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Marion County
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Genealogy and History |
FASHION, FARM AND MISC ITEMS
All items transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney unless otherwise
noted
HOME
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MISCELLANEOUS
"One Hundred Years Ago" - 1887
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FASHIONS
How to Make Laundry Starch - 1887
A Hair Drying Machine - 1897
Making Soap Bubbles - 1897
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FARM NOTES
Items from April 19, 1887
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"HISTORY CLASS"
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A CENTURY AGO - Some Popular Things to
Today which were Valuable in 1787
An observer who looks on life through a pair of glasses somewhat colored
with humor thus alludes to certain difference of social habit, convenience
and comfort between 1787 and 1887.
One hundred years ago the gin best known was not the cotton gin.
One hundred years ago farmers did not cut their legs off with mowing machines.
One hundred years ago horses which could trot a mile in 2:14 were somewhat
scarce.
One hundred years ago there was no fast mail train between New York and Chicago.
One hundred years ago there were no disputers about the impoliteness of horse
car-drivers.
One hundred years ago people did not enjoy the inestimable pleasure of growling
over gas-bills.
One hundred years ago every young man was not an applicant for a position
as clerk or bookkeeper, although he often parted his hair in the middle.
One hundred years ago kerosene lamps did not explode and assist the kitchen
girl in shuffling off her mortal coil.
One hundred years ago time and tide waited for nobody, now nobody waits for
either time or tide.
One hundred years ago men did not commit suicide by going up in balloons
and coming down without them.
One hundred years ago a young woman did not lose her caste by wetting her
hands in dishwater or rubbing the skin off her knuckles on the wash-board.
One hundred years ago the physician who could not draw every disease from
the system by tapping a large vein in the arm was not much of a doctor.
One hundred years ago the producer could carry his surplus products to market
on his horse.
One hundred years ago our fathers did not light their pipes with matches,
but carried fire in their pockets in the shape of a piece of punk, a piece
of steel and a flint.
One hundred years ago a public officer of other citizen could not steal enough
to make the act respectable and insure the actor a prominent position in
the "first circles" - [Phrenological Journal] - (Marion Herald, April 12,
pg 3)
Gather the droppings around and under the
roosts every two or three days if you would have your poultry free from the
scourge of scaly logs - [N. Y. Examiner]
Ordinary building paper is cheap and of great value to keep cold out of all
farm buildings. It may be nailed on, with lath covering the seams, pressing
them close to the wall. The paper may also be utilized for covering a screen
door, making it serve the purpose of a double door to exclude cold - [Detroit
Tribune]
It is a good plan to wash horse's necks and shoulders with cold water after
the day's work in spring and summer. It will strengthen them and prevent
lameness and galling. This is especially necessary if the horses have not
done much work in winter and are then set to work suddenly in spring. If
a horse be sick or lame or swelled, bathing will often improve it. If the
parts affected be cold, then let the water be a little warm; but if the parts
be warm, let the water be cold. Some salt dissolved in the water will add
to its efficiently - [San Francisco Chronicle]
Looking to spring and transplanting, we say: First dig your holes and supply
mellow, rich soil in place of all the poor soil that comes out of them. Years
ago, when the Rural grounds were planted, muck from what is now the lake
was the soil used to fill in the holes. There is muck and muck, no doubt.
But a thriftier line of trees, both evergreen and deciduous, than ewer have
, is rarely to be found. The roots of young trees soon grow out of the hole
prepared for their reception; but a good start in the case of a tree is more
important and helpful than in the case of a corn plant- [Western Rural] -
(Marion County Herald, April 19, 1887 - pg 2)
LAUNDRY STARCH - Directions for a Successful Employed
Method of Making and Using it - For general work, ten ounces of wheat and
six ounces of corn starch to every gallon of water is found to give excellent
satisfaction. (One ounce is about one heaping tablespoonful.) The starch,
when thoroughly dissolved in water, is poured into the kettle containing
the requisite amount of water, and actively stirred until the whole is brought
to the boiling point, and there it is maintained from forty minutes to an
hour. Starching consists of three operations, i.e. forcing the starch into
several layers of fabric, removing the wrinkles, and finally wiping off all
superfluous starch from the surface. The starcher spreads the work on the
table, covers it with starch, and rubs it quickly to and fro with the palm
and fingers of the right hand, the left hand resting on the right, and the
weight of the body being thrown upon the arms. At the same time with the
aid of her finger-nails she dexterously moves the wrinkles about until they
entirely disappear. If shirts are being starched, a dozen or more are rubbed
on the wrong side, then finished on the right; if collars or cuffs, they
are piled until several dozen have accumulated, then the "wiping off" takes
place. We have found very satisfactory results from the following method:
For a quart of starch when made, take a little over a tablespoonful of raw
starch, dissolve it in water, add a single drop of blue, and then pour on
boiling water, stirring it until it boils. Let is boil fifteen or twenty
minutes, then add a half-teaspoonful of kerosene and stir well. Into the
boiling starch put collars and cuffs, and from it wring bosoms and wristbands,
rubbing it well and smoothly in. When the starched clothes are dry, dip them
into a solution made by dissolving a heaping teaspoonful of raw starch in
a quart of lukewarm water, with a half-teaspoonful of pulverized borax added,
and roll them tightly, the collars and cuffs in towels. Let them lie an hour
or so and then iron. It may be well to lay an old handkerchief over the bosoms
and pass the iron over it, before putting the iron directly ion the linen.
Have a clean linen or cotton rag and a bowl of clean water at hand, and with
these remove any specks or smirches that may happen to come. Have the iron
perfectly clean and the holder also, and the ironing sheet. If the iron is
not perfectly smooth rub it on a bit of waxed paper or a lamp-rag, and then
on a clean cloth. Have towels ready to iron to cool the flat-iron with if
it is too hot to put upon the linen. A little experimenting will soon put
any one into the possession of the ability to starch and iron nicely. - [Troy
Laundry Journal] - (Marion Herald, April 26, 1887 - pg 3)
A HAIR-DRYING MACHINE - To Miss Gwendolin Waters,
of Denver, Col, belongs the honor of patenting a machine for drying the hair
after a shampoo at home. The invention consists of a portable folding frame
which may be readily adjusted to the body and which holds the hair spread
over it in such a manner as to permit the free circulation of air through
the hair. When the appliance is not in use its arms may be detached from
the back piece and folded together into a small and compact package, which
may be readily stowed away in a drawer or box. (Marion County News, January
28, 1897)
*A dish of hot water set in the over prevents cake from scorching.
*A glass of salt water, warm or cold, taken on rising in the morning will
cure constipation.
*To drive away ants, scrub the shelves or drawers that they frequent with
strong carbolic soap, after which sprinkle red pepper in every crevice. (Marion
Herald, Sept 1, 1887)
SOAP BUBBLES - Making soap bubbles is a great
amusement to children and will keep them employed a whole afternoon. Prepare
beforehand, a mixture of curd soap cut into small pieces and boiled three
or four minutes in a pint of water. When cool, add an ounce of glycerine,
put it in a tightly corked bottle and keep some hours before suing. The bubbles
made with this preparation are very brilliant in color. (Marion County News,
March 4, 1897)
A WORD TO FARMERS - Farmers, look to your buildings, outhouses and
see that hey are all in good repair. All loose shingles, boards, and planks
about your roots or buildings should be replaced. Now is the time to put
up all the new additions to your buildings you have in contemplation. Do
all buildings with an eye to comfort and convenience. See that the kitchen
is supplied with selves and closets, so arranged as to be the handiest to
the good wife, so that steps and turnings can be save in doing the necessary
house work. Keep you home healthy by drainage. See that no accumulations
of any kind are under or near the house to putrefy and vitiate the air you
breathe. Much sickness is caused by want of care in this particular. Whitewash
all your buildings and plank fences. It will pay you, and then it gives a
place such a neat appearance. Commence to repair your fences. Prepare to
set out fruit and shade trees, grape-vines, etc. Lay out the ground for an
orchard if you have none and be in readiness to plant it. Scrape together
all the manure in the yards an put it in pens. Let nothing of this sort be
lost. - [Fulton, Miss Reporter] - (Marion Herald, Dec. 15, 1887)
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