Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-04

Plank Glass or Shingle-The Internal
Fitting In Both Economical and In
genious-Only One Room.
The ordinary log cabin was about eighteen
feet square In rare cases it contained more
than one room, as a general rule but one. 1t
was built of round logs or poles, sometimes,
though not often. dressed of a little after It's
erection. 1t was one story high, covered with
clapboaris about four feet long, split out of
oak timber. which, instead OF being nailed
down: were kept in their places by heavy
pieces of timber called weight poles, which
were Kept at suitable distances apart by the
use of small sticks Of wood called knees"
The boards rested on logs extending from one
end Of the building to the other, each one
ascending higher than its predecessor, as the
gable went up, thus giving to the roof the
right pitch. These We're called ribs" except
tile one forming the apex of the roof, which
was called the ridge pole 70 prevent the
first tier Of boards from sliding off, there was
placed on each side split log for them TO
rest against called the 'butting pole" These
rested on the ends of logs projecting out from
the corners of the house, called leaves
bearers"
by nature was used it was made Of large
slabs split ont Of poplar or ash trees, and
dressed off on one side as smoothly as vas
practicable with broad ak. This was called
a .'puncheon" floor. and was at first confined
to families OF aristocratic pretensio2.s, but
gradually came into general use. There WAS
but one door, the shutter to which was made
of clap boards and hung on wooden hinges,
J. e 4
terial, to which was attached leather string,
which, through a small aperture IN the shut
ter. was made TO hang inviringly on the out
side; the trueSt indication Of genuine hos
pitality being the fact that "the latch string
was out." Generally there was. one window,
made by cutting out the upper and under
halves of two netghboring logs, and filing
the space made vacant with CREASED paper,
often such as had been written on at school.
The lower part Of the chimney was built OF
thick hewed pieces of timber. or heavy slabs,
lined on the inside with thick coat Of clay,
of which material the hearth was also made.
The upper part was built of small split pieces
of timer about the size Of a common lath,
and mortar made Of clay and straw. the III
side being smoothed of with the hands Of the
builder SO as 10 cover up the wood as Tar as
possible. Il was nice job to build one OF
these chimneys, and the man who succeeded
well in il became considerable man in the
community, aud exceedingly popular with
the women. who we're then as now bitterly
opposed to smoky chimneys"
The openings between the logs were stopped
with small pieces of split timber called
"chinks," to which was added mortar made OF
common clay, put on with the hands of The
workmen No cabin was ever considered
finished until is was "chinked' and "daubed.
Not brick, nail, plank, glass or Single wa:
used in one Of these early homes Of our fore
fathers. and such Il thing paint or wal
paper was not dreamed of. The inteIna
fitting up was quite as economical and III
cenious. On one side Of the spacious fireplace
lust under the window | have described, wa!
set a small table, sometimes brought by The
family from their old home, but generally
made Oh the spot out of slabs and ciapboard
attached 10 each Other. j few shelves IL the
onposite corner answered the purpose Of ,
cupboard in which to put away the pewter
ware Near the door, perhaps at the side o
the window, was suspended over a piece o
paper pasted on the wall H-very useful ant
Ingenious contTivance pronounced "huzzeh,
in which were stuck the pins and needles o
the family and III the capacious pockets o
which the entire family Of combs, big am
little, coarse and fine. together with an end
less variety OF other small traps" were dc
posted. Above this, IL exceptional case
where the parties were rich, small lookln
glass was percheu.
In most cases there were three beds in I'll
room i'll which there was TO partition, one !
each corner with its feet toward the fireplace
md one placed crosswiSe between them y
the wall behind the beds was hung the entir
wearing apparel OF the family, from the Ole
est to the youngest, including that OF I'll
daughters whose claim to the favor Of I'll
Young gentlemen depended on the extent {
their wardrobe as well as the spun wool, fla
and tow Of which they could boast, a.! {
which, suspended from the joists above, the
iudicious mothers proudly exhibited to the %
mirng gaze of their sultorS as 50 many ev
dences of their matrimonial fitness The:
were sensible mothers OF course the
DAUGHTERS did not remain long III the marke
To use q commercial phrase, they we
taken
Just over the door rested the much needle
rife: and on a rack suspended from tire JOS
in front Of the fireplace were hung up to Ill
my quantity of Yankee pumpkins, cut o.
in rings. resembling miniature wagon whee
without hubs or sp0lleS. Ia the lott as
was called were stored away the sage AZ
carnio OF the women and the hickory nu
and waluuts of the junior Hoosiers. On the GU
side wall were stretched the skins of dive
"varmiLts." and in the chimney corne
under a few projecting boards, the piow AZ
GEAR were laid away to rest. Though I'll
dcscrirtion is believed to be a fair one of Il
class Of pioneer homes throughout the we:
t. /. taken from one erected by my parer
near Ccn.erviile. in Wayne county, III viii
they spent the morning of their married liy'
snd in which | was born. God bless the de
old place! The log cabin was an unprete
tious home. 1t was the best, however,
r;oneer at the time could command, and
v,s content. 1t was no place for the exhi
tion of pride or style. Neither was rat
very hixh in these early homes of our anc
tors Combining the parlor, sitting roo
he'd room. dining room and kitchen IN @
room. it was sufficient for all purposes II
neirhbor family was 10 be entertained 10;
was ample room. ana all were made WELDON
If th5re was 10 oe a log rolling OF corn hu
ing. the whole neiShborhood turned out,
ending the women. who went 10 help CO
and the room was AiIise' IA 'u0'e "I9 -
wool picking or quilting, TO which the n
uere sometimes invited, especially the You
anu unmarried ones, the room was abunds
and everything WAS lovely.-JUdge J.
Juls,t at Boone County lind.l Old Settle
Meeting.
= Railroad Problem.
Tie following, called a railroad profile
is gong the rounds: a freight train one mills
length stoppsd with the c2boose Just oppo'