The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1920-01-02
PASSING or WATER MILLS.

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PASSING or WATER MILLS.
i The Herald's account Of the passing
Of the old water mill at Culleoka sug'
gests the early days OF this country,
When our ancestors felled the forests
and erected their rude homes they i'm
mediately made plans for securing
their meal. In those time practically
no wheat was grown and flour was a
luxury nt~of the reach Of the sturdy
pioneers who forged and wrought this
great republic Of ours. They lived on
"corn bread.v 1t was the standard ar
ticIe Of diet They were particular
about their meal. That crushed be-
tween the old burr stones had partic-
ular flavor that none other possessed.
ills by the side Of the modern bolted]
meal what d packing house canvas
ham Is in comparison to one OF Maury
erounty's succulent home grown and
home cured, hickory smoked hams.
They are not In the same class
In the far off past the legislators
were extremely jealous Of the mill
roads. Legislation Of that time re-
fiects an interest in guaranteeing as
Tar as possible to all citizens the right
10 take turn of cornwto milk And
going to mill was the event Of events
in many 4 young Americans life.
There are still those Of us who cherish
recollections OF how we were required
to carefully "sort OUT the best and
most perfect ears of corn, nub and
shell them. After the corn had been
carefully shelled 1t was placed in the
long. two bnshel sacks, thrown across
the back OF faithful old family nag.
Led to aconyenient stump or fence,
the small boy mounted the animal and
was on to mill
Upon reaching the. mill one had in
evitably to "wait his turn" The writ
er never personally knew any one in
his time to get turn ground without
long wait. Usually the journey home
vas made in the late evening. One ar
rived by moonlight or starlight. Some
times it was necessary to sleep in the
min and wait until the next day to
get the precious meal. few SACKS
furnished the necessary bedding.
Who does not remember his expert
epce. with the sack that sometimes
slipped of, the back OF his horse? II
often meant hours Of patient waiting
in the road until the assistance nee
essary to hoist it back in place should
sbAssf BY. For most boys, when they
reached the age and strength necessa
IN. To lift astwo bushel sack of corn OF
meal. were doing something more
strenuous and requiring more exercise
than pgoing to MILL
Those were grand old days. They
we're the days when genuine Amer
canism was in the very atmosphere
when no man asked any organization
when he could work or the terms
npon which he could work. And wo'
unto tlegogitator who had sought t
give such Instructions. 1t was tn
!. days before the eight hour day; mel
4 Worked at Their task until they com
pieted it: they believed in enjoyin
the rewards of their tot, aud had NJ
disposition to divide with those VIII
ala not have the courage or the abb
ty.or thesdeterm. nation to make thei
own way in the world. They were IL
dividuals. They were Gaen OF simp.
faith but of mighty works.
The old fashioned water mill is pass
ting rapidly. away The civitizatio
which knew it is going. But ther
u aWere homely virtues in the men an
ssa.womcn of it's day that must live 0
and on II this republic, built npo
theirsgacrifces and welded with thei
L Wood. is to continue to be the priceless
Is heritage that they beaueathed to us.
II