Some Forgotten Customs.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 859, 17 August 1888, Page 5

Some Forgotten Customs.

In the earlier years of the century the population of the United States was mostly composed of the families of farmers. Good society in those days had many customs that are now forgotten. The church wag the maia dependence for bringing people together, and was, perhaps, a more dignified institution than it is now. Amusement for the people had to be invented to suit local conditions. Thus they had ‘ apple bees,’ ‘quilting parties,’ ‘corn-liuskings,’ ‘ bushwhacks’ anil various other devices for bring, ing young people together. Work was mingled with play in a way to make each guest put in enough manual labour to pay his or her share of the expenses for the ‘ pios and cakes ’ consumed. There aro many' thousands of people now living, whose heads are not very gray, who were ‘ brought up ’ to enjoy such amusement. Not long ago a Maine village housewife, keen of wit aud thrifty, issued cards for an afternoon party at her home, terming it a ‘ whang.’ The ladies invited were puzzled by the word, aud didn’t know how to dress, but fiually appeared in their most stunning toilets. When they arrived at the hour named—l P.M.—_they found the house in disorder and everybody scrubbing for dear life. _ A ‘ whang ’ is an old-fashioned house-cleaning party, and some of the ladies who appeared on this occasion, dressed in their best style, found themselves at a great disadvantage.