaces. For long time
| 1t was so scarce that at Alnwick Castle, in
1867, the glass was ordered to be taken out
of the windows and laid up in safety when
the lord was absent.
| There was another luxury, so expensive
that, for more than two thousand years, it
remained completely above the reach of the
poor, and none but the wealthy could in
dulge in its use. We mean cotton cloth
The material of which the cloth was made
was both plenty and easily obtained, as is
the case with glass; but the cost of manu-
featuring made it very dear. If Grecian
lady could awake from her sleep of two
thousand years, her astonishment would be
unbounded to see a simple country gir
clothed with a calico dress, muslin ker.
chief, and colored shawl! Within the
past one hundred years, machinery has beer
invented which has made printed cottons SC
perfect SO plenty, and SO cheap, that thi
humble servant-girl can wear better calico
gown than Cleopatra ever saw!
i When the whole stock of a carpenter
tools was valued at one shilling, and con
sisted altogether of two broadaxes, an adze
square and spoke-shave, we must ex
i pect to find rough work and none bu
rough dwelling houses when there wer'
no chimneys, and the fire was laid .agains
the wall, with the smoke to issue out at th'
roof, the door, or the window, and the peo
pie slept on straw pallets, with a log o.
wood for a pillow, we naturally erpec
rough manners, unwkolesome food, and
great lack of tidiness. This was the condi
a ton of the English people in the reign o
Edward III. Even the nobility went with
out chairs and tables, and sat upon tn
y chests that contained their clothes AM
: linen. The skill of other trades was on
level with that of the carpenter and agri
. cullutO WAC 10 ioW IL sA4o oSttO 40 ~ IA
: arts.
al The first saw-mill bcilt in England wa
: by Dutchman, but the opposition of til
. men who worked by hand was SO grei
it that he had to, pull it down. In 1867 al
|. other was eree led, but mob tore it dowr
= So progress has everywhere had to owe
n come obstacles.
g. In 1890, some friars in Switzerland
labor of grinding corn by hand, but
=. neighboring landlord, who had bought IL
ID country around, forbade them, becaus
A he said, he owned the winds. The bishc
81 was appealed to, who said the winds b
:, longed to the church and could not be use
A writer, of good authority, speaking
the times of Henry VIII, says there is l
.. doubt that the average duration of humi
III life was, at that period, not one-hal
1t. long as at the present day. The kings a,
nobility of few centuries ago possess
thsir crowns and high-sounding titles, b
there is not in the United States, pre-
~ porous mechanic, possessing fair degr
=, of refined taste and education, who wou
desire to exchange his manner of life a
For living for theirs, SO far as the convenienG
of life are concernedi Thus it is that
.h- is ever at work, breaking down the b
riers which stand between the rich and t
. poor, and bringing both classes more a
Vi. more toward common level-not by {
he grading the wealthy, but by exalting be
classes to higher standard of morality,
Up fnement and education. Philadelphia S
ID. srday Night.
AMI