Antiquing in Muskoka; A History Lesson Looking Back In Canada Circa. 1904

Taken from a 1904 Canadian Magazine Collection

Cat-zilla; Three headed cat of Birch Hollow-Zappa, Beasley and Chutney. Rob Currie Photo

A 1904 GLIMPSE BACK OVER THE PREVIOUS CENTURY - AN OVERVIEW OF CANADIAN PIONEER LIFE

WRITER FRANK VEIGH, PROFILES "HOW OUR GRANDFATHERS (AND GRANDMOTHERS) LIVED" IN THE OLDEN DAYS!

     I AM WRITING THIS TODAY, BY THE TOTAL GRACE OF A BENEVOLENT GOD. I NEARLY MET MY MAKER THIS MORNING. SO EVERYTHING IS REAL POIGNANT TO ME RIGHT NOW. EVEN THIS PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE I'M EATING. THE LAST ONE IN THE TIN, I MIGHT ADD; WHICH IS NOT MAKING ME POPULAR, AT THIS MOMENT. I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU FOLKS A HUG. I MAY BE HUGGING PEOPLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME INTO THE FUTURE, TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION FOR THE GOOD LIFE I HAVE.....BECAUSE OF A RUBBER TIP ON AN ALUMINUM POLE. THAT'S RIGHT. I WAS SAVED BY A KNOB. OF ALL THE KNOBS I'VE KNOWN, AND THE KNOB I'VE BEEN, THIS, IN THE PRESENT TENSE, WAS A PRECIOUS LITTLE FELLOW OF UNKNOW RUBBER CONTENT.
     LAST NIGHT, I WAS ABLE TO FASHION A SIZABLE EXTENSION ON MY LARGE PLASTIC FAN RAKE, I USE FOR ROOF CLEARING, BY UTILIZING AN EXPANDING (TELESCOPING) ALUMINUM HANDLE OF A BROKEN BROOM. WITH IT TAPED SECURELY TOGETHER, I HAD A HUGE REACH OF ABOUT FIFTEEN FEET. SO I WAS ABLE TO GET A LOT OF SNOW OFF THE ROOF THIS WAY, AND EVEN WITH MY TWO FEET ON THE GROUND. I BROKE THE FOOT OFF MY LADDER ON SUNDAY, SO UNTIL I FIND A SOLUTION TO THAT ISSUE, I'LL SATISFY MYSELF, WITH AT LEAST BEING ABLE TO RELEASE THE THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF SNOW OFF THE EDGES OF THE ROOF, ALL AROUND THE HOUSE WE CALL BIRCH HOLLOW. THIS HAS BEEN HELPFUL. THIS HOME-MADE SNOW REMOVER IS LIGHT WEIGHT, AND BENDS OVER THE ROOF BEAUTIFULLY. I BRING A LOT OF SNOW DOWN UPON MY NOGGIN, BUT I WAS A GOALIE, WHO GOT HIT IN THE HEAD A LOT....SO I ONLY SLIGHTLY NOTICE THE HARD KNOCKS OF ICE CHUNKS BOUNCING OFF MY BALL CAP.
     I WAS DOING A LITTLE CLEARING, WITH MY CONTRAPTION, AROUND THE ELECTRICAL SERVICE TO THE HOUSE; WHICH WAS HEAVILY BURIED ON THE ROOF BY ABOUT THREE FEET OF DRIFTED, ICY SNOW. I DID AMAZINGLY WELL, AND PRETTY MUCH FREED UP THE LINES AND CONNECTION, WITHOUT EVEN BEING CLOSE TO THE HYDRO LINES. EVEN THEN, IT WAS WITH THE PLASTIC RAKE FLANGES CONNECTED TO THE WOOD HANDLE. BUT BEING A SAFETY CRAZOID, I WAS STILL VERY CAREFUL TO AVOID ANY CONTACT WITH THE LINES, JUST IN CASE. SON ROBERT BARKED AT ME A COUPLE OF TIMES, WHILE HE WAS CLEARING THE WALKWAY, THAT I SHOULD WATCH THE HYDRO LINES. "YOU ALWAYS TELL US TO BE CAREFUL DAD....SO NOW I'M TELLING YOU," HE SAID, WITH HIS HEAD LOWERED TO THE TASK OF HEAVY SNOW REMOVAL. "YEA, YEA," I RESPONDED, TRYING TO CLEAR SOME SNOW FROM THE BACK OF MY NECK. IN SO DOING, I SWUNG THE AMALGAMATED POLE DOWN, WITH THE RAKE AT GROUND LEVEL, IN PREPARATION OF MOVING TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, NOW THAT THE WALKWAY WAS CLEAR. THUS, THE ALUMINUM END, WAS REVERSED, AND WHILE I WAS FLIPPING IT OVER TO MAKE WALKING WITH THIS HUGE DEVICE A LITTLE EASIER, I FELT A BUMP REVERBERATE THROUGH THE TAPED TOGETHER SHAFT. "JESUS DAD, YOU JUST HIT THE POWER LINE," ROB YELLED AT ME, WHITE IN THE FACE, WITH MOUTH GAPING OPEN. "HOW COULD YOU DO THAT? I JUST WARNED YOU ABOUT IT TWO MINUTES AGO! THAT'S THE WAY TO EXIT FROM THE HOUSE IN A HEARSE."
   I STOOD THERE, NOT SMOKING FROM THE SHOES, BY THE WAY, LIKE TIM "THE TOOL MAN" TAYLOR, FROM THE TELEVISION SHOW "HOME IMPROVEMENT," FEELING PRETTY STUPID THAT I HAD FORGOTTEN HOW CLOSE I WAS TO THE ELECTRICAL SERVICE....AND HOW BIG THE RAKE WAS, IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF BIRCH HOLLOW FIXTURES. SO WHAT DOES THE LITTLE DARLING DO? TELLS HIS MOTHER AND BROTHER, AND SO I HAVE HAD A WHOLE MORNING OF REPRIMANDS. THAT LITTLE RUBBER KNOB ON THE END OF THE HANDLE, ON THE LENGTH OF ALUMINUM PIPE, WAS WHAT CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE HYDRO LINE. I WAS HOLDING IT ON THE WOOD END OF THE RAKE, BUT MY HAND WAS ON THE DUCT TAPE CONNECTION, BETWEEN THE TWO....WOOD AND METAL. SO I'M PRETTY SURE, IF I'D ACTUALLY CONNECTED THE METAL TO THE POWER LINE, THE DUCT TAPE WASN'T GOING TO SAVE MY SORRY ASS. BUT AT LEAST MY SMOLDERING REMAINS WOULDN'T HAVE SET THE HOUSE ON FIRE, BECAUSE OF THE FACT I WAS COVERED IN SNOW, AND SURROUNDED BY IT WHERE I WAS WORKING. SO I'VE BEEN VERY HUMBLE TODAY SO FAR, AND ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SAYING IT WAS A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE, IT WAS LIKE PLAYING HORSESHOES WITH THE GRIM REAPER, WHERE CLOSE DOES COUNT. MY GUARDIAN ANGEL AT THAT MOMENT OF IMPACT, PROBABLY SAID TO GOD, "THAT CURRIE GUY IN GRAVENHURST, NEVER GIVES UP TESTING MY WINGS!"
     SO I'VE NOW BEEN PUT ON RESTRICTIVE USE OF DEVICES LIKE MY HUGE SNOW RAKE, AND WHERE I CAN USE IT AROUND THE HOUSE. IT WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED I WRITE THIS CONFESSIONAL, TO REMIND FOLKS TO AVOID BRUSHING SNOW AWAY FROM ELECTRICAL SERVICES, AND FROM ENCROACHING TREES, WITHOUT CONSULTATION FROM PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD. I AM LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED THIS LITTLE BRUSH WITH DEATH, AND I'M THINKING ABOUT BUYING A LOTTERY TICKET....ALTHOUGH MY GUARDIAN ANGEL WINCES AT THIS SUGGESTION. SHE'S NOT A GAMBLER, AS SHE REMINDS ME IN OUR MUTUAL DREAMS. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE. IT'S NOT JUST THE SNOW LOAD YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT PIONEER LIFE, FROM A 1904 PERSPECTIVE

     IT'S THE KIND OF ARTICLE AND PUBLICATION GENERALLY, I INSIST ON HAVING IN MY ARCHIVES OF REFERENCE MATERIAL, BECAUSE IT SERVES BOTH OF MY PROFESSIONS. IT OFFERS INSIGHTS INTO CANADIAN HISTORY, UP TO AND INCLUDING 1904, AND IT DISCUSSES SOME OF THE ANTIQUES FROM THE PERIOD, WHICH I HAPPEN TO OFFER FOR SALE IN OUR GRAVENHURST SHOP. I ALWAYS LIKE TO HAVE INFORMATION SUCH AS THIS, FROM AS FAR BACK AS I CAN, BECAUSE OUR MODERN DAY INTERPRETATIONS OF ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES, ARE VERY DISTANT NOW, FROM THE SOURCE PERIOD THEY GENERATED FROM. WHILE SOME OF COURSE, WOULD ARGUE, WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION TO WORK WITH TODAY, TO ENABLE US TO BE MORE THOROUGH IN RESEARCH. IN MANY CASES THIS IS TRUE. WHAT I FIND HOWEVER, IS THAT THE YOUNG GENERATION WRITING THESE ANTIQUE GUIDE BOOKS, HAVE NEVER REALLY SPENT MUCH TIME RESEARCHING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PIONEER PERIOD IN NORTH AMERICA.....AND ITS RELATED RELICS AND ANTIQUITIES. WHAT YOU GET ARE GENERALIZATIONS AND VERY LITTLE ACCOMPANYING STORY....WHICH IS WHAT SUZANNE AND I WANT AS MUCH AS IS AVAILABLE. WE HAVE RUN MUSEUM COLLECTIONS, AND BOTH OF US, HAVE GUIDED HISTORIC TOURS, AND GIVEN MUSEUM LECTURES, ON MATTERS OF LOCAL HERITAGE; SO WE LIKE TO BE JUST AS THOROUGH, AS ANTIQUE DEALERS, WHEN DISCUSSING PIECES WITH OUR CUSTOMERS......WHO SEEM TO LIKE THE FACT WE GO THE EXTRA DISTANCE TO IDENTIFY ARTIFACTS AND DEVICES FROM ANOTHER ERA. THERE ARE DEALERS OUT THERE, WHO JUST PUT A QUESTION MARK ON THE PRICE TAG, AND ATTACH A VALUATION THAT IS USUALLY WAY OFF THE ACCURATE APPRAISAL. HOW DO YOU PUT A PRICE ON SOMETHING YOU CAN'T IDENTIFY? I HAVE IMPROPERLY IDENTIFIED QUITE A NUMBER OF ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES OVER THE PAST THIRTY-FIVE YEARS, AND MOST OF THE TIME, IT HAS COST ME BIG MONEY. I CAN TELL BY THE SMILES ON THE FACES OF HAPPY BUYERS, THAT I'VE JUST SOLD SOMETHING OF CONSIDERABLE VALUE, FOR MUCH, MUCH LESS. ALL BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE ITEM WAS IN ANTIQUE TERMS. WHAT LOOKS LIKE A HALF-MOON PEWTER DISH, COULD HAVE BEEN A BLOOD-LETTING BOWL FROM THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. SO I'VE DEFINITELY LEARNED BY EXPERIENCE, TO TAKE IDENTIFICATION EXERCISES SERIOUSLY, AS PART OF MY DUE DILIGENCE AS A DEALER; AND OF COURSE, TO MAKE SURE OUR CUSTOMERS ARE GETTING EXACTLY WHAT HAS BEEN NOTED ON THE PRICE TAG, AS BACKGROUND INFORMATION. BUT HAVING ARTICLES IN BOOKS LIKE THE EARLY ISSUES OF "THE CANADIAN MAGAZINE," HELP US BE MORE THOROUGH IN OUR RESEARCH. SO HERE NOW, ARE A FEW PARAGRAPHS FROM THIS RATHER INTERESTING POST VICTORIAN ARTICLE, WRITTEN BY FRANK VEIGH, IN THE YEAR 1904.
     "BUT A CENTURY HAS BEEN REQUIRED TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE WAY OF LIVING IN THE ENGLISH SPEAKING PART OF CANADA. RURAL QUEBEC HAS FELT THE REVOLUTION TO MUCH LESS DEGREE, BUT IN ONTARIO, THE CHANGE FROM THE CONDITIONS OF A LIFE OF A HUNDRED YEARS AGO (1804), HAS BEEN A RADICAL ONE. IT IS INDEED DIFFICULT TO REALIZE IN THIS AGE OF RAPID TRANSPORTATION, APPLIED SCIENCE AND READY ACCESSIBILITY TO THE NECESSARIES AS WELL AS THE LUXURIES OF LIFE, THAT THESE SIMPLER TIMES OF OUR FORBEARS ARE NOT MORE REMOTE. MR. GOLDWIN SMITH - NOW AN OCTOGENARIAN - BRIDGED HIS SPAN OF LIFE WHEN, IN A REMINISCENT MOOD, HE WAS ABLE TO SAY, 'I HAVE TALKED WITH A MAN WHO TALKED TO THE MAN WHO WAS PREMIER OF ENGLAND IN 1801 - TO ADDINGTON ABOUT PITT. I REMEMBER THE REJOICING IN ENGLAND OVER THE REFORM BILL. I REMEMBER SEEING THE FARM BUILDINGS NEAR MY FATHER'S HOUSE, BURNED BY RAIDERS WHO OPPOSED THE INTRODUCTION OF THRESHING MACHINES. I RECALL, AS A LAD, SEEING THE SERVANTS LIGHT THE FIRE WITH A TINDER BOX. I HAVE SEEN A MAN IN THE STOCK. I HAVE HEARD THE CURFEW. I TAUGHT HIS PRESENT MAJESTY, KING EDWARD, ENGLISH HISTORY WHEN HE WAS A LAD.' IN LIKE MANNER, THERE ARE THOUSANDS STILL LIVING IN OUR OWN LAND, WHO HAVE PASSED THROUGH EXPERIENCES SIMILAR TO THOSE HERE RELATED; THERE ARE MANY MORE, OF A LATER GENERATION, WHO HAVE HAD THE DOMESTIC LIFE OF THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY, BROUGHT VIVIDLY TO MIND BY THESE AGED EYE-WITNESSES.
     "THE ADVANTAGES IN THUS RECALLING SOME OF THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR GRANDFATHERS (AND GRANDMOTHERS) LIVED, ARE OBVIOUS. THE COMPARISON WILL SERVE AS A BASIS FOR ESTIMATING THE DISTANCE WE HAVE ADVANCED, IN LITTLE MORE THAN TWO GENERATIONS. IT SHOULD, MOREOVER, LEAD US TO RECOGNIZE MORE FULLY, THE DEBT WE OWE TO THOSE VALIANT PIONEERS, FOR THE BRAVE BATTLES THEY FOUGHT UNDER ADVERSE CONDITIONS. IF CANADA SHOULD EVER HAVE A HALL OF FAME OR A ROLL OF IMMORTALS, THESE HUMBLE FOUNDATION-BUILDERS WOULD DESERVE A NICHE EQUALLY WITH THE HEROES OF THE BATTLEFIELD, OR THE LEADERS OF THE STATE. ONE MAY FURTHER REALIZE THE FORMER DAYS BY RECALLING THAT CANADIANS OF 1800, HAD NO RAILWAYS, NO STEAMBOATS, NO HIGHWAYS, IN THE MODERN SENSE, NO TELEGRAPHS OR TELEPHONES, NO HARNESSED ELECTRICITY, NO HORSELESS HORSE CARS, NO AUTOMOBILES (THANK HEAVEN). THEY WERE PRACTICALLY WITHOUT CLERGYMEN, DOCTORS, JUDGES OR LAWYERS, AND THE SCHOOLMASTER WAS NOT YET ABROAD IN THE LAND. THE ABUNDANT CROP OF PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATIVES OF TODAY (OVER 700 IN ALL THE LEGISLATIVE BODIES OF CANADA CIRCA 1904), HAD NOT YET BEGUN TO SPROUT IN EARNEST. THERE WAS LITTLE MONEY IN CIRCULATION WITH WHICH TO CARRY ON BUSINESS; THERE WERE NO STORES TO SPEAK OF, AND CONSEQUENTLY NO BARGAIN DAYS. THERE WAS NO GAS AND NOW SUCH THING AS A MATCH; THE FLINT AND STEEL, OR THE BRIMSTONE-TIPPED PINE STICK WAS RELIED UPON FOR STARTING THE FLAME. THERE WERE NO ENVELOPES, NO BLOTTING-PAPER, NO STEEL PENS, AND THE SAND BOX WAS IN REQUISITION TO DRY THE INK; IN FACT, THERE WAS A SAD LACK OF WHAT WE IN THIS WISER GENERATION REGARD AS ESSENTIALS.
     "BUT THERE WERE COMPENSATING ADVANTAGES; A SIMPLICITY AND WHOLESOMENESS OF LIFE THAT ENSURED HEALTH AND LENGTH OF DAY; SO LONG A LIFE THAT AN OLD FAMILY RECORD SPEAKS OF THE 'PREMATURE DEATH,' OF A MAN OF 84. THERE WAS A RATIONAL EMPLOYMENT OF GOD'S BEST BLESSINGS OF NATURE; A HEARTY, UNAFFECTED SOCIAL LIFE, AND A SOUND MORAL SENSE OF RIGHT AND JUSTICE. THERE WAS MUTUAL SELF-HELP, A HOSPITALITY THAT WAS NOT MEASURED BY MOTIVE, OR BURDENED BY A TABLE OF GOOD THINGS, WHERE IT WAS BAD FORM TO REFUSE WHAT WAS OFFERED; NO MATTER WHAT NATURE THE PENALTY MIGHT BE. IN A WORD, A SANE MODE OF LIFE WAS LIVED THAT PRODUCED STRONG MEN AND WOMEN. BRAVE IN TRUTH WERE OR GRANDMOTHERS - BRAVE IN WHAT THEY ENDURED IN THE LONELINESS AND ISOLATION OF PIONEER LIFE; IN THE DANGERS, TOO, WHEN THE WEIRD HOWL, OF THE HUNGRY WOLF, WAS HEARD IN THE FOREST NEAR THE CLEARING; OR WHEN THE STEALTH-STEPPING INDIAN, WOULD GLIDE LIKE AN APPARITION, UNHERALDED AND UNANNOUNCED, INTO THE LOG HOME. BRAVE WERE THEY IN THE SPIRIT IN WHICH SORROWS WERE BORNE AND TESTING TRIALS MET.
     "THE LADIES OF A CENTURY AGO DID NOT, FORTUNATELY, HAVE TO RELY UPON THE FASHION-PLATES OF A DAILY PAPER. NATIVE FEMININE TALENT TRANSFORMED THEIR LIMITED MATERIAL INTO SERVICEABLE GARMENTS. AT FIRST THE HIDES OF THE FUR-BEARING ANIMALS, OBTAINED FROM THE INDIANS IN BARTER, WERE THE CHIEF SOURCE OF CLOTHING SUPPLY. ONE CAN EASILY IMAGINE WHAT A ROSY-CHEEKED, BRIGHT-EYED, WELL-BUILT LASSIE OF 1800, WOULD LOOK LIKE, WHEN CLAD IN A DEERSKIN PETTICOAT, AND SKIRT, AND SQUIRREL-SKIN BONNET; BREAKING MASCULINE HEARTS QUITE AS DISASTROUSLY, AS IF SHE HAD WORN CREATIONS OF A MODERN MODISTE. AND THE UTILITY OF A DEERSKIN PETTICOAT, THAT COULD NOT BE TORN BY A ROUGH JOURNEY THROUGH THE WOODS, OR THE TURNING OF A DEERSKIN SUIT INTO A WARM BED-COVER AT NIGHT, WILL COMMEND ITSELF TO EVERY FEMININE DESCENDANT OF OUR MOTHER'S COUNTRY. NO FANCY-POINTED PATENT SHOES DRESSED THEIR FEET, FOR THERE WERE NO TANNERS, AND FOR MANY A YEAR NO SHOEMAKER, UNTIL ITINERANT ST. CRISPINS CAME ON THE SCENE - SHOEMAKERS ON CIRCUIT, LIKE THE PREACHER AND THE SCHOOL MASTER OF THE EARLY DAYS. THEY WERE THE DAYS INDEED, WHEN THE SETTLER WAS A MANY-SIDED CHARACTER, FOR HE WAS PERFORCE CARPENTER AND BLACKSMITH AND SHOEMAKER AND TAILOR IF NEED BE ROLLED INTO ONE.
     "LET US DRAW BACK THE CURTAINS OF TIME AND PEEP INTO A PIONEER LOG HOME. THE ROUGH-WALLED RETREAT IS BUT RUDELY FURNISHED AND ITS FLOOR IS CARPETED WITH SKINS OR RAG-CARPETS. A LADDER LEADS TO THE ATTIC, WHERE ANY NUMBER OF MEN-FOLK CAN BE STOWED AWAY AT NIGHT-TIME. THE HEARTHSTONE IS THE ALTAR OF THE HOME, AND SEATED IN A SEMI-CIRCLE AROUND IT ARE ITS PRIESTESSES. BUSY, BUSY, ALWAYS BUSY ARE THE WOMEN-FOLK, AMID A BUZZ OF TALK THAT MINGLES WITH THE HUM OF THE DISTAFF, OR THE SONG OF THE SPINNING WHEEL."
     THERE SITS GRANDMOTHER IN FRONT OF THE DEEPLY RECESSED FIREPLACE, WHICH GLOWS CHEERILY RED FROM THE GIANT BACK LOG THAT REQUIRED THE STRENGTH OF A HORSE, TO DRAW IT TO THE CABIN DOOR. A BENEDICTION IS IN GRANDMOTHER'S PLACID FACE, AND INSPIRATION IN HER SMILE, AND EVIDENT PEACE OF HEART UNDER QUAINT STARCHED CAP. STIRRING TALES THE DEAR OLD MOTHER CAN TELL, OF THE FLIGHT OF HER LOYALIST FAMILY, FROM THE NEW ENGLAND HOME, TO THE SHORES OF QUINTE; INVOLVING HARDSHIPS THAT SHOW WHAT STUFF GRANDMOTHER WAS MADE OF. TALES TOO, OF THE FIRST DAYS IN THE NEW LAND, WHEN A FRESH START IN LIFE HAD TO BE MADE."
     "THERE TOO SITS THE DEAR MOTHER IN HOMESPUN, AND EVEN AS A HEN GATHERETH HER CHICKENS UNDER HER WING, SO MOTHER, BY LOADSTONE OF LOVE, ATTRACTS HER BROOD TO HER SKIRTS. ALL THE BONNY CHILDREN ARE EARLY TAUGHT TO WORK. THAT WE CAN SEE AS WE GAZE INTO THE INTERIOR, TO SPIN AND SEW IF THEY BE GIRLS; TO FASHION TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTS IF THEY BE BOYS. TO THE RIGHT IS A GROUP OF DAUGHTERS BREAKING, SCUTCHING AND SPINNING FLAX FROM WHICH WILL COME THE TABLE LINEN AND WEARING APPAREL, THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME. SEWING AND KNITTING MACHINES ARE UNKNOWN, BUT NATURE'S DEFT HANDS ARE THE IMPLEMENTS THAT PRODUCE THE BEST OF GOODS. SO WORK AWAY THE LASSIES.
     "WHAT A WONDER-PALACE THE LOG-RIBBED ROOM IS! WHO WOULD EVER DREAM THAT SUCH AN INVENTORY OF ARTICLES COULD BE CROWDED IN THE LITTLE APARTMENT. ON THE FIREPLACE SHELF ARE THE HEIRLOOMS IN CROCKERY, TRAVELLED CROCKERY MIND YOU, FOR IT HAS SEEN FOREIGN LANDS AND CROSSED THE ATLANTIC IN A CLIPPER SHIP, AND AFTERWARDS HEARD THE CANNON OF A REVOLUTION. THE LIGHT OF BURNING LOGS IS ADDED TO BY THE TALLOW DIPS AND THE CANDLES, AND THERE, SURE ENOUGH, IS THE CANDLE BOX AND THE CANDLE MOULD. THE GOURD DIPPER HANGS FROM ITS NAIL, AND THE SKIMMER FOR USE IN THE SUGARING-OFF, IS ITS NEIGHBOUR. THEY HAVE OFTEN WORKED TOGETHER IN THE MAPLE WOODS. SHINING WARMING PANS SPEAK OF WARM FEET. WAFFLE IRONS TOO, AND I'LL WARRANT THE WAFFLES TASTED AS GOOD AS THE WORDS SUGGESTS. AND BY THE SAME TOKEN, I'LL WAGER THE HANDMADE TOOTH PULLER GAVE AS MUCH PAIN, AS ITS BLACK OUTLINE AND SIZE INDICATE. STRONG ENOUGH IT APPEARS TO PULL THE MOLAR OUT OF A MASTODON. AH WHAT IS THIS? SHOCKING, SHOCKING, - A TODDY LADLE, AS BRAZEN IN ITS BOLDNESS AS THE CAPACIOUS PUNCH BOWL ITSELF. PEWTER PLATES, MUGS AND SPOONS ARE IN A MILITARY LINE. SPOONS OF WOOD TOO AND FORKS OF IRON AND BUCK-HANDLED KNIVES THAT SAW ACTION THREE TIMES A DAY. AND THERE IS A CONTRIVANCE FOR CUTTING LOAF SUGAR IN THE DAYS WHEN IT WAS SOLD IN LARGE CHUNKS. ALL THESE UTENSILS AND MANY MORE ARE DIGNIFIED BY A PLACE ON THE SHELF. ABOVE HANG HAND-MADE LANTERNS. OLD GUNS THAT INVARIABLY KICKED - AND KILLED. POWDER HORNS, DISCOLORED WITH YEARS OF USE. A TIN DINNER HORN OF PRODICIOUS LENGTH THAT HAS CALLED MANY A LABOURER FROM THE STUMP-STREWN FIELDS TO HIS MEALS. AXE HEADS, A SCORE OF THEM IT SEEMS, AND THE OLDEST BOY OVER IN THE CORNER, WHITTLING SOMETHING, CAN SINK THE BIGGEST AXE OF THE LOT, UP TO ITS HILT, IN A SOFT ELM OR MAPLE AT ONE BLOW, FOR THOSE WERE THE DAYS OF MUSCLE - APPLIED MUSCLE."
     "THE APPLE-PARER AND BONE GOUGE FOR CORING THE APPLES, BRING UP VISIONS OF THE DAYS OF THE SOCIAL BEE - APPLE BEES, HUSKING BEES, QUILTING BEES, LOGGING AND CLEARING AND BARN RAISING BEES - ALL OF THEM TIMES OF SOCIAL GAYETY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WANDERING FIDDLER COULD BE WAYLAID FOR THE EVENTS. GOOD OLD-FASHIONED FUN DID OUR GRANDFOLKS GET OUT OF LIFE ON THESE GREAT OCCASIONS, EVEN THOUGH THE WAG-AT-THE-WALL CLOCK, SOLEMNLY TICKED ITS DISAPPROVAL. THE BUSHY-BROWED SETTLER BENDS TO STIR UP THE SLUMBERING FIRE WITH THE LONG-HANDLED POKER, FOR A FIERCE HEAT IS RADIATED FROM THE DEEP BED OF EMBERS; AND AS THE EYE FOLLOWS HIS MOVEMENTS IT CATCHES SIGHT OF THE WORLD OF POTS, AND PANS, AND KETTLES, THAT SWING FROM GREAT CRANES. IF WE ARE PATIENT WE WILL LATER HAVE A GLIMPSE OF THE SACRED HOUR OF COOKING, IN THE OLD LOG CABIN PALACE OF PEACE; WE WILL SEE, TOO, HOW THE MOTHERS OF THE FORMER TIME DID WITHOUT NEW FANGLED COOKING STOVES, AND GAS RANGES, AND PATENT OVENS AND COOK BOOKS, AND READY-TO-BE-EATEN MYSTERIES. IN THIS OLD BAKE KETTLE IS BEING PLACED A BIG BATCH OF DOUGH, AND KETTLE AND CONTENTS ARE THEN BURIED IN THE RED-HOT ASHES, AND COVERED, LID AND ALL, WITH THE GLOWING EMBERS. WHAT STORES OF GOODIES ISSUE FROM THE HEARTH. COOKIES - WHAT A WORLD OF MEANING THE WORD STILL HOLDS. CAKES, CORN AND WHEAT AND HONEY AND POUND CAKES. PIES, DEEP, LUSCIOUS, ABIDING. PASTIES, MEAT PASTIES AT THAT, THE RECIPE FOR WHICH CAME FROM DEVON, AND THE PASTIES HAVE THE FINEST OF BROWNED JUICES ON THE CURLED-UP EDGES OF THE PASTE. HONEY IN THE COMB. THAT IMPLIES THE BEES AND BEE-KEEPING, AND THE BLOWING OF HORNS AND POUNDING OF TIN CANS, TO KEEP THE BEES FROM GOING AWAY WHEN SWARMING. BUT THERE ARE MORE GOOD THINGS IN THIS ANCIENT MENU, SUCH AS APPLE TARTS AND APPLE SAUCE, AND DRIED-APPLE DISHES IN GALORE; PEASE PUDDINGS, SOURKROUT, GINGER BREAD, FAT FOWL ROASTED ON THE TURNING SPITS, MEATS FRIED IN THE LONG-HANDLED PANS TO A CHEERFUL TUNE, FROM THE SPLUTTERING GRAVY, LIKE UNTO THE SUCCULENT SOUND THAT TINY TIM, MUST HAVE HEARD, WHEN THE PUDDING SANG IN THE KETTLE ON THAT MYTHICAL CHRISTMAS OF LONG AGO. AND NOW THE FAMILY SURROUND THE TABLE, WHEN ONE REALIZES THAT THE SOLEMN WORDS OF GOVERNOR SIMCOE WERE TRUE, 'THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE YOUNG COUNTRY SEEMED TO BE IN FAVOUR OF MEN WHO DINE IN COMMON WITH THEIR SERVANTS.' POOR SIMCOE, AND HE, TRYING TO PLANT A MODIFIED ARISTOCRACY IN THE LAND, BY APPOINTING MILITARY OFFICERS TO GOVERNMENT POSITIONS."
     PART TWO OF THIS SERIES OF ARTICLES, FROM 1904, REGARDING THE PIONEER HISTORY OF CANADA, WILL CONTINUE IN TOMORROW'S BLOG. I'VE GOT TO GO OUT NOW FOR AWHILE, TO SHOVEL SOME SNOW, IN PREPARATION FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE 2014 EDITION OF "THE JANUARY THAW." I WON'T BE USING MY EXTENSION RAKE. SUZANNE HID IT FROM VIEW, SO TO KEEP HER HAPPY, I'LL STICK TO THE CONVENTIONAL METHOD OF MOVING SNOW FROM WALKWAY TO EMBANKMENT.
     NOTE ABOUT THE 1904 MAP PUBLISHED ABOVE: EVEN WHEN AN ANTIQUATED BOOK IS HEAVILY DAMAGED, YOU CAN OFTEN FIND RESOURCE-USE FOR IT, ESPECIALLY WITH AVAILABLE GRAPHICS CONTAINED WITHIN. I HAVE A LOT OF BOOKS IN BAD SHAPE, LIKE THIS CANADIAN MAGAZINE COLLECTION. THE BOOK, AS POORLY-OFF AS IT IS, WAS PUBLISHED WITH THE ABOVE-ILLUSTRATED MAP OF CANADA IN THE NEW CENTURY. THE FREE STANDING MAP IN GOOD CONDITION, CAN SELL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF TEN DOLLARS UNFRAMED, AND THIRTY DOLLARS IF TASTEFULLY FRAMED UNDER GLASS. I OFTEN GET REALLY GOOD PRICES ON OLD BOOKS, BECAUSE THEY ARE IN SERIOUS DISREPAIR, AND SALVAGE MAPS, AND OTHER GRAPHICS THAT CAN STAND-ALONE FOR SALE OR OTHER BENEFICIAL USE. MOST DEALERS AND COLLECTORS TODAY ARE MOST INTERESTED IN GOOD TO PRISTINE CONDITION BOOKS, AND THAT LEAVES A LOT OF TERRITORY FOR ME. I'M REAL FUSSY ABOUT THESE BOOKS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HAVE A NUMBER OF REDEEMING QUALITIES.....FIRST BEING HISTORICAL CONTENT THAT I CAN USE, AND SECONDLY, ILLUSTRATIONS I CAN SEPARATE FROM THE TEXT. I WON'T DO THIS IF THE BOOK IS IN GOOD CONDITION. I AM A BIBLIOPHILE FIRST, DEALER SECOND. THE OTHER PHOTO THIS EVENING.....THE THREE AMIGOS. OR MORE PRECISELY, "MOTHER AND KITTENS." THE CATS LIKE TO SIT ON TOP OF THIS OLD PINE TOOL BOX, THAT SUZANNE'S FATHER, NORM STRIPP, USED FOR HIS BOAT RESTORATION EQUIPMENT, THAT SUZANNE HAS NOW TURNED INTO STORAGE FOR HER KNITTING NEEDLES AND SEWING ACCESSORIES. THE CATS IN THE PICTURE, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, ARE "ZAPPA THE HORRIBLE," "BEASLEY THE MOTHER," AND "CHUTNEY THE KNEADER." SON ROBERT TOOK THE CANDID PHOTOGRAPH THIS MORNING.....AS WE WERE LEAVING FOR WORK....AND THEY WERE THINKING TO THEMSELVES...."NOW WE TAKE OVER THE WORLD, BUT MOSTLY, THIS HOUSE." NO KIDDING. AS SOON AS WE'RE ONE FOOT OUT THE DOOR, THEY'RE VISITING PLACES WE COMMAND THEM TO STAY AWAY FROM, AND FURNITURE WE INSIST THEY NEVER CURL UP ON. CAT FUR GIVES THEM AWAY EVERY TIME.