Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-05-06
ABOUT FEATHER BEDS.


When a President or other leader
makes speeches it is the fashion for
editorial writer's to find in what he
says subject matter for extended COM
ment. There is often more of interest
in what the great men do, and in Incl
dents, trivial in themselves, reported
casually.
1t will surprise many to learn that
one of the most notable features Of
President Roosevelt's western trip has
to do with that one time common evil
dence of comfortable, well-to-do pros
perity. the feather bed. In Chicago
the President wanted a feather bed,
but no such thing was to be found in
the world-famed Auditorium hotel.
Here is matter for sermon.
The present generation has witness
ed the passing Of the feather bed. In
the memory of those living today the
equipment Of bride consisted of a
bureau, a feather bed and a COW, at
least in many regions of this country.
In Great Britain and Germany feather
bed was an indispensable possession
of the moderately well-to-do middle
class. It was conspicuous in the "spare
bed ROOM" where the height of the
bed, suggesting the need Of step lad
der, was an especial mark Of elegance.
Spread with coverlets of geometrical
design, it conveyed the idea of luxury.
In many places to "sleep between
feathers was a common habit in the
winter season.
Medical authorities we're perhaps
the first to sound the death knell of
the feather bed When the boys and
girls were weak and ailing, the doctor
advised that they be made to sleep on
"'a hard mattress" The sybaritic
ing. It mattered not that sturdy
children and rugged parents were
''raisod in feathers" The Pennsyl-
vania Dutch, than whom no sturdier
people is known, demonstrated that
the feather bed was not inimical to
health and strength, but physical
culture faddists continue the campaign
against the luxurious softness of the
times and substitutes came in abund-
ance Low beds, springs, mattresses,
took the place of the feather bed, and
today it is fashionable to believe that
feather beds and debility go together.
The most valid objection to feathers
was disposed Of when inventions were
perfected for the renovation and
cleansing of them. Appliances to air
and steam the feathers, to separate
them from pins and hickory nuts and
marbles and shingle nails, and such
other extraneous substances as mys-
teriously found their way into the
'ticks," made it possible for them to
be kept clean. But these inventions
did not satisfy the faddists, and feather
beds became taboo. Nevertheless it is
surprising that the resources of the
great city of Chicago were unequal to
the supply of feather bed whereupon
the nations executive might find re-
pose 1t might not be expected to
find one on the North Shore drive, nor
in other fashionable quarters but
among the people of the west side, the
home of the plebeians, there must GER
tainly be feather beds and means of
renovating them to make one at least
equal to the Presidents needs.
But the most interesting thing about
this matter is that President Roosevelt
furnishes a proof that strenuousness
and feather beds are not necessarily
antagonistic. What will the theorists
have to say about this? The physical
culture cranks who believe that dis
comfort and health are necessarily
companions? Will not the President
be liable to protests by delegations re-
presenting the stoics of the day, who
will pray him to give no countenance
to the sybaritic ease so fatal to hard
ness of muscle?
The fact is, however, that man who