The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-27

Ihe ANN0e Ot thih' nihLf
Of Average Means and Thr,n-Primiiive
Furniture and Household Conveniences.
Hospitality and simplicity.
The house stands in clearing of some ten
,r fifteen or twenty acres. comprising mar
row strip OF bottom land on the hanss Of u
li;tlc stream or branch. while the rest Of the
cultivated ground gently slopes upon the
mountain side Tho house Is built OF logs.
the cracks either stopped with mortar made
Il clay or Us split boards nailed over them
There are generally two rooms in the house,
and the one anu about 20 describe had a
riiio porch M front, used as "a storage place
for agricultural implements, "a, also saddle
ava birdie. y winding path Of about hi;y
yards carries YOU % cold spring, from
which tho family bring thcr water for
domestic purposes
You summon the lord Of this manor at ~
gate ly loud "halloa.' he IS generally
found 100 the house or around the premises
attending 90 some minor duties. TAestganger
d, Kindly received and seldom refused shell
ter and entertainments Shortly after | had
dismoguicl and seen my horse attended Co..
two pale, >ickiy looking women came 90 the
gate. each driving little bull calf attached
toa pillow They seemed thoroughly wearioi
out. and touched my sympathy They were
dressed In cloth spun and woven by their
own hands Their heads were protected ty
pii fashioned sun bonuets, aud their SHOES
badly worn. Pretty soon they were joined
hy young mountaiuccr, apparently about
old vfI am } DlfTfItiar
Tie wa, SIX feet Tall, remarkably handsome
mau. and proved 90 be- tho husband of one Of
thc women. while the older was bis mother
vas as kindly received and treated as
Hospitality as their means allowed ON en-
fcrins the door OF fire house I found myself
stunned for an instant by receiving severe
blow upon the forehead I theft discovered
what ! attcrward found to be "a custom
among mouutaino-r,-taat ga cutting the
door 800 least one more lo- ,honld have been
taken out and unless sou lgmh.y bowed
your bead You are reminded of the incivihty
hy a bump ga the forehead
There sa scarcity of chairs in most 81 all
che mountain houses. there generally being
Ouiv caDu-l Cor the adult members Of the
Family The visitor. however. D., civcn the
mo,t comfortable saa- while Gle family find
accommodation on the bed, and horo, in the
room THE wealth. o. the mountlincer seems
20 rest iu hcd quilts, aud yol sees these cover
iu.s piled un DO the corner ot the room rs
thigh as your head Whom the-o people have
supcrilu1us money instead OF Investing 10 IN
stocks or bonds. they go 90 theuearest store
and purchase calico with which O. make moro
...f. B..
is her principal lowry You lind tine room
allied with beds, and they are stack every
where II is possible Oh place cue Their l,era-
ture is of the crude,t kind, consisting of scv-
oral Grier's almauac,, dating back number
II year.. and perhaps two or three odd vol
umes of old novels, or "a we'll tuuuoed school
book The room Ok decidedly uncomfortable.
There are numerous cracks in the floor and
walls. through which the keen win. whistles
The meal, are prepared IN the other room
90 an open fireplace. where j., also kept the
loom and spinning wheel You are given a
seat 40 the table, but the CHAIR You occupy IL
So loN that your plate il, about on a level
with your chin, and eating is q decidedly dis
agreeable undertaking Gon are given "a
greasy od knife. with One side of the handle
broken oil, and "a fork with single prong.
Your plate is tho odd style blue trimmed crock
cry. with a dirty crack nearly through H.
The tabIecio'h n1, heen stained }eAo" win
re uumerou, meals eaten upon 10 since the
last wash day. and DO i,,iI1 enough io stand
alone on ,to corners tuei hogs meat. io"'-
ing in grease. D., invariably served. and inisi-
passed 90 sou in tuc skillet. from which You
1ro expected Dob uep yourself Ile pe.e ~
corn boad sa.-' passed. uF land, and as Do
o., several Incl., t.i.s and consol Nert bark
.trelute- pre't. strong -rp o. tie ia-erT
O., trak t ID toI are given coffee. d. is
nothing but weakened water I'd there is
butter 900 the table. tisa white N'nN
When bedtime come. one oi thc beds do the
room is pointed out u.s. 9our place oi rcpo''
Pcrhap, There lrr several ieuaIc, DO tle room,