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| Driving along the Uffington Road - An early Muskoka Barn along the Uffington Road has stood the test of time and still retains it’s original roof lines. The variety of wooden plywood patches and sheet tin repairs add greatly to the wonderful character of the building. (Photo by Fred Schulz) |
WHAT WERE THE PIONEERS OF MUSKOKA READING AT HEARTHSIDE TO COMBAT THE RIGORS OF CABIN FEVER?
MORE THAN JUST THE BIBLE KEPT UP THE FAITH - BUT CHRISTIAN VALUES, AND GOOD LIVING, WOULD CEASE ALL TEMPTATIONS
WHENEVER I HAVE ATTENDED AN AUCTION, OR ESTATE SALE, WHERE I KNOW PIONEER ERA MATERIALS MIGHT BE FOUND, I KEEP A SHARP EYE FOR THE BOOKS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN READ BY THE CABIN STOVE….OR AT HEARTHSIDE. AND YES, IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING, I'VE HAD MANY BOOKS THAT SMELLED LIKE WOODSMOKE, MANY DECADES AFTER INITIALLY BEING EXPOSED. I ONCE OWNED AN EARLY 1600'S GERMAN BIBLE, THAT HAD, AT SOME POINT IN ITS SHELF LIFE, BEEN TOSSED INTO A FIRE…OR AT LEAST, DAMAGED IN A HOUSEHOLD EVENT THAT DESTROYED ITS COVER. A BOOKBINDER I KNEW, IN BRACEBRIDGE, ORIGINALLY FROM IRELAND, TOLD ME THAT A GOAT SKIN COVER HAD BEEN FASHIONED INSTEAD, SOMETIME IN THE 1700'S, TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED ORIGINAL, AND IT HAD BEEN HER JOB FOR A CLIENT, TO SECURE SOME PARTS THAT WERE SEPARATING FROM THE SPINE. THE PERSON NEVER CAME BACK FOR THE BOOK, NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THE HUNDRED DOLLARS IT HAD COST FOR REPAIRS, SO IT WAS OFFERED TO ME, IF I WOULD PAY THE OUTSTANDING BILL. I DID VERY MUCH WANT THAT BOOK, AND I OWNED IT FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS BEFORE SELLING IT TO A GERMAN BIBLE COLLECTOR FOR A CONSIDERABLE PROFIT. THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THAT BOOK, I CAN'T EXPLAIN, EXCEPT TO SAY I ENJOYED ITS HISTORY…..THINKING ABOUT ALL THE CHRONICLE OF CIVILIZATION THAT HAD OCCURRED AFTER ITS PRINTING….SUCH AS IN CANADA, THE COMING AND LEAVING OF THE JESUITS, UNDER FIRE, AT STE, MARIE AMONGST THE HURONS, IN MIDLAND, LATE IN THE 1600'S. IMAGINE THAT. THIS BOOK WAS PRINTED BEFORE THE ATTACK ON HURONIA BY THE IROQUOIS.
I HAVE A RAVENOUS APPETITE FOR THE BOOKS OWNED AND PRESUMABLY READ BY OUR REGIONAL PIONEERS. OUR FIRST FARMERS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AS AN HISTORIAN, BECAUSE IT HELPS ME UNDERSTAND THEIR VALUES AND MORAL STANDARDS, IN THESE VICTORIAN TIMES. MANY HOMESTEADS WERE VOID OF BOOKS, EVEN BIBLES. OTHER FARMSTEADS HAD CONSIDERABLE LITERATURE. ONE IN PARTICULAR, THE EWING FARM, BETWEEN BRACEBRIDGE AND MILFORD BAY, HAD AN OUTSTANDING LIBRARY OF JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING, AND THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED ME BUYING THE WHOLE LOT, WAS THAT I WAS DAMN-NEAR BROKE AT THE TIME. I DID MANAGE TO GET AN 1850'S SECOND EDITION OF "THE FARMER'S EVERY DAY BOOK," WHICH CONTAINED A WIDE RANGING TEXT, ON EVERYTHING FROM THE DISEASES OF ANIMALS, TO THE SOCIAL AND MORAL EVILS OF DEMON RUM. IT HANDLED MATTERS OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, INTIMATE RELATIONS BETWEEN CONSENTING ADULTS, AND HOME COOKING; RELIGIOUS OBEDIENCE, TO HOW TO GET A STAIN OUT OF A SATIN DRESS, OR LACE TRIM. BUT IT WAS THE KIND OF BOOK THAT YOU COULD WIND UP CONSULTING EVERY DAY, TO HELP DEAL WITH A FARMSTEAD CONUNDRUM, OF WHICH I'M SURE THERE WERE MANY. AND IF YOU FELT YOUR FAITH SLIPPING, IT WAS ALSO A HANDY CHRISTIAN GUIDEBOOK BACK TO AN APPRECIATION OF DIVINE INSPIRATION.
I WAS LUCKY TODAY TO UNCOVER, FROM MY ARCHIVES, AN 1897 COPY OF ANOTHER OF THESE (LATE) VICTORIAN ERA SELF-HELP, MORAL GUIDANCE TEXT BOOKS, ENTITLED "STEPPING STONES TO HAPPINESS," ALSO COVERING A WIDE ARRAY OF HOME SITUATIONS, INCLUDING THE DILEMMA OF HAVING THE MISFORTUNE OF A WIFE AND MOTHER, WHO WAS VOID OF COOKERY SKILLS. THUS, THERE IS SOME SELF HELP CONTAINED WITHIN. THERE IS THE CHRISTIAN OVERTONE, AND MORAL GUIDANCE INCLUDED, ALONGSIDE TIPS FOR ENHANCING HOME ECONOMY, COOKING WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, AND STAVING OFF ILLNESSES SUCH AS SCARLET FEVER. BUT IT WAS ALSO A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION, TO MANY OF ITS HOMESTEAD READERS, WHO ADMITTEDLY, STARING OUT THE CABIN WINDOW, ONTO THE DARKER DAYS OF AUTUMN, WOULD GET A LITTLE ANXIOUS ABOUT THE IMMINENT APPROACH OF WINTER. THESE WERE CORNY BOOKS FOR THE MOST PART, YET THEY PLAYED A ROLE IN KEEPING THE HOMEMAKERS UP TO SPEED, SO TO SPEAK, ON THE LATEST ADVISORIES FOR HAVING A HAPPY AND HEALTHY FAMILY UNDER THAT FARMSTEAD ROOF.
I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED TO READ SOME OF THE EDITORIAL MATERIAL, OFFERED FOR THE MUSKOKA SETTLER, AT AROUND THE TIME, 1897 OR SLIGHTLY LATER. THE BOOKS WERE WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED FOR PROFIT, SO A LOT OF FAMILIES WEREN'T ABLE TO JUSTIFY ITS PURCHASE. THIS TEXT DID COME FROM A PIONEER HOMESTEAD IN CENTRAL MUSKOKA, AND IN FACT, IT IS NOW MY SECOND COPY. I USE THESE BOOKS A LOT, IN RESEARCH, BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY INFLUENTIAL WHEN IT CAME TO HOUSE-KEEPING….AND BOTH MY BOOKS HAVE BEEN WELL USED AND HOPEFULLY ENJOYED. THE IDEA WAS TO SPREAD CHRISTIAN VALUES INTO THE PIONEER CABINS OF THE HINTERLAND ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA. THESE COPIES ARE FROM OUR REGION OF ONTARIO, AND WERE ACTUALLY KEPT VERY WELL, CONSIDERING THE TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS AND DAMPNESS, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPOSED, OVER THE CENTURIES. FORMERLY, MY "FARMER'S EVERY DAY BOOK," CRUMBLED IN MY HANDS, BECAUSE IT WAS KEPT IN MUCH POORER CONDITIONS, THAN THESE NOW. I HATED TO LOSE THAT BOOK WHEN IT LITERALLY BECAME DUST IN THE WIND.
HERE ARE SOME EDITORIAL INSIGHTS ABOUT THE AUTUMN SEASON, HEADED SIMPLY, "LIGHT-HEARTED OCTOBER." "AND WHILE THE FARM FAMILY READS ON, THEY MIGHT ALSO FEEL THAT THEY ARE BREATHING-IN AN EXCITING NEW LIFE; ONE WITH ASSURANCES, THAT ALL IS RIGHT IN THE HOME AND GARDEN; ENJOYING HEARTFULLY, THE INVIGORATION OF EARLY AUTUMN WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE. "IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT WE ASSOCIATE WITH THIS SEASON THE IDEA OF CHEERFULNESS AND MIRTH AND LIGHT-HEARTED LABOR."
"ONE MIGHT SUPPOSE THAT EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE EFFECT WOULD BE PRODUCED UPON US BY ALL THE THREATENING TOKENS. THE DREARY TIME OF SHORT DARK DAYS, GRAY WEATHER, AND STORMS APPROACHING; THE IMPRISONMENT OF THE SNOW, THE BLEAK WINTER COLD. THE FLOWERS ARE GONE, THE LEAVES ARE GOING; FROST IS ALREADY UPON US; THE SUMMER'S SAUNTERING IS OVER, THE MOON-LIT STROLL, THE SUNSET SAIL; THE WINDS ARE KEEN AND NIPPING, THE GROUND IS DAMP AND SODDEN, AND ONE MIGHT SUPPOSE IT DEBATABLE WHETHER IT WERE BEST TO KEEP ALIVE OR NOT, INSTEAD OF REJOICING OURSELVES OVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE, UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS; IT WERE A BOON WORTH HAVING.
"AND YET SUCH IS THE PERVERSITY OF HUMAN NATURE, THAT NOT WHEN SPRING RUSTLES ALL HER PROMISE OF PERFUME AND BLOSSOM, OF WARMTH AND EASE AND BEAUTY, WHEN THE SAP MOUNTS AND THE BLOOD BUBBLES AND THE YEAR OPENS WITH RENEWAL OF YOUTH'S FRESHNESS, ARE WE HALF SO CHEERFUL AS WHEN THIS RED AUTUMN HANGS OUT HIS BANNER. WE TAKE NO HEED THEN OF THE FUTURE, AND WE FORGET THAT ALL THE SPLENDOR OF HIS ARRAY CHANGES PRESENTLY, LIKE FAIRY MONEY, TO ASHES; GHOSTS WHOSE APPARITION DOES NOT GIVE US APPREHENSION. THE DAZZLING COLOR IS ENOUGH FOR US NOW; AND WITH THE GOLDEN SUNSHINE OF THE ELMS AND BEECHES, THE ROYAL PURPLE OF THE ASH, THE DULL CRIMSON AND BROWN OF THE OAK, THE SUPERB AND SCARLET FLAMING OF MAPLE AND TUPELO AND SUMAC, THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE IS FULL OF SPLENDOR, AND WE CATCH THE SPIRIT OF JUBILEE - PERHAPS BATTALIONS AND TRIUMPHANT JUBILEE - AW WE MARCH OUT TO CONQUER THE COMING HOSTS OF WINTER." THIS, BY THE WAY, WAS WRITTEN BY HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFORD, AND PUBLISHED BY THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.
HARRIET SPOFFORD WRITES OF "AUTUMN CHEER," AS FOLLOWS: "HOW MUCH OF THIS CHEERFULNESS IS DUE TO THE BRACING INFLUENCES OF THE AIR, WHICH IS APT TO WORK LIKE IRON IN THE VEINS, AND HOW MUCH TO THE EFFECT OF LIGHT AND COLOR UPON THE NERVES, IT IS NOT QUITE EASY TO DETERMINE. BY THE BRACING ATMOSPHERE OF THE SEA-SIDE OR OF THE MOUNTAINS, HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT ALWAYS MADE PERFECTLY CHEERFUL, BUT BY THAT OF THE SUNNY FALL DAYS, OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL, THE HAPPY CHANGE SELDOM FAILS TO BE WROUGHT, AND WE MAY PROUDLY IMAGINE IN OURSELVES, AN UNGUESSED AND UNCONSCIOUS SUSCEPTIBILITY TO BEAUTY THAT IS ABLE TO WORK MIRACLES AND TURN EVEN DEAD LEAVES INTO THE BRILLIANT JEWELS OF THE TREES OF THE ARABIAN'S GARDEN.
"THERE IS SUCH AN ILLUMINATION PRESENT EVERYWHERE, SUCH AN AIRY SPLENDOR LIFTING THE WOODS THEMSELVES, SUCH A FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD SET AMONG ALL DEAD FERNS AND BRAKES AND STUBBLE; THERE IS SUCH A LOFTY SOARING OF THE LIGHTED SKY ABOVE US AND AROUND, THAT THE WILL OF BEAUTY MUST BE WROUGH UNAWARE UPON THE VERIEST DOLT AND CLOWN AMONGST US. FAR OFF, TOO, ON THE HORIZON SUCFH HAZES BROOD, WITH THEIR SOFT DEEP VIOLET TINTS, NOW AND THEN LETTING A SHEET OF SUNLIGHT THROUGH TO SIFT UPON THE SCENE, LEADING INTO THE UNKNOWN, AND BORROWING FROM THE INFINITE, AND GIVING A CERTAIN SATISFACTION IN THE VIEW; FOR WHEREVER ANY SUGGESTION OF THE INFINITE IS GIVEN, COMFORT IS TO BE FOUND BY THOSE MORTALS TO WHOM THE IDEA OF MORTALITY IS HEAVY WITH GLOOM.
"THUS IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE THAT OUT OF THE MERE AFFAIRS OF THE FANCY, THE HUES OF LEAF AND SKY AND LANDSCAPE, A POSITIVE HAPPINESS IS WROUGHT QUITE EQUAL TO THE HAPPINESS USUALLY GIVEN BY WHAT ARE RECKONED MORE SUBSTANTIAL THINGS. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT AMONG THE MOST CHEERFUL SENSATIONS PRODUCED BY EXTERNALS ARE THOSE PRODUCED BY VARIOUS DEGREES OF RED, ESPECIALLY THE SHADES OF CHERRY, CARNATION AND DEEP CRIMSON. THE COQUETTE UNDERSTANDS THIS AS SHE KNOTS A RED RIBBON IN HER HAIR, AND THE BEAUTY, TOO, WHOSE DEMASK BLUSH IS HER CHIEF ORNAMENT; THE CRIMSON CARPETED ROOM IS THE ONE WHICH INSTANTLY REMINDS US OF WARMTH AND PLEASURE, AND IN WHICH ANY GREAT FALL OF SPIRITS FROM A HIGH TEMPERATURE SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE; IT IS THE GRAY SEA PICTURE INTO WHICH TURNER THRUSTS THE VERMILLION-COLORED BUOY, AND TRANSFORMS IT; IT IS THE RUSSET-COLORED AUTUMN THAT NATURE ENLIVENS WITH THE SCARLET LEAF.
"AND YET THESE REDS ARE THE COLOR OF BLOOG, THE SIGNAL OF BATTLE, THE EXPONENT OF SLAUGHTER AND OF FIRE; AND WHY A COLOR THAT IS THE VERY FLAG OF WAR, AND THE REPRESENTATION OF CRUEL WOUNDS OF DEATH, SHOULD GIVE US PLEASANT AND COMFORTABLE SENSATIONS, IS ONLY EXPLICABLE BY THE SUPPOSITION THAT IN ITSELF THE ROSY RAY ACTS AS A STIMULANT UPON THE NERVES, EXCITING THESE COMFORTABLE SENSATIONS. THERE IS, INDEED, SOMETHING RATHER FLATTERING TO OUR VANITY IN THE BELIEF THAT WE ARE THUS STRONGLY AFFECTED BY SUCH AESTHETIC FORCES; BUT IF IT IS SUPPOSABLE THAT THE MOST OF US HAVE SOULS, THE IDEA IS NEITHER VERY EXTRAORDINARY NOR FANTASTIC."
THE MOST ILLUMINATING PARAGRAPH FOR THIS WRITER, AUTUMN ENTHUSIAST, READS AS FOLLOWS: "BUT QUITE APART FROM THIS MERELY INTELLECTUAL OR NERVOUS ACTION UPON OUR BATTERIES IN THIS MATTER OF THE AUTUMN CHEER, IS THE MUCH MORE EARTHLY AND SOLID CONTENT OCCASIONED BY THE COMPLETION OF THE HARVEST AND HARVESTING, THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE ROUND WORLD OVER THE LABORER IS REAPING HIS REWARD, THAT THE EARTH HAS AGAIN PAID HER DIVIDEND TO THE RACE, THAT NATURE HAS DONE HER DUTY AND KEPT HER PROMISE, THAT THE GREAT GUARDIAN STILL SEES THAT NEITHER SEED-TIME NOR HARVEST FAILS IN ITS SEASON. INDEED, IF THE BURSTING OF THE LEAF AND FLOWER MAKES ONE FEEL THAT GOD IS ALIVE, IN HIS WORLD, THEN THE RIPENING OF THE BROAD FIELDS FROM EAST TO WEST OF THE PLANET, FILLING OF THE VAST GRANARIES, THE GIFT OF THE YEAR'S FOOD TO MAN AND BEAST, GIVE ONE EVEN FIRMER ASSURANCE THAT THE GRET PULSE IS BEATING THROUGH THE DAYS AND NIGHTS, AND THAT THE ETERNAL LIFE AND THE ETERNAL LOVE GO HAND IN HAND. WHAT WONDER, THEN, THAT, ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT PAUSE TO CONSIDER IT, THE CONSCIOUSNESS THAT WE ARE SO SURROUNDED BY THE DIVINE CARE THAT NO MALICE OF THE FIERCE ELEMENTS CAN REACH US SHOULD MAKE US LIGHT-HEARTED ENOUGH TO GO FORWARD GAYLY, TO MEET THE LEY DARTS THAT WINTER SLINGS, SECURE IN OUR POWER OF PROTECTION, AND DELIGHTING TO TURN OLD JANUARIES FROM AN ENEMY TO A FRIEND."
"THUS WE SEE THAT, AFTER ALL, THERE IS NOTHING SO SINGULAR IN THIS AUTUMN CHEERFULNESS, AND THAT, INDEED, A CONTRARY SPIRIT WOULD BE A SINGULAR THING, WHILE FEW FOLLIES COULD BE GREATER, HAVING THIS CHARMING PRESENT, THAN TO IGNORE IT THROUGH FEAR OF TOMORROW, AND THAT IT IS WISDOM AS WELL AS PLEASURE TO ENJOY THIS BRIGHT DAY WHILE IT LASTS."
I DON'T KNOW IF THE FARMSTEAD READER, MIGHT WELL HAVE CLOSED UP THE BOOK, SET IT ON HIS OR HER OWN LAP, AND UTTERED, "NONSENSE, SIMPLY NONSENSE," OR ON THE OTHER HAND, WHISPERED TO A LOVED-ONE, "OUR FAILED HARVEST WAS GOD'S WILL." THE OPTIMISM FROM THESE PASSAGES, OOZES FROM THE PAGES RATHER GENEROUSLY, BUT I'M NOT AT ALL SURE HOW IT WAS ALL JUSTIFIED AND PLACED IN THE REALM OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, WHEN GOING INTO THE WINTER SEASON, A LESSER HARVEST AND SMALL INCOME MEANT, A NEAR STARVATION DIET UNTIL THE VERY NEXT HARVEST. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, IF EVER ONCE, THIS CHEERFUL, INSPIRING BOOK, WAS SLAMMED DOWN ON A TABLE, AND LEFT UNREAD FOR YEARS AFTER, BECAUSE OF ITS SUGGESTION THAT THERE ARE NO FAILED HARVESTS IN THE GOOD OLD WORLD. IT IS A WHIMSICAL BOOK, AT THE SAME TIME AS BEING PRACTICAL IN MANY WAYS, BUT ALWAYS A REMINDER OF CHRISTIAN VALUES AND A DIVINE SPARK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE, OF HAVING UNFETTERED FAITH IN GOD. BOOKS LIKE THESE DID HAVE A PLACE IN THE FARMSTEADS OF MUSKOKA AS MUCH AS IN THE PARLORS AND KITCHENS OF FARMS AND HOMES IN NORTH DAKOTA, OR MINNESOTA, KENTUCKY OR ALBERTA. IT WAS THE SENSIBILITY OF THE PUBLISHERS AND THE AUTHOR, TO MAKE A BOOK APPEAL TO THE SENSES….AND ONE THAT COULD INFLUENCE A FAILING FARMER TO FEEL PROSPEROUS FOR A TIME…..DESPITE A POOR HARVEST. THERE WAS GOODNESS WITHIN THE MOST ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND EVEN WINTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHERISHED FOR ITS POSITIVE INFLUENCES TOWARD HOME ECONOMICS AND FAMILY CLOSENESS. THE FACT THAT CABIN FEVER AND ENDLESS SNOW NEARLY DROVE THEM NUTS, IN THOSE COUNTRYSIDE SHELTERS, DOESN'T ENTER THE EQUATION IN THIS BOOK, AND OTHERS WRITTEN WITH THE SAME DETERMINATION, TO DRAW CHEERFULNESS FROM OTHERWISE BLEAK SITUATIONS.
AS FAR AS ITS REPRESENTATION OF THE AUTUMN SEASON, AND THE COLORS OF NATURE, I WISH I COULD WRITE AS WELL AS HARRIET SPOFFORD.
IT IS BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE, EVEN IN THE RAIN, AS I'M SURE YOU WILL AGREE, IF YOU'VE BEEN TOURING THE BACKROADS OF OUR DISTRICT, AS FRED SCHULZ AND I HAVE, PUTTING TOGETHER THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, TO REPRESENT THE SEASONS OF MUSKOKA. PLEASE JOIN ME TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER VISIT WITH MISS SPOFFORD, AS SHE WRITES ABOUT "THE HEARTH," OF OUR VICTORIAN HOMES AND HOMESTEADS. HOPE YOU CAN SPARE SOME TIME TO VISIT AGAIN. IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.
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