The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-01

lers, each followed by rake and
binder We're necessary by large farm
| ers and as the work was considered
extra laborious. " was customary to
imbibe IA little whiskcy at each round,
and there were few farmers who did
not furnish the material.
THE art of dstiling in those days
produced a variety OF qualities. They
had domestic whiskey for family use
CmildD. an invigoratlng kind that was
very strengthening for the laborers,
and fighting whiskey especially for
election and training days.
| There were but few threshing ma
chimes in use and they were of rude
construction and wasteful of the grain,
therefore threshng was done mostly
| with the fail upon the barn floor.
Nearly every farm had n thrifty
| orchard and fruit was frequently in
such abundance that thousands OF
bushels went to waste. When the trees
| were in bloom the air would be laden
| with the rich perfume that would per-
meate the whole valley. These orchards
were the homes of the song birds. Those
most common. that can remember,
were the robin, blue bird, oriolc, mock
ing bird, brown thrush, bobolnk and
meadow lark. and these were assisted
as an accompaniment by the unmelodi-
GUS notes of the scolding king bird, the
cat bird, blue jay, bob-white, drummer,
| and the mournful coo of the ring dove.
Il ia, al r,,lI-
ing mills and tho buzz of the spinning
wheel was heard in more homes than
was the music of the organ or piano.
There are good many objects and
scefiery OF grandeur in the United
States, but none more beautiful, I
think, than was the Valley of Wyoming
sixty years ago. l had many occasions
to view the valley from excellent want
age ground upon the Kingston noun
tain opposite Forty Fort. The farms
were laid out in strips probably forty
to eighty rods in width extending from
the river TO the mountain top: we'll
titled, well fenced and, divided into
fields they resembled II huge checker
board. Upon a clear summer day, from
the view mentioned, the scene present
ed was fascinating beyond description.
Here field of dark green corn, the
blades quivoring in the gentle breeze;
there field of rye ready for the sickle
hear it wheat just changing from
green to yellow--then the dark summer
fallow--the green growing oats beyond
near which the pasture lot with it's
grazing kine--then the meadow and the
orchard. Thus farm after farm re-
peated this variety. Beyond them the
sparkling waters of the serpentine river
shimmered in the sunlight--and still
beyond We're the rolling hills of Jacobs
Plains, interspersed with groves ana
cultivated land-then beyond all these
rose as a background the wood covered
mountains crowned by the uncovered
head of Bald mountain.
The development of coal came like
giant octopus throwing out its power
full arms and devouring the land. Under
its crushing force the beauty OF Wyo-
ming Valley was hlotted out, never
again to be restored. Railroads plowed
through its surface and mining poured
forth mountainous culm piles. The fine
farms were thrown out to the common
the orchards went to decay-the song
birds, bereft of their homes, have flown
from the havoc-the hills are denuded
of their beautiful groves-the noted
umbrella tree, that spread its folds high
above the forest upon Kingston noun
tain, was sacrificed-the fragrance OF
apple blossoms changed to sitting mine
gas-and the whole valley changed
from its rural uuietude to a veritable |
sea of turbulent commotion.'
This change, of course, was inevitable |
and, in a broad view, taking into ac-
count the largest good of the greatest |
number, not to be regretted. Will the |
changes to be visible sixty years hence |
equal in magnitude those of the three
score years last gone by? Here is IL |
fine field for the fancy to play over. We |
should be glad to print guesses as to |
what these changes will be.