The younger people want to know all about the days gone by and nothing can give me greater pleasure than to take a ramble in my mind to the friends and pastimes of the long ago. Before the war this was a far different town, and a man who left it in fifty eight, would have to study hard to find any of the landmarks then in sight. Business houses were nearly all west of Railroad street and the business center on Second between Lawrence and Railroad. D. S. Murdock & Co., J. T. Davis, D. T. Davis, Martin Gillen, Thos. McCarthy and George Newberger did the chief business in their line and Barber & Moxley with F. S. Wright & Co. did most of the drug business. To those living on 5th & 6th streets below Vesuvius these stores were away up town, while the Vernon house now the Dennison, near the Water Works, was away up in East Ironton. Hamilton and Snyder, near the old Market house were away back in town. The Belfont was called the Star Nail Mill, and managed by J. M. Merrill & Co. The Lawrence now moved away, was the steady worker because bar iron commanded a better price, but its principle workers were Evan Williams, James Thomas, John and David Pritchard, whose skill gave to Ironton bars a preference in the market. Scrip or due bills payable in goods, at the store, was the money mostly in use and though it was esteemed a hard time yet Ironton was a lively a place as you could find in a day’s journey and it soon attained the reputation of a hospitable town and its public spirit could not be excelled. The only railroad was the Ohio Iron & Coal Company’s track, which ran no further than Center station, and a passenger who wanted to go up or down the river waited a whole day sometimes for a boat, and because there was no telegraph had to stand on the river front, to see when one came in sight. No one was in a hurry and everyone was perfectly satisfied, only when some young man from Pittsburg or Cincinnati came in on a visit and his remarks on railroads, gas works, and water works made us all uneasy because we had none of these things then and we voted a man who talked them a blowhard and a bore. This was the condition of things when most of our business men of today were boys. I do not think there was ever much of caste among us, and one boy was just as good as another and better too, for I do not remember anybody just now who was not made to work at one thing or another, and the girls of that time knew house keeping by practical experience, so that they had much more common sense than is the lot of today’s young lady. Did we have any fun? Well, I should say we did. The ice was marked by the flourishes of our skates; the hill echoed with our coasting shouts. Boys would fires build on little islands in the ponds on which the latter there were many and they would skate till late at night, and the girls would bring their sleds provided with ropes by which means they were pulled with rapid strides across the ice by their gallant beaux. A game of foot ball at the schools was enjoyed by both sexes and not a few of the staid and dignified matrons of today, took a pace by no means slow to head off the rolling sphere, and kick it back to waiting friends, so as to hurry it to the other goal. Snow balls, yes they made and threw them and many a "face washing" occurred on the way home from school. Unlike the ranks, and rows, and solemn walks, and "hand-me-down" smiles of today, those girls would laugh and romp, run and slide, work and play with tireless activity. There were parties’ too, but instead of progressive euchre, there were Fox and Geese, Jolly Miller and Forfeits. Music and singing could be had without a half day’s coaxing for the girl to play and the old excuse of "colds" was not thought of, because it was everyone’s desire to please. Theatricals by home talent were common, and there was no end of fun at the practice meetings. Pyramus and Thisbe was once produced by some forty odd of our best literary people, and the Union Hall was crowded by an appreciative audience for two consecutive nights. I think that Pyramus and his adorable Thisbe, are still living, but in different families, so it is best not to name them now. The costumes, stage dressing, and lighting were all done by home talent. The orchestra was a piano, and the first selection was "Nellie Gray." Oh, those old time songs, they were not only good music, but the sentiment so plainly sung in words would almost make you ___ the "moon that climbed the mountain." It was the age of "Old Dan Tucker" "Sweet Alice Ben Bolt," Suwanee River" and a host of others, not much for the head, but full of heart and life. Go where you will, you cannot leave behind you the thrilling songs of the olden time. Some one sings one of them and there is chord of friendship vibrates on your heart for him and there is something noble in his expression, for you see his face in the light of other days. Were the girls pretty then? Oh, my but you would say so, had you seen them; yet the best looking were the most intelligent, and many a time a saucy beauty would catch you napping on the spelling of a word and she would pass to the head of the class, with a smile of disdain at our woeful ignorance. In regard to "their costumes," there was more work done on a pretty apron than is now put on a balloon sleeve. The embroidery on the aprons was made by the busy hands of the girl who wore it and if you want to know how many stitches and knots it took to make the lace, just ask the girl who had it for she is living near you and doubtless is making some of the same patter to adorn the rising generation. Such were the old time girls and boys, and when the rude blast of war fell upon them, they were ready for sacrifice at home and for battle at the front. Some are dead; we drop a tear to the loving, true and brave; others are scattered far and wide o’er distant plains and mountains, while some are rearing families near the old home spot, but over all the living, the burden of life, the frosts of age and some sorrows and disappointments have left their blighting trace, but in heart today we are young as ever, and live over again the happy, bygone days. To each and all, far and near, we wish a happy New Year, full of the blessing, peace and love of our God.
PILGRIM.