The Washington herald., 1911-09-03
Old-Tinne Furniture
COPYRI0BT BY JAMES BLVBRSoS

country, have but little conception
~ of the changed conditions OF home
life from those Of hundred years
ago. What we look upon as things which we
cannot do without would. century ago, have
been considered luxuries, attainable only by a
comparative few.
If some Of our revolutionary ancestors were
to REVISIT the gimpses OF the moon, ana
they would see things entirely strange to
them, and mayhap think that the old fashions
were good enough, while we, in our turn,
woudd wonder how il was possible for people
TO get along in such a primitive fashion az
did the Puritans and the Dutch settlers.
Up 10 the time of tho Revolutionary War,
there were no carpets on the floors Of the
houses of New York, Boston or Philadelphia
if we except the homes of the very wealth
lest citizens.
A sprinkling of sand over the floors was
deemed sufficient, and was believed to give
the room a clean and neat appearance. The
early Dutch settlers of New York used on
special occasions, when dinner was served in
the parior instead Of the kitchen, to hay a
piece Of drugget cloth under the table TO pro
tect the carefully secured and waxed floor.
IL may be noted as singular that the first
carpet which is known TO have been used in
New York city was the property Of the no.
torious Captain Kidd. 1t is said to have been
OF Turkish manufacture, 30 that it was prob
ably a rug. It was valued at twenty-five dol
lars, big sum in those days, and was looked
upon as = great Curiosity.
A century ago tables were used only for the
purpose of holding things to eat and drink.
The great dinner table. which generally stood
in the kitchen. had folding leaves, which
hung down when not in use. and were propped
up by movable legs when it became necessary
TO enlarge the table. In ITO small tables
OF Japanned ware were introduced. They
were used for the tea service.
A leading article of furniture in the houses
Of our foTefathers was the cupboard. 1t
stood in the parlor, when there was one, or
principal corner. 1t had shelves of wood, on
which we're displayed the best dishes Of the
household, without regard to what their quail
ity was.
Cupboards were made in all styles, and, if
the owner of one of them was well-to-do, it
VTas provided with glass doors. But all of
them were built so well and solidly that they
were handed down from one generation to an
other, while some of them are preserved to
this day.
Ante-reyolutonary chairs were of Russia
leather, and adorned with brass nails in single
Sather, and there were chains with seats OF
matted rushes. Some had cushions of tapes
try or velvet, trimmed with lace, and some
were of black walnut with colored worsted
heats but all of them were straight backed
and must have been verv uncomfortable.
The bedstead was the most costly piece OF
furniture in the olden time. 1t was OF wood
end had a canopy from which depended cur
kains II was the custom TO sleep between
two feather beds. and the pillows were also
Of feathers.
The sleeping room Of the heads OF the house
hold was always the best equipped room in
the house. One thing is certain-that our
forefathers, while they did not care for show,
insisted on having everything of the most
solid and substantial character.