Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-04-07
NUMBER ii.

other things connected with the progress
OF civilized society. The substitution of
silks, satins and other costly materials
for the homemade fabrics of former days,
does not apparently make society much
| happier than many years ago.
The wages Of woman was usually
fifty or seventy-iiye cents a week, while
that OF a man on farm was from six 70
eight dollars per month, small COM
pensation compared TO what is paid at
the present day.
Most Of the inventions and discoveries
which in modern times have tended TO
make life easy have been introduced dur
ing the past three-fourths of "A century.
Nothing in place Of the rubber boot or
ovcrcoat was ever used TO protect the
wearer against drenching storm.
Children went barefoot during the entire
summer months, and not infrequently
until the chilling SHOWS OF winter.
Shoes were generally made Of cowhide,
requiring one day to make pair and a
whole year TO tan the leather; but recent
ly, by the use OF powerful chemicals,
leather has been tanned and made into
shoes in the short space Of six hours.
The old-fashoned sickle, In the hands
of an effective workman, would reap one
half acre 10 twelve hours. BY modern
invention one man and two horses will
cut ten acres in the same time.
Before the introduction OF the moving
machine, tedder and horse rake. the am
bilious farmer, with scythe in hand,
would enter his field at I o'clock in the
morning and finish his laborious days
work not until nightfall. But now he
commences at late hour. rides on his
sulky plow or mower, with the ease OF a
gentleman In his chariot, finishes his
task before sundown, and yet not In
frequently grumbles about the hard
times.
Before the spinning mule was brought
into use, a woman would stand at the
wheel six consecutive days, spin five
skeins each day, then cheerfully take
fifty cents as ample compensation. But
now, with more than six times the
wages, the heiC trGHidH Il constantly
clamoring about scAnty pay and cruel
oppression of employers.
Convenient carriages were almost
wholly unknown, 30 most OF the trans
p0rtatiOn and conveyance was done on
horseback. When young lady was in
vited TO attend social party half
dozen miles away, she would be neatly
dressed in hOmespun apparel from her
mothers loom. then seated on horseback
behind her escort. enjoying the trip with
AS much pleasure a. the social young
woman now does. clad IN the pharapher-
MALTA OF modern fashion, and conveyed In
the most splendid outfit Of the present
day.
il seems well ordered, that Individual
happiness does not always depend upon
ones financial condition in life, or osten-
tatiou; display Of gorgeous apparel, un-
necessary for personal comfort.
The introduction Of the friction match,
though seemingly small invention, has
proved of great importance To the entire
community. Prior TO is use, when the
embers In the fireplace. covered as usual
with ashes. had expired before morning,
II wa, usual 10 rekindle the fre by the
u.e Of a piece OF hardened steel and Hint
rock struck together, 80 a. 10 transmit
spark of lire upon charred linen or cot
ton cloth. called tinder. sometimes using
instead piece OF decayed maple wood,
called spunk. This process by an expert,
would generally prove successful; but II
il failed, one of the boys vas sent 10 the
nearest ncighbor for "A brand Of fire, per-
haps i'm a driving snow storm, wall0wlng
In the drifting snow up 20 his waist-band,
while the rest of the family, shiyerlng
with the cold. were impatiently waiting
hi. return. This Is only brief episode
OF farm life ''in olden times.
Then the mother. after spending the
dav I'm domestic atTiirs, was often obliged
10 lit up until midnight, assiduously ply
ing her needle, making and mending
clothes for her numerous family. Now
the sewing machine enables her to ac-
compH.h siX-fold more work IN one
fourth of the time: thus relieving the
mother of many hours Of hard toll now
devoted To rest, recreation and mental
improvement.
0ne-half century ago il required
months to prepare a sheet OF paper Tor
the printing press, which could strike Oh
only few hundred copies in day.
Now by improved methods of manutact-
urc, paper Is completely finished IN less
than twcnty-four hours, and by the use
of modern machinery, 81, 900 newspapers
are printed and folded in one hours
time. Type-setting machines DO tue
work OF fiye men, so the cost OF BOOKS
and Journals j. reduced % a much lower
price than years ago, therefore nearly All
members of the community can aValI
themselves of the Indispensable means OF
a practical education.
Electricity. one of the most powerful
and destructive elements in nature, by
modern invention has become su0servl-
ent 10 the will of man. But lew years
ago conversation was strictly confined 10
the limits OF the human voice; but now we
converse with our friends across extern
.iye lakes, through dense forests or over
the SUBMITS oi towering mountains many
miles away. BY the application OF cleo
tricitv, messages are transmitted TO any
portion OF our republic, or even under
the twilight depths of the Atlantic
Ocean to the countries OF Europe, IN
few seconds OF time.
Not many years ago, il required two
or three weeks. with the payment OF
twenty-five cents, TO transmit letter
from Maine 10 the southern states. Now
the same service Is performed for TWO
cents, in one-tenth part OF the time.
None but those who remember the
condition Of our republic seventy-hve
years ago. have an adequate idea OF the
remarkable progress in arts, sciences,
agriculture and commerce, which has so
greatly improved the moral, physical,
mental and financial standing of the
present generation. The advancement
of medical science and sanitary means
employed. have increased the duration
of human life several years in nearly all
the cizlized nations OF the globe.
There has been no period IN the
| Christian era, when the benevolent ana
humane principles of the Christian relig-
ion had a broader application than AT
the present day. Charitable Institutions
are everywhere erected, the sick are pro-
yided for, the hungry are fed, the naked
are clothed and the orphan finds a home.
Thus under the advantages OF the pres
ent age. the inhabitants OF most CIVILIZED
nations. with Just and frugal govern
meut. can live better and much easier
than at any other period in the world
history. j. c.
Pembroke, Mass, March, 1886.
| .--
A company composed of farmers In a
Kansas county has been formed TO en-
gage in the manufacture of cigarettes
from sassafras leaves, the object being
ITO save the boys OF the nation and
furnish certain cure for the cigarette
habit in this new industry" I-a-a-s
and undoubtedly also 10 put few dollars
| I'm rl1n nocknts of the nrOmOters. as tht