Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-03-11
Old Times.

Ironton and other cities, and seeing the lamps
| burning, and the houses so brilliantly light
ed, often wonder If the boys and girls OF
the present time know how the people oil
fifty years ago had to manage. Do they for.
get that coal oil had not yet been discovered!
That gas was used only In large cities, and
electric lights were not thought off But you
| have all heard or read of tallow dips. Did
you ever see one: If not, I will tell you how
they were made, and why they were called
tallow dips. Nearly every farmer killed, for
his own use, one or two beeses. We did not
| have half dozen butcher wagons running
| about town every day, as there are now; Sc
we had to be our own butchers. The tallow
| or fat Of the beeves was used for the candles
| or dips. When mother wanted to make UP
| the years supply a fire was made out OF
doors, large iron kettle set over it and part
| ly filed with water, then the tallow put into
that. When both were hot, the tallow, OF
course, would rise to the top. The wicks
| were cut and plaeed on sticks, as most Of you
have seen for making candles in molds. On
each stick were twelve wlcks; placed equal
distance apart to give room for growth as
they were dipped. Two long poles were laid
with the ends resting on two old chairs, far
enough apart to let the sticks with the wicks
rest on and between them. After the tallow
was sufficiently hot. the dipper would take a
stick of wieks and let them down into tho
kettle Of tallow and right out again; then
Strengthened and hung on the: poles. The
whole lot were served in the same manner;
each time they were dipped. they grew
little, just as you have seen icicles hanging
from the caves of the house. As the tallow
was exhausted, hot water was added to keep
the tallow up, so the wicks could go to the
bottom of the kettle. Now you may think
this is very slow way of making something
for light. So it was, but we did not know
auy other good way, and candle imolds had
not come into use. A good hand could make
two or three hundred dips in day, or
enough to last the family year.
Whale oil was used in lamps good deal;
the lamps had no chimneys, and different
wicks from what we use now. They made
good light to read or sew by. After while,
whales became scarce or shy, from being
hunted so much, so another expedient bad
to be tried to take the place Of oil. 1 remem-
Der camphine, alcohol, turpentine, and a
number of other things which I do not now
remember, were tried, but found to be dam
gerous and explosive. AT last, nature pro-
oil. But how long do you sup
pose the people of this world will be satisfi-
ed with coal oil? Already we are thinking of
the trouble and expense Of it. 1 don't be-
lieye we will be satisfied until we can touch
a button on the wall, and the rooms be in.
stantly and brilliantly lighted. II white be !
too glazing, then mellowed by a shade Of
green, or any color our fancy may suggest.
Then, great many things had to be done |
by our fathers and mothers, which are now |
done by companies and corporations. Cheese |
factories and creameries were unknown.
Every we'll regulated farmers family not |
only made cheese for home use, but to sell. |
Mother used to make cheese every day, eX- |
cept Sunday, through The summer; some of |
them were very large. I used 10 help her,
for had to work in the house, just like
girl, for several years. One summer We
made forty pound cheese every day, and |
such cheese. 1t was none of your stuff that |
would curl up like piece of horn when it
was dry, but cheese that would melt in your
mouth, and that would sell. There is great
deal of work attending cheese making.
Another labor-saving invention of to-day
is the sewing machine. We used to do all
our sewing by hand. I have often thought
our pretty girls depend too much upon the
sewing machine, and practice too little with
The needle. How many girls Of the age of
sweet sixteen" could stitch the bosom or
Hristband o. a shirt, as we had forty years
ago: II all the machinery should be remov-
I'd at once, as the confounding of the lam
,uages was at the tower OF Babel. oh, what
times" there would be, sober
'aces, and tears shed. Yet, after all, do
owe to see neat little clipper sailing along
bur sidewalks. 1t is pleasant sight, and as
sit here writing, can, IN my minds eye,
zee our mothers ana sisters in their neatly
lifting dresses, and those great big bonnets
hat came way out over the face, with the
little eurls of hair down each side Of the face.
Alb, Mr.. Editor, they did! look sweet. Not
put we have just as sweet faces now, but,
et me whisper to you, do not like those
bangs, nor do like TO see the girls go bare
headed this cold weather. l like to see a
nice covering for the head. Didn't our
mothers look nice with those frilled caps and
The calashes: Our boys and girls would
laugh to see the men in their swallow tailed
coats, knee. breeehes, long stockings, shoes
with the big silver buckles, and the three
cornered hats. l used to think the gentle
men looked very dressy in those well-fitting
clothes. Most Of you have seen the pictures
Of Gen. Washington in his knee breeches, his
buckles, etc. When long pantaloons first
tame in fashion the old people laughed and
made fun of them. l notice that all new
fashions are fFst adopted by the young. and
not kindly received by the old, at first.
Sixty years make vast difference in the
manners and customs Of people. Some for
the better, and some, 1 am sorry to say, are
not. Now since the world has such net
work Of railroads, the trains go screaming
through the country on Sunday as well as
any other day. do think it is not for the
good of the warld at large, 1t seems to me
trains should be made to observe the Fourth
just as much as an individ-
uas. Nor do / believe those corporations
hat disobey the commands Of God and set
bis laws ut defiance will be blessed. What
right have trains to 60 through the country
the peace and quiet Of the people:
Especially those who have met for worship
in the house of God. II an individual should
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