Nothing could have been more exciting or more inviting than an old-fashion country dinner and get-together in Harlan County many moons ago. Never in a hurry to get to their destination or never in a hurry to get back home.

The only three means of travel in the early days are shown here. The horse, the wagon and the boat. Up and down the river, boats were fastened to the bushes on the bank for visitors use.

Children enjoyed being "set across the river" in a boat. The mothers with small children were more comfortable in a wagon, while other preferred to ride a horse.

Chicken Was Tops

As many old timers recall, nicknacks had no place on the "heaped up table" for "company dinner." The main part of the meal was a pot of chicken and dumplings with boiled eggs and gravy with a platter of fried chicken on the side.

Some of the old time cooks boiled eggs and put them in home canned beet juice to color them red. The children liked that. A meal wasn't complete without a bowl of "greasy beans" and a "hobby of corn bread."

For "sweeten" stands of molasses and honey and peach butter filled the bill. The pioneer house wife made her own contraption for "shooing the flies" out of the dining room while the company ate.

Scared Flies

Some of them used a long handled stick with strips of paper tied to the end. Usually one who waited, for the second table fanned it back and forth. Others rigged up an easier method by fastening a stick to the ceiling over the table with paper tied to the ends and attached to a long string.

The "fanner" stood at the side of the table and pulled the string as the paper floated to and fro about two feet from the food.

After dinner the "company" strolled through the yard or out to the well to "draw a fresh bucket of water." The drinking gord was handy nearby.

The spare room was one of complete comfort if company remained for the night. As a rule the colorful hand woven bed spreads added to the beauty of the soft feather bed.

The feather pillows and the startched "pillow shams" with ruffles spread wide was a picture of comfort. the huge wash bowl and the pitcher of water on the "wash stand" was there for the convenience of the company.

The comforts of early day living were not too many but one of the happiest childhood moments was the announcement that someone was going to "set a big dinner" and the whole family was invited.

picture----MODES OF TRAVEL.... The early day modes of travel are shown here. The young ladies prefer riding horse back while the women and small children are more comfortable in the wagon. Some enjoy boat riding. The group here had probably been to one of "Aunt" Rachel Ball's "dinners." "Aunt Rachel is on the bank bidding her company goodbye. Her husband, "Uncle" George Ball, is the driver of the wagon. Seated in the wagon are: Cora Lewis with the driver and Nora Lewis Farmer and their children. Riding the big grey horse is Daisy Ball Cawood and Addie Jones. The boys in the boat are Claud Cornett and Fred lewis. The two girls sitting are Ella and Grace Lewis. Myrtle is shown standing.

Sunday August 23, 1953

Volume 52 Number 196

Pages 1 & 8

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