The Internet is going through another of its regular paroxysms of generational warfare, in which Some Named Generation is matter-of-factly instructed that its leisurely lifestyle, narcissistic preening, and unrealistic aspirations have produced a state of misery. Lest anyone think that this is a particularly innovative argument, Facebook and unicorns notwithstanding, I submit the following from 1845:
I have heard my grandfather say, that while living in Monadnock, at one time he went on foot to Haverhill, and bought one bushel of salt, and carried it home, through the woods, on his back, a distance, at that time, as they followed the river the most of the way, of not less than eighty miles. Can this same country produce a man now, with such wonderful power of muscle and strength of mind, to endure this and not complain of its being hard? But such was the courage of these hardy new beginners that they did not mind trifles.
[…]
… the people were, for a number of miles, seemingly all of one family, sharing in each other’s bounties and enjoying one another’s company, like so many brothers, and if one happened to get a dainty, or a rare nice thing, an invitation would immediately be given to the neighbors, who would assemble, and they all would have a social time of it. There was no distinction in those days in point of dress or grandeur, but all wore their own manufacture. I have heard my grandmother say that when she was dressed in her striped, short, loose gown, and her clean starched and well ironed blue and white checkered linen apron, she felt much better then to appear in a meeting, among christians, than she has since, when dressed in silks. They then, had no ruffles, no ribbons, or anything that appeared like ostentation, but all was neat and tidy; as this was the uniform manner of dress in those days, they all enjoyed it without a murmur and felt happy. The men wore garments made of the skins of moose, which they had learned to dress of the Indians; they were, as they said, cold things to put on in the morning, but when once warmed, the cold weather could not penetrate through, and they would last a long time. For shoes, they made of this same kind of skin, a substitute called moccasins, until the country began to be opened a little, and then they got sheep; the wool, the women would card and spin; and such were their habits of industry, as this was a slow way to get their wool worked up, I have heard grandmother say that she used frequently to work a whole week, both night and day, without undressing herself. She would only lie down for a short time with her clothes on, while carding and spinning; when this was done she would weave it, and then with the bark of some forest tree they would give it a color; without the process of a clothier, or the workmanship of a tailor, they would cut their own garments and make them; and in this cheap, humble, but happy way, these people lived for many years, until the enemy of contentment began to introduce articles of merchandise, which soon created pride, and a sort of rivalship commenced, and as soon as one came in possession of a newly imported dress, it stimulated others to follow the fashion, and one extreme generally follows another. In this way has our country since been infested with this foolish pride of dress, making gay the outside; while some, it is feared, have neglected the most important part, the soul; but another era, it is hoped, will take place, which will yet cause all who watch for it, to be more and more happy.
Lucy Crawford, The History of the White Mountains from the First Settlement of Upper Coos and Pequaket (Portland: Hoyt, Fogg, and Donham, 1883 [1845]). Available online at Internet Archive.
http://viewshed.matinic.us/2013/09/17/468/