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Show NOTHING NEW IN H. C. 0. L People of the Long Ago Raised the . Same Wall,. Apparently to Ae Little Purpose. ,. It Is always soothing to learn that our ancestors were kicking about the same things that rile us today. Next time you are inclined to believe that high prices have been sent by the powers pow-ers above to vex this day and generation genera-tion alone, just ponder upon these words written by John F. 'VVatson of New York' city In .1843, under the heading head-ing "Changes of Prices," in a book of his published In 1847: f, "It is curious to observe the changes which have occurred In the course of years, both In the supply of common articles sold In the markets and In some cases In the great augmentation of prices for instance, Mr. Brower, who has been quite a chronicle to me, has told me such facts as the follow ing, vis. : ' "He remembered well when abundance abund-ance of the largest Blue Point oysters could be bought, opened to your hand, for 2s a 100 such as would now bring from three to four dollars. Best sea bass were but 2d a pound, now at 8d. Sheephead sold at 9d to Is 3d apiece, and will now bring $2. Hock fish were plenty at- one shilling apiece for good ones. Shad 3d apiece. They did not then practice the planting of oysters. Lobsters were not then f brought to market. ' " ; "Mr. Jacob Tabelee, who Is as old as 87, and of course saw earlier times than the. other, has told . me a sheep-head sheep-head used to be sold at 6d, and the best oysters at Is a 100. In fact they did not stop to count them, but gave them in that proportion and rate by the bushel. Rock flsh at 3d a pound. Butter 8d to 9d. Beef by the quarter in winter 3d a pound, by the piece 4d. Fowls about 9d apiece. Wild fowls In great abundance. He -has bought , twenty pigeons in their season for one shilling; s goose was 2s. Oak wood was abundant at 2s' the load.' Thus Mr. Watson of the early nineteenth nine-teenth century thinks longingly of how easy It must have been to live when Brother Tabelee was young. He continues: con-tinues: "In 1763 the market price of provisions provi-sions was established by law and pub: II shed In the Gazette. Wondrous cheap they were, vis: A cock turkey 4s, a hen turkey 2s 6d, a duck Is, a quail ld, a heath hen Is 3d, a teal 6d, wild goose 2s, a brant Is 3d, snipe Id, oysters 2s a bushel, sheephead and sea bass three .coppers per' pound, milk per quart 4 coppers, clams 9d a 100, cheese 4d. "Those celebrated 'Blue Points' were destroyed by an Intended kindness. kind-ness. A law was passed to exempt them from continual use, and by not being continually fished up they got embedded In the mud and wholly died ontr . |
