The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-28
OLD PENNSYLVANIA WOODsMEN.
Picturesque Figures Who Are Now Fast
Disappearing.


One of the most interesting and picturesque
types known To backwoo1s life. the old time
lumberman and woodchorper OF the Ale
ghanies. is now almost n thing OF the past. At
the present lay IN" number Of men engaged In
that hcalthful but arduous occupation Is small
compared with tho thousands that labored In
tn" ilnc' forests OF Il quarter OF q century ago.
Tn" fine forests Of Pennsylvania are them
selves only u memory.
The genuine old-timo woodsman OF tho Allo-
Ghany spread of waters cannot be mistaken,
IL" will j." scrn In mi winter always wearing
q fur cap, which is, more than likely, some long
preserved trophy Of his own rife or trap. He
wears no coat or waistcoat, his body and Ghost
being covered Lv heavy flannel or wooIlon
shirt not tho Gorgeously colored garments OF
the later day lumhormcn. hut good. old-fash-
toned stun, such a. his father used to wear.
Trousers Of some warm woollen goods cover
his logs. The new order OF wondsmeu wear
their trousers tucked into a long pair Of stock
ings. These stockings arc often MS gor-
gcous in varied color IA the shirt or
jacket he affects. and their tops are drawn
snug to tho leg 10y a pickering string. the ends
Of the string sometimes ending in fancy tassrls.
They wear gum 4" shoes. The old time woods
mans father wore cowhidc boots. well creased
with taliow and with no stockings between
their leather and his feet; so his sons. or
the most Of them, wear cowhidc boots, creased
with tallow. and no stockings. and declare that
thus clad their feet are kept warmer than by
tho bundling of heavy stockings. Tho old
timer will defy any ono to remember an In
stance Of uny ones feet ever having been
frosted when dressed on the cOwhidN boot. no
seeking plan. These fast disappearing sprci-
plerstM the days when lumberin' was ium-
borin' and not rlnyin' circus also scorn sus-
pcnders, or gnllllSeS." az they call them.
"A fcllcr cant have His shoulders all clawod
upi II he wants to swing AN aN" or pull q raft
oar; : tho rnin Of these forest craftsmen,
Clad thus the wOOdSInan Is rcndy Tor q shoot
Ing match. Il dnatlGht. n boar hunt, a log chop
ping, or n mpuruor meeting, Tho mOurner
meeting is tho back revival, conducted
usually by some .strnppinR, lusty-lunGrd
preacher, and generally at tho district school
house; Everybody within n circuit Of five or
SIX miles attends the mourncr meetings, and
the mourneTs before the revival il over. But
the stcadiastnosS OF. the back woods convert il
evidently not to he depended upon, for mourn
erS 81 one winter arc to a great extent tho
mourners Of the next. This doesn't seem TO ho
looked upon as ANYTHING 10 he unfavorably
gard II a. n very cOmmenhablc action, as wit
ness the honSt of one Qld-timc woodsman!
-" stand high in this here dccstrict. and
onGht TO. | been n mournPr ev'ry winter Mt
the lDOurnHr mcrtIn's fer bctter'n forty year.
As q rule these untutored woodsmen are
honest and generous, although always bolster
GUS, and i Is 70 be regretted that they are
hcing replaced by an element so different In
all respects, for to their sturdy and aggressive
character Is due. more than 10 any one thing,
the place western Pennsylvania enjoys In the
estimation Of the entire country.