The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-16
THE OLD CORDED BEDsrEAD,
with Some Recoll-cGiUu- hlso OF the straw
bed and Feather Bed That Went with 1t.

To THE EDrroR OF THE SUN-!Sir: I'm won
dering II there's any such thing in use nova
days as n corded bedstead. They used to havo
them when / was boy-bedsteads that were
corded with rope running back and forth
lengthwise and back and forth crosswise till-
ing the open space between the sidepieces nnd
the headboard and endboard with what was
practically very wide-meshed netting OF cord
running at right angles. upon which the beds
were laid straw bed flrst and on top OF that a
feather bed There were ropes made for this
use and sold In the stores under the name OF
bedcords; you could buy BEDFORD, Just as you
could buy a clothesline.
In some bedsteads tho BEDFORD was run
through holes In the side pieces OF the bed.
and In some 1t was turned around stout pegs.
act at intervals In the ton OF these parts, the
pegs being made rounding out a little at the
top, like q pinhend. so that the cord oouldnt
slip Off The BEDFORD was stout and OF good
material. but in use 1t would stretch some, 40
that the bed would come to sag more or loss in
the middle: then we used to tighten the cord
up with bed wrench.
In the course Of time the straw In the straw
bed would become broken and ground up into
little bits. Then we used to take the straw
bed down in the yard and empty tit seems
sort OF funny to think Of Complying" bed.
but that's what we used TO do with the straw
heds-and we'd burn that refuse and buyo
the grocer bundle or two OF straw. according
TO tho size OF the bed and the size OF the bun
dies. these bundles being great sheafs OF clean.
handsome straw tied around the middle wtha
band OF straw. just Ii Ike you see sheafs ~ wheat
in pictures. We used 10 open the bundles and
put the straw in the bedsack and spread 1t
, around so that it would be even aud OF uniform
thickness. and then sew up the sack again.
In the course of time the Slated bedstead
came into common use. and what tremen-
break. and instead of getting q new one right
away we'd tile knots in ON. and maybe KNOT
would come Just so, with the stretching oil tho
couldn't draw the rope quite tight: or maybe
the rope finally, with repeated hreakings and
knottnRs got so short that we had to SKIP
STRAW bed do TO- sisk n," Wh good bedcor IN
perfect order and kept well set up the corded
hedstead was all right. but It wasn't always
Kept up in that way; And TIE oeisa,s not, no,
| to the bed. but they were far less trouble in
every way: you didn't have to buy new slats
every now and then. nor did you have TO de,
| don't know of any household improvement OF
| greater value than the substitution OF tho
| Slated for the corded belstcad.
/ manner of springs. cheap as well as costly Wa
| have now adays mattresses OF many materials.
| to say nothing Of those OF no mat erial at all.
! more. standing in front OF the grocery store.
| bundles Of straw as samples, to show that they
| have straw in the barn. | suppose there nro
mighty few people. In these PARTS at Least T.: WI"
party there are still people who sleep on
! feather beds. and maybe they have straw beds
| under them. quite in the old way but as for
! myself. have not seen a corded bedstead. nor
a straw bed. nor feather bed these many.
! many years.
! Verify. have we departed from tho ways os
| for the old ways. the new ways are vastly
| better. ANCHOR.