The Saint Paul globe., 1901-01-27

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There was no machine made thread;
nor sewing machines, nor pins and
needles.
The favorite remedy of our foreiathers
in the treatment of most diseases was
blood-letting.
The spontaneous generation of insects
and animals from putrefying matter was
very generally believed in
Many people still believed that the
earth was the center of the universe. and
b. the sole purpose of the heavenly bodies
was to illuminate their little sphere.
Stone houses were few; those of brick
still fewer. In the country log houses
were fashiona bic, and in the cities most
Of the houses were of frame wood
The abundance of wild game in some
parts obviat ted the need of growing
sheep and cattle for food Wool was
necessary, but the fleece was small.
In New England the toIling of a death
belf' as an announcement Immediately
after the decease of any person came in
probably with the introduction of bells
The medical notions Inherited from our
forefathers were so marvelouoIy errone-
Gus that one wonders only now enough
of the inhabitants survived to continue
the next era.
The poor used rush light, made by
dipping a dried rush into the most con-
Venient sort of fat or grease; the middle
classes used candles of tallow; the rich
burned sperm or wax.
In the cities of a hundred years ago
there were few street lamps fed by
whale or train oil, but they were seldom
lighted, except on gala occasions, for
every one was in bed shortly after dark.
Many efforts were made to abate the
expenses attending funerals, The ar
ticles of association prescribed by the
First continental congress contained a
hedge against the use of funeral scarls
and gloves.
The clothes Of farmers a century back
were made of homespun wool or fax
and of skins. The rough shoes or moe
casins were made by travelling cob
s. bier, or at home, and were not altogether
neat and close fitting.
There was not gas pipe. not a gas Jet
in the world, nor even a glass lamp with
chimney; and coal oil. procured in very
small quantities. was sold in little vials as
a specific for rheumatism.
American presidents, vice presidents,
senators, representatives, cabinet off,
cials. governors. Judges and officers of
the army and navy, and other prominent
men, then settled their disputes by
duels, and some of them were fatal
Mourning. rings were one of the heavy
charges at an upper class funeral; they
We're sent to the minister and pallbearers,
and sometimes to a circle of friends One
Boston minister estimated the rings and
gloves he received as worth $75 per year.
Before the Revolution cattle were
worth from S5 to $40 each. Very little
care was taken of cows in the winter,
and in some localities they were not
milked during the cold season from fear
OF a common belief that it would kill
them.
Migratory birds were supposed to hide
for the winter in river bottoms, caves
and hollow trees. Some still thought
with Cotton Mather that the great flights
of pigeons came from some unseen. but
near by planet or satellite, to which the
birds returned.
ors and expensive fabrics were used il
clothing, usually imported, and swell
party gatherings always presented a gay
appearance. The hair was worn long
and both ladies' and gentlemen powdered
it white. Knee breeches, of course, were
fashionable
The colonial funeral ranked as festive
occasion, the quantity of food, liquor ans
tobacco consumed depending upon the
value of the estate of the deceased II
more than one colony legislative inter
ference was required to keep the friend.
of the deceased from eating and drinking
his widow and orphans out of house and
home.
The farmers house often had window,
of oiled paper. admitting light, but couIc
not be seen through. Glass was too ex
pensive. The door was. of plank ant
hung with leather hinges; there was n,
, knob, no lock. no bolt. but inside ;
wooden latch. which could be lifted from
the outside by u leather string runnfn,
through a hole The floor was of eartl
or Of hewn logs. The inmates slept OF
bedsteads made on poles and ate from
wooden dishes.