Della R. Prescott, John Cotton Dana
A Day in a Colonial Home
language
( July 25, 2010)
This illustrated book was published in 1921.
PREFACE
The average home to-day has conveniences to meet the
demands of comfortable living. The heating and lighting
are good. In nearly every home may be found a living room
where the family assembles for rest and recreation. Here
they read, sew, chat and discuss the news. Similar scenes
occurred in the colonial days, but in quite a different room.
The kitchen took the place of our modern living room. The
life of the colonists centered in it, for in the kitchen was the
fireplace, often the one source of heat in the whole house.
Its warmth and cheer and its uses as a place for cooking
made it the heart of the home. Here it was that the family
interests and activities were centered; still the family group
collected here to share the joys and sorrows of life.
.........................................................................
Book excerpt:
A father came into the Newark Museum to ask help of the educational adviser.
"I cannot get my children interested in their ancestors,'' said he. "They don't feel any pride in being descended from a lady who came over in the Mayflower. They say, *0h, Charlie's uncle came over in a private yacht, and Mike's brother is going
over in an aeroplane.' What shall I do? If we were living at the old homestead, I could show them the hole in the shutter through
which the Indian shot their great-uncle, and the oven by the fireside where their great-grand-mother cooked for the continental soldiers, and the wedding dress of their grandmother. But
the old place was sold, and everything is scattered."
"Bring your children to the Museum," said the educational adviser. "We will show them colonial costumes and candle-molds and Indian arrows."
PREFACE
The average home to-day has conveniences to meet the
demands of comfortable living. The heating and lighting
are good. In nearly every home may be found a living room
where the family assembles for rest and recreation. Here
they read, sew, chat and discuss the news. Similar scenes
occurred in the colonial days, but in quite a different room.
The kitchen took the place of our modern living room. The
life of the colonists centered in it, for in the kitchen was the
fireplace, often the one source of heat in the whole house.
Its warmth and cheer and its uses as a place for cooking
made it the heart of the home. Here it was that the family
interests and activities were centered; still the family group
collected here to share the joys and sorrows of life.
.........................................................................
Book excerpt:
A father came into the Newark Museum to ask help of the educational adviser.
"I cannot get my children interested in their ancestors,'' said he. "They don't feel any pride in being descended from a lady who came over in the Mayflower. They say, *0h, Charlie's uncle came over in a private yacht, and Mike's brother is going
over in an aeroplane.' What shall I do? If we were living at the old homestead, I could show them the hole in the shutter through
which the Indian shot their great-uncle, and the oven by the fireside where their great-grand-mother cooked for the continental soldiers, and the wedding dress of their grandmother. But
the old place was sold, and everything is scattered."
"Bring your children to the Museum," said the educational adviser. "We will show them colonial costumes and candle-molds and Indian arrows."
- Pages
- 96