which were very common in those days, and at which dancing was the leading passtime. I also learned to use profanity, but not to the extent that many use it. So you see, after all, I was not an ideal young man. Far from it, I regret to say. But with it all, I did abstain from the use of strong drink, and certainly hated the thing. I still hate it, of course, and consider it the greatest curse to be found. It is true that a great forward march has taken place, within the last few years, and of course, the "Rum Curse" cannot be compared to what it was before the 18th. ammendment became a law. It is true, it dies hard, but die it must, and I trust the time is not distant when the cursed thing shall not only be driven from this fair land, but from God's whole earth.

Reader, a word to the wise, "Touch not, taste not, handle not." Leave it alone, as far as a drink is concerned. God has given us the best drink possible. "Sparkling water," and there are other good drinks, particularly milk and chocolate, as well as many fruit drinks. God has provided plenty of good things for us to eat and drink, but even good food and drink should not be used to excess.

Chapter VII.

A NEW RAILROAD.

As time passes onward,

Great changes take place,

Fifty years ago

Railroads were in their infancy,

But now used the world over.-J. E. H.

HEN I left my home 7 years before, there

WH

were no Railroads passing through our

town. The nearest Railroad was the Long Island Main Line, and the nearest Railroad Station was about 8 miles away. Those who wanted to go to N. Y., or any other place by train, would go to the Smithtown Post Office, about 2 miles from our home, and there they would take the public stage, drawn by 2 horses, and be conveyed to Suffolk Station, from which they would take the train. The stage would make a round trip each week day, and would not only carry passengers, and bring back passengers, but would also carry and bring the mails from and to the various Post Offices, along the route.

There were no automobiles, no motorcycles, no bicycles. The high wheel velocipede had made its appearance, but was not very popular, as it was difficult to learn to ride. Sailing vessels also plied between the Smithtown harbor and New York City. They occasionally took passengers, but it was a discouraging trip, and many times it would take a week

or more to make the round trip, because of storms, adverse winds, or other delays. The farm produce sent from our town to the New York markets, as well as the wood, was taken on those sailing vessels. They would bring back on their return trips, freight consisting of dry goods, groceries, hardware, furniture, tools, fertilizers for the farm, etc.

Of course the horses and wagons were necessities, and were in almost constant use for travel, and work on the farm. I enjoyed horse-back riding, and before I was II years old I had learned to ride. It was healthy sport.

The Long Island Railroad had years before been built as far as Northport, L. I., about 8 miles west of our home. This road was soon extended to Port Jefferson, L. I., which was about 12 miles east of our home. The new road, or extension, ran through Smithtown Branch, where a depot or railroad station was built. This was about 2 miles from our place, and to us was a great convenience. Now the old "Stage Coach" was to be a thing of the past.

I had never seen the city until I was about 16 years old and then went on a sailing vessel. I had now passed my 19th. birthday, and great changes had taken place. I had become interested in printing, and had purchased a very small amateur press with type and other printing materials required to do printing on a small scale. The outfit I had purchased from a company in Meriden, Conn., for about $10.00. After it arrived at the Smithtown Branch station, I was so anxious to get it home,

that I walked to the station one Saturday night, and brought home the entire outfit by hand. The weight of the box and outht must have been nearly 50 pounds. A pretty heavy load to bring two miles or more. Sunday morning (sorry to say) I did my first job of printing. This first job was to print my name on a card. I guess I had never seen it in print before. The little outfit was of great interest to me, and when I was not working at my trade and had leisure, I spent many pleasant and profitable hours printing visiting cards, and doing other small jobs. Visiting cards were very popular those days, especially with the girls and boys. I printed thousands of them. My first advertisement for printing visiting cards appeared in a little paper called "What Next." The paper was published in Chicago, Ill. Here is a copy of my advertisement.

"Boys, Girls, Everybody"

Send 15cts. for a package of cards with your name elegantly printed in gilt.

J. E. Handshaw,

Smithtown, L. I., N. Y.

This advertisement took very well, and I received many cash orders for the cards. More about printing will be said in later chapters of this book.

My 20th. birthday came and passed with those that had preceeded it. I was still working at the carpenter's trade, and now was receiving some wages. I believe wages for an experienced carpenter were pretty small, only about $2.00 or $2.50 for a day of 10 hours.

T

Chapter VIII.

GETTING LOST.

"Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?
Those who have gone before,

Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?
They will not keep you standing at that door."

HIS is rather an amusing incident, as I think of it, though it was far from pleasant at the time. I still kept in touch with my friend Leonard Hallock, and on one occasion, late in the afternoon, I concluded to go to his home and remain over night with him, and then return early the next morning. I took a different route than I had been in the habit of taking. I passed through the woods on the way, and there were various roads, and not being sure, I unfortunately took the wrong road, and instead of going to Leonard's home, I found I was lost; but I kept on travelling hoping to meet someone who could tell me where I was, and how to find the place I had started for. I walked and walked; night came on, and the moon went down, and still I kept travelling, not knowing where I was going, or what I should do. Finally, I saw a light. It came from a little house near the road. This gave me a little encouragement, so I climbed over the fence, and knocked at the door. I found an old man and an old woman living there. I tried to explain to them