The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-08-23
FEATHER BEDS DOWN SOUTH.
It's Turning Time Now From Mary
land TO North Carolina.

|
Now is the time when the people
living south Of Mason and Dixon's
line from Maryland clean down to
| North Carolina turn their feather
beds. They do not turn them inside
, out or even upside down, but the
feather bed is put next. the Stats or
saaking bottom or spring and q hard
mattress Of hair or felt Is placed on
top.
Some folks like 10 sleep directly on
the feather bed all summer long and
there are hotels In the region where
the guest is asked In July whether he
will have feathers or not. But most
people turn them.
The feather bed is the Southern
sign OF respectability and ancient lin
cage. Every family Of old nespectabil-
ity had half dozen feather beds
generation ago, and good many are
still in use. They are handed down
as heirlooms, cherished with pride
and care, and In the best families
cleansed and reticked from time to
time, summed thoroughly at least once
a week and treated as articles Of the
highest consideration.
Whenever there is a country vendue
in the belt from Mason and Dixon's
line 200 miles southwark half the COM
munity is on the lookout for chance
TO buy feather beds cheap. They are
regularly sold by the pound, and even
the Oldest, II in good condition, fetch
pretty good prices.
Really old fashioned folks still save
their goose feathers 10 make beds OF,
though the fetch OF the feather bed
is not what It used TO be, and the
doctors are against II as an article. or
unwbolesome luxury. Nevertheless,
when Southerners come North to live
they are apt TO fetch along their fea-
ther beds. There are old fadies who
would sooner leave behind the family
Bible than their feather beds, and this
very night there will be scores OF
Southerners in New York sleeping on
feathers.
There is no possession that a coll
ored family ir the South takes great
er pride In than a FEATHER bed. 1T
usually comes into the possession or
such family second hand but some
times II is the result Of patient years
given TO the treasuring OF goose fea-
theirs.
An old colored woman who came 10
New York from Virginia leaving q
husband behind was vastly disturbed
when she learned that he was III. The
family In which she was employed !
condoled with her and tried 10 cheer |
her up. but abapdoned the attempt
when the old woman said:
II feared ef he dies dey1l sell my
feather bed"
He did not die. but the old woman
had the bed sent North before he had
a chance 10 fall III again.
The value OF the feather bed lies in
The fact that II is practically indes-
and is always an avsilable !
asset. II the feathers are properly |
cured and the bed is poperly cared |
for ID is as good at the end OF hum
dred years as on the day ID was.made.
There is already somebody south
Of Mason and Dixon's line who Is
ready to pay fair price for feather
bed and II by any accident II has lost |
part OF its contents so that It is too |
thin TO serve its original purpose the
dealers are always ready TO buy IL and |
make the feathers up into pillows. In
This form the feather bed mas a new I
and long lease OF life. People the
over are pillowing their heads
upon feathers that once soothed the
OF Virginia's first families.