The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-12-21
OLD TINE CHRIsTMAsES.
Changes Wrought During The Last
Half Century.

The Christmas Of l847 was simple
and tender affair, consisting mainly Of
Santa Claus snS we'll flied stockings
The presents were homemade, with
few added sweetraeats and toys. Think
of the changesl An orargs was sight
more rare than custard-apples are now.
A banana I do Eot remember having
seen before 1885, Farmers used flint
locks to shoot the squirrels for Chris
mas pie-or what We used to call the
Queens arms" These were British
musdets, captured during the rsvclu-
ton. The first b1eech loader was pat
erted in 1886; but they we're notin COM
mon use. We went in thick stoga boots
because rubbers were barely known;
and do not thiak rubber boot Was
in existence. Waat We had we're sort
Of Indian mocsasSn imported from Bra
I'll, 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
making pens, while for pens We used
goose quills or even hen quills. 1t was
howevtr, a peculiarly inventive per-
period. All the knick- knacks that are
most familiar to US were then novelties
and costly. A bunch of pins in Christ
mas stocking was not despised. II a
BIZ Of matches could have been had it
would have been a welcome gift from
Santa Claus.
The stockings Tere hung up by the
huge old fireplace, where great logs
burned and Goals were covered up at
right. In rural sections We had never
seen a scuttle of coal and had oa,y
heard Of it as an effort to burn black
stores. Whale. oil lamps marked the
advanced line of progress in lig hting
streets ard houses. There Wss no dream
of canned fruits and cocoa and ohoco-
late, although We had plenty of tea and
coffee. 1t was impossible to give sew
ing machine:or a photograph. Daauer-
reotypes were not devised until 1889;
and the first were taken in Ame1ics at
least year later. l remember when
Avery, who took the first suu picture
vest of Albany, carried 1t up and down
the streets, fushed with his success;
and ran into house after house 70 ex-
hlbit it. 1t was ghostly affair, to be
:quinted at and guessed out; but after
all It was the beginning of great arS.
The presents wele fuller OF aft, ction
because home made. The whole family
had been at work for weeks planning
and executing little gifts the boys
made boxes and toys and baad sleds.
The women made stockings and muh:rs
and dainty caps, while the girls made
slippers, and the fathers made shoes.
A home was a word that meant great
things in those days; for both the wo-
men and the men had trades, as we'll as
a knack and knowledge of land cul-
lure. 1t is interesting to note that
some Of our best observers ant social
students prophesy large reaction form
our present fast and uneasy age to the
qulet and calm of those earlier days Of
the century. Oh course We shalt not
give up our Inventions; but with them
ne may lose our boylsh exclIement, and
react to another leriod Of 1econsidera.
rlon. This has been the history Of
the past.
The most delightful part Of these
time holidays was the Sports, pure
and free from every guile. Our even
1ngs were always at home; and in the
one great family room; which was the
dining room and the kitchen in one,
no gathered before the huge fire Of
logs and had that sort of unadulterated
fun which can be had only where the
whole family is united. We parched
our home grown corn, and made our
candy of molasses, and played simple
games, in which no one joined more
heartily than the father and mother.
No child vas ever permitted to absent
himself from the household after dark
without the direction of his parents.
But after 9 o'clock no one ever thought
Of being absent. Then we we're in
our beds. II We react to taese or to
simpler methods of living it will be by
a resurrection of more home life. Let
US see to it that the farm home is more
of a home, and the farmhouse family
more self-contsined.