The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-30

1ACAIuChS Was Oh Tie WIG DOruer
century ago and the Mississippi valley
as we'll as the gulf states and all beyond
the Rockies, was peopled with Indians,
Spaniards and French, and large part
Of it was supposed to be a desert.
Water was supplied in towns and VII
lagos by private and public wells, and the
town pump was rival for the tavern
as gathering place for gossfps. There
were no artificial means for lifting water
above its level for distribution. Water
was the only power outside of muscle for
driving machinery
Washington died before there was an
iron or steel bridge in existence. He
forded the river around Philadelphia on
horse back. He had 7x9 glass In his
windows, and never owned a Brussels or
Wilton or Administer carpet, even while
president.
There were no rihed guns, no double
Harreled ones, and no percussion caps
the load being discharged by flint locks
or burning fuse. There were no car
trldges. Powder was scarce and costly
Ammunition was carried in a powder
horn and shot bag.
Crossings in the principal city streets
We're stepping stones about a foot apart
mat pedestrians might be kept out Of the
mlre, and these steps on a rainy day
caused frequent conflicts between citizens
anxious to keep their feet out of the
mud.
Every principal house in the cities had
its gutter, projecting far beyond the roof
and sending a torrent of water down into
the street. The windows We're filed with
ol1nlnuuVe panes Of glass. generally not
inn
There We're no revolvers, the nearest
approach to the modern weapon being
morse pistol foot or two long. which
mace a report like small cannon.
The knitting was done by hand, for
stocking machines were not in existence
nor were lightning rods, nor tinware'
nor lronWare, nor glassware, nor wood
enWare, nor graniteWare, nor copperware
nor aluminumware, nor brassware. nor
sllverWare in any but very few Of the
multiplied forms known to the household
today.
Linen collars and cuffs were 1jnthouob+
or and starch was little used by either
rich or poor. The women did no shon-
ping the storekeepers sent out no fam
Ing advertisements. There were no mil
Hnery stores.
There were no bed springs and cords
were used to support the F'ticks'' stllff-
ed with straw, hay, moss or feathers
one hundred years pocket-picKing was
a capital offense where anything worth
more than shilling was taken. for
winch the offender could be sentenced
to death in England, and in the United
states there were several dozen capital
offenses.
Holiday greetings hundred years ago
between friends only couple of hundred
miles apart came to hand a week or ten
days after they were penned-that is,
If the mail coach didn't get blocked by
mud, floods or snowdrifts. In that latter
case, on some much-traveled roads. too,
they might lie over until the spring
breakup.
People in New York and other cities
read news anywhere from week to
three months old in newspaper printed
on hand machine much resembling a
letter copying press of today. Country
folks were glad to have a weekly or
semi-weekly delivered through the mails
a week or so after it was printed
hundred years ago the war with
France, fought on the sea, was a topic
Of conversation, and Commodore Trux-
ton was the naval hero whose exploits
were celebrated in freside tales. The
stanchness of the wooden ships, the close
ness of the actions, the daring of the
boarders and the effectiveness of the
American hull shots were features Of the
fighting to glory over.