The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-25
The Old Time Christmas

tF r. Powell, in n. \. independently
The Christmas of 1S47 was a simple
and tender affair, consisting mainly of
Santa Claus and well-hlled stockings.
The presents were handsome, with q
few added sweetmeats and toys. Think
of the changes An orange was a sigh
more rare than custard-apples are now.
A banana / do not remember having
seen before 1850. Farmers used ola
flint locks to shoot the squirrels for a
Christmas pie--or what we used to call
the Queens arms" These were Brit
ish muskets, captured during the reyolu-
ton. The first breech-loader was pa
tented in 1886 but they We're not III
common use. We went in thick stOga
boots because rubbers were barely
known and do net think n rubber boot
was in existence. What we had were
sort of Indian moccasin imported from
Brazil, capable of wearing for ten years.
The first Goodyear patent was taken out
in 1885. About The same time the first
machine was put in operation for max
ing pins, while for pens we used goose
quilts or even hen-quills. 1t was, how
ever, a peculiarly inventive period. All
the knick-knacks that are most familiar
to us were then novelties and costly. a
bunch of pins in n Christmas stocking
was not despised. If box of matches
could have been had it would have been
welcome gift from Santa Claus.
The stockings were hung up by the
huge old fireplace, where great logs
burned and Goals were covered up at
night In rural sections we had never
seen Il scuttlc of coal and had only heard
of it as an effort to burn black stones
Whale-oil lamps marked the advanced
line of progress in lighting streets ana
houses There was no dream OF canned
fruits and cocoa and chocolate, although
we had plenty of tea and coffee. 1t was
impossible to give Il sewing machine or
a photograph. Daguerreotypes were not
devised until 1889, and the first were
taken in America at least year later.
| remember when Avery, who took the
first sun picture west of Albany, carried
it up and down the streets, flushed with
his first success, and ran into house af-
ter house to exhibit it. 1t was ghostly
affair, to be squinted at and guessed out,
but after all it was the beginning of
great art.
The presents were fuller of affection
because homemade. The whole family
had been at work for weeks planning
and executing little gifts. The boys
made boxes and toys and hand sleds.
The women made stocking and muftiers
and dainty caps, while the girls made
slippers. and the fathers made shoes.
A home was a word that meant great
things III those days; for both the wo-
men and the men had trades, as well as
a knack and a knowledge of land cul-
ture. 1t is interesting to note that some
of our best observers and social students
prophesy a large reaction from our pres
ent fast and uneasy age to the quiet and
calm of those earlier days OF the CEN
fury. OF course we should not give up
our inventions; but with theml we may
lose our boyish excitement and react
to another period of reconsideration.
This has been the history of the past
Eras of restless aggression have been fol- Z
lowed by periods of reflection. We could
do all that is necessary for a happy So
cial state with less of wear, and less OF {
nerve friction. Will electricity help us /
in this direction? We believe it will.
The most delightful part of these old
time holidays was the sports, pure and +,