The herald., 1896-04-08
IN OLD new ENGLAND
QUAINT FEATURES OP LIFE IN THAT SEC.
TlON A CENTURY AGO
The Houses They Lived In and the Raiment
They Wore-They Were Prosperous and
Happy Under Conditions Which We
Would Consider Undesirable

and the middle states were industrious
and frugal and simple in their habits.
These traits were as much Unborn as their
bold daring and stubborn Independence.
Cut of as they were from the mother
country and supplies they soon found the
necessity Of self dependsnce. AS necessity
Is the mother Of invention, their hands
seized upon now resources and supplied
their real wants. As Holland says: "They
drove the plow, they trsfacked, builded
dslved, they spun and wove. They taught
and preached, they hastened up and down,
each on his little errand, and their eyes
were full Of eager fire, as If the earth and
all its vast concerns werc In their hands :"
Do you remember DR.. Beecher's picture
Of his life at Aunt Benton'st 1--WE had
wooden trenohers first, then pewter and
finally earthenware. Our living was very
goodbye bread. fresh butter, buokwheat
cakes and pie for breakfast. After the
dishes were washed Annis and I helped
aunt milk. Then they made cheese and
spun till dinner. We dined on salt pork,
vegetables and pies; corned beef also, and
always on Sundays boiled Indian pud.
ding. We made stock Of pies at Thanks
giving, frsze them for winters use, and
they lasted till March. After dinner aunt
put things to rights, Annis spun, and I
worked fax and foddering. In the evening
we visited, chatted, ate apples, drank cider
and told stories. On Sunday nights the
boys went a-oourting."
These habits, with little variation, con-
tinued for $50 years. The old men and
young men all had a Sunday coat, waist
coat and small clothes and fur hat. The
old men only had q greatcoat which
lasted an average lifetime. Young men
never thought of wearing an overcoat;
they often wore a full wig, but oomforta-
BILE greatcoats we're for old men. The men
had one pair of we'll trimmed leather boots.
reaching to the knees. The winter suit
was homespun flannel breeches and jacket,
long striped waistooat butto1sd down be-
fore, a flannel or woolsey shirt, blue yarn
long stockings, such as DR.. Franklin wore
at the court Of France, and heavy leather
shoes. Shoe buckles Of steel or brass,
rarely Of silver, continued In use till 1900.
The eldest boy had, for summer, home
made suit, which, when outgrown, was
handed down to the next.
The women and girls wore on Sunday,
in winter, homespun flannel, fulled and
pressed and sheared at the factory-and
they smiled in these simple suits, guilt
less of tuck or ruff1e, frill or bow silk
gown was more priced than paid up life
insurance policy of today, for the silk
dress was for life, with no danger of fray
Ing" A string Of gold beads or a neck
lace was the crowning glory and ambition
Of the young woman's toilet. Not much
less precious we're the huge leghorn bon
nets which were made to do duty year aft
er year by having them occasionally block
ed and pressed. The more common dress
Of the women was loose gown and petit
coat In this graceful and healthful cos
tune our grandmothers baked and brewed,
washed and ironed, carded and spun,
warped and filled, wove and quilted,
laughed and sung and rocked the cradle.
They touched the spinning wheel with deft
fingers and from the shining spindle flew
warp and woof as fine as gossamer and
firm as threads Of steel. The pride Of these
housekeepers eliminated in their beds and
bedding Fine wool blankets, ooverlets of
elaborate designs, quilts In mosaic pat
terms, linen sheets, bleached white as
snow, all homemade, we're prepared for
the trousseau of every fair to do young
woman. Live geese feather beds were an
object Of great emulation, and moved the
social barometer much as would now
solid silver tea service.
There was time, too, for some fancy
work. Every young lady was expected to
embroider for herself a lace veil and mus
lin cape. and, above all, make a sampler
which contained at least three sets of the
alphabet, to serve as patterns In marking
the household linen. Lora Standisf's sam
pier is among the curiosities Of Pilgrim
hall, with this gentle prayer wrought with
her own hands:
Lora Standsh is my name.
Lord, guide my heart, that may do thy will;
Also fill my hands with such convenient skill
As will conduce to virtue, void Of shame,
And will give the glory to thy name.
The old time dwelling houses were usu-
ally built two stories In front, with two
liberal sized front rooms, an immense
kitchen, with two bedrooms, buttery or
pantry, and square chamber up stairs.
When it was possible, all the houses 'front.'
ed the south and told 10 O'Clock with the
accuracy of chronometer. Every window
was q sundial and often the only time
keeper. For many years most of the houses
were innocent of paper or paint, and some
of plastering, though kept light and clean
with frequent whitewashing. The open
beams, girders and walls were festooned
products for use or ornament. From the
roots, herbs, berries, wild flowers and a
little New England rum our grandmothers
could prepare remedies to cure all the ills
of body and soul
The freplaces occupied nearly one side
of the three large rooms, and in the kitch-
en- space was left for one and sometimes
two brick ovens. The fireplace equipments
were an iron back, ornamented with vari-
GUS designs, n long crane with graduated
hooks and trammels, huge apdirons, the
shovel tongs, pokers and the bellows.
Near by was the wooden settee. Clocks
were rare. From Its high perch on the
"mantle tree an hourglass did good serv-
ice Then, too, stood row of polished
iron and brass candlesticks with snuffers
in the tray. The cupboard and buttery
shelves glittered with rows Of platters,
plates, pans, pitchers and porringers.
These last were in common use for drink
ing porridgo till tea and coffee banished
them by introducing cups and saucers.
In the evening they burned pine knots
for light or homemade tallow candles.
One hundred years ago few had carpets,
and those only in front of the chairs. The
floors were scrubbed white as snow and
sanded with white sand. - American
Monthly Magazine.