The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-11

We naturally take deep interest in our line
age. We love TO take up the genealogical
thread and follow it back just rs far as posi-
bic. He is proud American that can trace
his descent 10 the good old Purltans, who
came to the wilds Of New England for the
sake of religious freedom, and then compelled
all other immigrants 10 adopt the Puritan
tenets. Some of US can trace the family line
back three hundred years or more 10 Great
Britain or the continent of Europe.
But perhaps it is just as well that we lose
the genealogical line before we get back very
far Many of us can trace our ancestry 20 the
time when it was customary for diners 10
fish food out OF dishes with their tingers-a
custom that would hardly pass for good
form" in our day.
Suppose, however, that we were able to 90
back two or three thousand instead of two or
three hundred years. 1t would certainly be
interesting 10 know how our ancestors lived
so long ago as that. but if they could be with
us now we might hesitate before introducing
them in the parlor or escorting them to our
opera.
In Northeastern Europe, where most of the
ancestors Of Americans lived from two %
four thousand years ago, dOmesticity was at
tended by many drawbacks. Housekeeping
in those days was not merely the caring for
things in or about the house. IL was literally
keeping or protecting the house from savage
nomads who rOamed about, skulking IN the
forests near q habitation, and waiting Tor
chance for murder and pillage. Mankind
were born fighters in those days. II was as
common for two strangers to try TO kill one
another rs for two strange dogs 10 night.
Tribal warfare was constant, very much Ike
that which existed among the Indians Of our
country two hundred years ago.
The consequence of this sayagery among
our ancestors was the building of homes
whose chief and primary object was safety.
These homes were often made on lakes, IN
cliffs and in caves. We know good deal
about these structures and also the habits of
the people. for remains of the dwellings and
all sorts of housekeeping appurtenances have
been found within comparatively few years
past. In one lake in Switzerland the remains
Of about forty lake villages have been found.
SO well preserved are some of the remains OF
the buildings that we can tell just how the
structures were built, and from the various
household things discovered we learn much
about the home life of those primitive people
When the lake dweller sets about building
q house he found il no easy matter He
lived in a village built on top Of the water
and every house had 20 be erected on poles
The whole village, sometimes several hun
bred houses. was connected with the shore by
"A bridge that could be quickly swung around
in case of danger The houses were joined 70
one another by narrow bridges
so the builder first had 10 cut poles on land,
carry them out to the water site Of his house
and drive them into the lake bed as far as
possible He had no ponderous plle-drver
for this work. aud as 1t was impossible TO
embed the poles deeply enough. he was
obliged to bring great quantities of stone
from the shore and heap them about the piles
at the bottom. The tops of the poles were
then Joined by girders or cross pieces, and
the foundation of tho house was finished. The
house itself was made Of poles the interstlces
on both sides being filled with clay, very
much as the early settlers IN our country used
to build log cabins.
When the time came 10 furnish the house
the owner was not worried about the decora-
tons of the various rooms. There was only
one room and nothing to decorate that with
The bed was q pile Of turs. the chairs had
neither seats. rungs nor backs, and there was
no need of a table. But there were cooking
utensils and bowls and platters. In the latter
part of the lake-dwelling era, say twenty-five
hundred years ago. the use of iron had been
discovered from which were made rude pots
kettles and other utensils and implements
Before the beginning of the iron age bronze
was used for many purposes. Being made OF
soft metals, chiefly copper, 1t naturally ante
dated iron.
But if our lake-dweller lived in the stone
age, say four thousand years ago his cooking
and dining appliances consisted OF only Il
few clumsey stone and wooden articles. How
ever, his wants were as simple rs his supplies
heard Of he couldn't long for.
Another device for safety dwellings almost
contemporary with the lake houses, was the
making of houses in cliffs which could be
reached only by ladders We have examples
of cliff dwellings in our own country, although
they evidently belong 10 much latter
era than those Of Europe. IN New Mexico,
Arizona and Southwestern Colorado there are
remains Of many villages built in the cliffs
and canyons. In Walnut canyon, Arizona,
there is q row of cliff dwellings extending
more than FIVE miles.
Before the lake and cliff era Of dwellings
our ancestors in Europe often lived in caves.
the mouths of which were Obstructed by
heavy stones. excepting a hole big enough to
crawl through. This was also for protection
against human savages and wild beasts.
We often hear people complaining that for
tune has not treated them kindly, but when
We glance at the life Of our remote ancestors
we must concede that fortune has done great
deal for every person born IN our day and
generation. --Exchange.