The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-25
1.-THE GOOD OLD TIMES"
From the Washington Post.

From the Washington Post
For the benefit of those boys and their
number is great-who have contracted
the habit of believing that there is not
so good a chance for a yonngster now as
there was fifty or hundred years ago,
q Maine newspaper brings to light a
document that was written and signed
eighty-four years ago. 1t is the indenture
Of Stephen Staples, of Sedgewick binding
him as an apprentice to John Peters, Of
Blue Hill, in 1873. At that time the ma
chine had scarcely begun to supplant the
hand of man. The itinerating tailor and
shoemaker went their rounds from house
to house The spinning wheel and loom
converted the farmers wool and fax into
cloth that was made up in his house into
clothing for the family. Tne blacksmith
and the carpenter were great factors In
rural as well as urban lfe. There was
no lack of trades for boys to learn and
live by. but wages were small The high
est skill commanded a dollar day, and
good farm hands were hired for $40 a
month and board.
The occupation chosen for stephen Sta
Piles was that of the farmer, and he
was, therefore, inlentured to John Peters,
at the age of 15 "to learn the art and
mystery of farming" If any reader
should be inclined to criticise this art
and mystery" clause. he will do we'll 20
make little inquiry before he fixes his
sneer. There was then, and there is now,
a deal of art" in raising crops in New
England, except in a few favored locali-
ties. Every plowing brought up stones
enough to wall the field, and the thin,
weak soil, late springs, and early Lrosts
made the maintenance Of life on the
average New England farm a perpetual
mystery. The term Of Staples appren-
ticeship was six years-from Is to Plat
the end of which tine he was to receive
"one hundred dollars in cash, two suits
Of wearing apparel-one suitable for the
Lords day, and one suitable for working
days" and the apprentice was bound to
well and faithfully serve and at all times
readily obey; at cards, dice, or any other
unlawful game lie shall not play, nor mat
rimony contract during the said term
taverns, all houses or places of gaming
he Shall not frequent, but in all things and
at all times he shall carry and behave
himself as a good and faithful appren-
tice."
Nowadays a boy Of l5 if willing to work
faithfully, can get more money and
goods in one year than Staples received
for six years. Some of the restrains i'm
posed by "these irdentures" were un-
doubtedly wholesome, but they would not
please the youth of these times. In fact,
there was very little in the rural life
of the first half of This century that
would not be repulsive to the young and
old of this decade. 1t was drudgery from
early morning till bedtime for both sexes,
and facilities for intellectual advance
ment were scarce. The rich farmers of
that time had less Of literature and art
in their houses than are found today in
the dwelling of the average farm laborer.
Machinery has relieved the field and the
household workers of most of their old
time toll. If the discontented ruralists of
the present day were compelled, for a
single week, to accept the conditions un-
der which their great-grandparents lived
and prospered. they would be cured of
their longing for "the good Old times