The Olden Time Series.
Vol. 2: The Days of the Spinning-Wheel in New England.
by Henry M. Brooks.
THE DAYS OF THE SPINNING-WHEEL
IN NEW ENGLAND.
WITHIN the last few years many young ladies have searched country houses or ransacked old garrets to find spinning-wheels, which, like old chairs, tall clocks, and warming-pans, have now become objects of curiosity and interest to those who take a fancy to antique articles. It has become fashionable to have these things to adorn our Queen Anne houses. And bra.s.s andirons and shovels and tongs have come into request, so that we may enjoy the luxury of an open wood fire, which, to our mind, is one of the most cheerful things in this world. Some one has remarked "that to be well-dressed gives a feeling of satisfaction that religion fails to give;" but to us, to sit before a blazing wood fire on a dull, cold evening, gives a feeling of comfort and delight which surpa.s.ses anything we know of. What charming companionship in a wood fire! Better than the company of uncongenial persons.
"Old wood to burn,"
"Old books to read:"
these are enough; we will leave out the "old wine to drink."
"This bright wood fire, So like to that which warmed and lit My youthful days, how doth it flit Back on the periods nigher!
Re-lighting and re-warming with its glow The bright scenes of my youth,--all gone out now."
Glance backward to some years before the Revolution, and we shall find a spinning-wheel in every house, and then, probably, in constant use. Now its place in our homes is taken by the piano. This instrument had not then come into use. Something resembling it,--namely, the spinnet or the harpsichord,--was to be found in some instances; but it was by no means common to find these, for there was but little knowledge of music in America in those days. A hundred years ago, only one or two churches in Boston had organs, and the public taste, except in rare cases, was decidedly against music of all kinds, especially sacred music. To show how this was, we have heard an old lady say that when she was young, some eighty years or so ago, "musicians, for the most part, were not thought much of" by the most cultivated people of that time; and she a.s.sured me that even at a later date, members of military bands, as well as organists and violinists (then called fiddlers) were too often low characters and men much addicted to drinking. The times were too hard for the New England people of those days to cultivate music or indulge in entertainments of any kind except "going to meeting." There was but little money in circulation, and that was almost always in the form of a depreciated currency. Gold and silver were scarce articles, and a large proportion of the necessities of life and luxuries--if luxuries they could be called; they would hardly be so considered by us--were imported from England or elsewhere. The leading occupations were farming, fishing, making New England rum, importing rum, sugar, and mola.s.ses from the West Indies, and dry goods from England. The common people were poor enough, in comparison with the condition of the same cla.s.s at the present time, when they make as good an appearance as the wealthy did a hundred years ago. It would be safe to say that they have more comforts and conveniences in their homes to-day than the more prosperous had at the time of the Revolution. The humorist, John Phenix, said that "Gen"l Washington never saw a steamboat, nor rode in a railroad car;" and possibly his house was not heated by steam, or furnished with pipes for hot and cold water. Nor did he ever use gas, or the telegraph or telephone. Whether the people who lived then would have shown the extravagance which characterizes our time if they had possessed the means, is a question not easily to be answered; but it is certain they were more frugal than we are, if not more industrious. The Revolution left the ma.s.ses of the people in rather a dest.i.tute condition, and they were forced to be economical. Their habits were so entirely different from modern habits that it would exceed our limits to undertake to draw a careful comparison. It is said that the people of those days bewailed the degeneracy of the times, and spoke of the industry and frugality of earlier periods.
NORWICH, May 6, 1784.
A correspondent observes, that the extravagances of the present day are fully demonstrated in the broadcloth coats and silk gowns,--the powder and feathers, the ruffles and cardinals, the silk stockings and feet trappings--In the feasts, the dancing parties and select companies--and what is the more melancholy, all orders and degrees help form the circle.--Where is the simplicity in dress and manners; temperance in meats and drinks, which formed the virtuous characters of our ill.u.s.trious ancestors?--O! the degeneracy of the times!
_Salem Gazette._
Just as our ancestors did, as Macaulay says, in the days of Charles the First; they thought they were not as good as their ancestors had been.
This habit of looking back to a time so remote that "distance lends enchantment to the view," seems to be almost universal. It is this feeling of reverence for the old that makes it so interesting to us, and leads us to look at things of the past poetically rather than practically; although it is true that sometimes the interest taken in inconvenient and uncomfortable articles arises rather from their age than from anything else. But oftentimes the very simplicity, solidity, and strength of old furniture, for instance, is charming, in contrast with the elaborate, unmeaning carvings and flimsy character of more modern productions. We are beginning to see how much more sensible the Chippendale and other styles commended by Eastlake and some other writers on household art are to much that has been produced in later times. Yet we must allow that prejudice and fashion go a great way in determining our likes and dislikes, in furniture as well as in dress and other things. Very likely in a few years we shall tire of the Queen Anne houses and furniture, and hard floors, and have a surfeit of _Anglomania_, especially if we carry the taste too far. In this country, as Emerson says, "Every rider drives too fast." It is hard to be simple and slow. We must build fast, eat fast, and live fast. But Emerson says again, "Nature has no respect for haste." Herbert Spencer has given us in a kindly spirit some hints on this score which it would be well to heed. But we are wandering from our immediate subject. Our desire is to ill.u.s.trate, in the very words of the people of the period we refer to, the views they entertained of economy and industry, and how they carried them out. We will begin, then, in the year 1759, with a curious letter to the "Boston Gazette" of June 11 of that year, in which the writer gives some account of the cost of provisions at that period.
_To the Trading and Farming People of_ New England.
GENTLEMEN.
I Have been coming and going among you since the Year 1745.
I am now once more on Service in this Part of the World, and not a little surprized at the Alteration in the Value of your Provisions, since my Knowledge of your Country. When I first came among you, I could have bought a Pound of Beef for a Penny, a Goose for a Shilling, a Fowl for three Pence, and so in Proportion. It now is, I think, four Pence Sterling for a Pound of Beef, eighteen Pence Sterling for a Fowl, and three Shillings for a Goose. Pray Gentlemen, when that is the Price at _Boston_, what must we pay for it at _Louisbourg_, after it has gone thro" the Hands of many different People that are to live out of it. Our Pay is not increased.
I would say nothing to influence you to sell cheaper, from Motives disinterested or publick spirited, as that weighs but little with the Generality of Mankind. But consider your own Interest, the War can last but little longer: This Campaign, in all Probability, will put an End to it, then where will you find a Market for your Stock you raise.
Consider with the Fall of this present Summer, its pretty certain the Soldiers and Seamen at present employed for your Defence, will be called to Britain: Take the Market while it holds Gentlemen. We have Beef found us, that is to say, the Publick purchases it; let us now and then taste of your Veal, Mutton and Fowls for our Money, and we will spend all among you; and we expect both Interest and Inclination will prompt you to give us an ample Supply.
I am your Friend, _An_ ANTI-CANADIAN.
In the same paper is an auction advertis.e.m.e.nt, showing how they mixed the different kinds of _property_.
TO be Sold by publick Vendue on _Scarlet"s_ Wharff, at the North End of _Boston_, THIS AFTERNOON, at IV o"Clock, Sundry Hogsheads of Sugar, four likely Negro Men, and a Parcel of old Copper; Prize Goods lately brought into this Port.
On the 19th November we are shown how remittances were made in those days.
We hear that the Treasurer of this Province has received a Bill of Lading for two Boxes of Portugal Gold, ship"d by Mr.
Agent Bollan, on board the Mercury Man of War, amounting to Twenty thousand six hundred and eighty Pounds, seventeen shillings and six Pence; being Part of the 27,000 granted by Parliament in 1757, to this Province, to recompence them for the Expences they were at in the Expedition in 1756.--Said Ship may be daily expected.
And here is a description of a vessel of the time.
Mr. James Hudson came Pa.s.senger in the Vessel that arriv"d at Cape-Ann, mention"d in our last, which saw a Wreck in Lat: 36, he says, she was a Frigate built Ship of about 200 Tons burthen, had a Lion Head painted yellow, a short Topgal on Quarter-Deck, a small Tafrail painted yellow, Quarters and Stern painted blue, had a large Trophies painted on her Stern and gilt, full of Water, and no living Person on board.
On the 5th February in that year, this was the way they advertised for recruits for the Government service, offering among other inducements, "a Crown to drink the King"s health."
ALL able-bodied fit Men that have an Inclination to serve His Majesty King GEORGE the Second, in the first Independent Company of Rangers, now in the Province of _Nova-Scotia_, commanded by _Joseph Gorham, Esq_; shall, on inlisting, receive good Pay and Cloathing, a large Bounty, with a Crown to drink the King"s Health. And by repairing to the Sign of the Bear in King-Street, _Boston_, and to Mr. _Cornelius Crocker_, Innholder in _Barnstable_, may hear the particular Encouragement, and many Advantages accruing to a Soldier, in the Course of the Duty of that Company, too long to insert here; and further, may depend on being discharged at the Expiration of the Time entertained for, and to have every other Encouragement punctually compli"d with.
There was a meeting of "very agreeable Ladies" in the interests of economy about the same time.
In a large Circle of very agreeable Ladies in this Town, it was unanimously agreed to lay aside the Use of Ribbons, &c.
&c. &c. for which there has been so great a Resort to Milliners in times past----It is hoped that this Resolution will be followed by others of the s.e.x throughout the Province--_How agreeable will they appear in their native Beauty, stript of these Ornaments, from the prevailing Motive of Love to their Country._
We must after all our Efforts, depend greatly upon the Female s.e.x for the Introduction of Oeconomy among us: And those who have the Pleasure of an Acquaintance with them, a.s.sure us that their utmost Aid will not be wanting.
So strong is the Disposition of the Inhabitants of this Town to take off the Manufactures that come from the Country Towns, especially Womens and Childrens Winter Apparel, that nothing is wanting but an Advertis.e.m.e.nt where they may be had in Town, which will be taken in, and published by the Printers of this Paper _Gratis_.
Labrador tea began to take the place of green and bohea.
Messieurs EDES & GILL,
THE use of _Hyperion_ or _Labradore Tea_, is every day coming into more general vogue among people of all ranks.
The virtues of the plant or shrub from which this delicate _Tea_ is gathered, were first discovered by the _Aborigines_, and from them the _Canadians_ learned them. It soon became into such repute that quant.i.ties were sent to _France_, where I have heard say, it was soon in such demand, as alarmed the _French East-India_ company, and procured an ordinance prohibiting the importation of any more on the pain of death. So little do some politicians regard the health or even the life of man, when either of them appear to be incompatible with their particular interests, views and projects. Before the cession of _Canada_ to _Great-Britain_, we knew little or nothing of this most excellent herb: but since that we have been taught to find it growing on every hill and dale, between the Lat.
40 & 60. It is to be found all over New-England in great plenty, and that of the best quality, particularly on the banks of _Pen.o.bscot_, _Kennebeck_, _Nichewannock_ and _Merrimac_. Immense quant.i.ties may be found on the mountains near the great lakes.
Nothing short of the highest degree of infatuation and madness could ever have prevailed with us to introduce unwholesome Exoticks. The voice of reason crys louder than ever for their perpetual banishment; and the further use of them must be accounted for but by the force of invincible prejudice. This indeed sometimes leads to a preference of rank poison if far fetched and dear bought, to the most salubrious draught at hand, with little pains or cost, tho"
of inestimable value.
A TEA-DRINKER.
The following items, Sept. 17, 1759, throw some light on the state of the country in some parts of New England, where, even if the "Lyons"