The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-07-10
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.1
LN.NOK.ATION.

LGNOT.aITON.
Mr.. Editor.-This is truly an age Of innova-
tion it is felt in religion, IN science, in arts, in
agriculture, and fashion.
On our rivers, lakes and inlets, we were In
the habit of seeing small craft plying regular
ly, as the wind fayoured, and laying quiet
when the dispensation was otherways: but
now we see new class of navgators appear,
who brave both wind and current. and the
bQrderer is startled with the appalling sight of
vessels forcing their rapid way, against the
stream, and overcoming, amidst column of
smoke, all ordinary resistance. Farmers are
scarcely allowed to cultivate the earth as they
used to do: new tangled ploughs, dragon tooth
ed harrows, and selEmoving threshing ma
chimes, set Yankee curiosity at broad stare.
and the honest rustick, who had used the same
implements his forefathers employed, when
Boston was cornfeld, looks upon these things
as second era of witchcraft; scratches his
wondering head at foul-meadow grass. trans
formed into bonnets, and searches his Perry's
Dictionary in vain for the definition of Ruta
Baga.
Nay, so daring has the spirit of innovation
become in this neighbourhood, that Dutch
Bulls, Acadian Horses, and English Cows
have been brought hither, to put our own
small and modest as they are,-out OF coante-
nance. No doubt the Hessian Fly was the
importation of some early disciple of agricultu-
raj innovation, or Improvement, as it is occa-
sionally misnamed.
That new class of philosophers called the
Agricultural Society, has, as ! am credibly in
formed, stated meetings to discourage all that
is old and useless, and introduce all that is
novel and profitable. The changes in mechan-
icks are equally deplorable: old-fashioned
healthy spinning-wheels are disused in The
country, and cotton is tortured thousand
ways by rotatory cards, and whirligig double
speeders people are taught to remember by
machinery. TO think by steam, and to reason
by chemical process.
All this is bad enough but, sir, complain
more particularly Of the changes in the art and
theory Of dancing. am man of certain
age, and, as used TO think, we'll grounded in
the rudiments Ito speak modestly) of good man
ners, good taste, and good dancing. | attend
ed, in The latter branch, for three unwearied
winters, upon that veteran Mr.. Turner.
know not how many positions are taught now,
IN this age of new positions: we then had five,
and as understood, for very simple reason
because each foot had five toes. No boy Of
my age turned his feet out Of their natural pos
buic ulOfe l llFeO through I'VE
chassees, seven rigadoons, and three balances
rolled like crank ship in Poi Bas, and with
the help of chair could enact very tolera-
BILE pigeon wing. As for figures, had them at
my toes end. went down the outside further,
by four feet, than any one in Concert Hall.
In crossing hands or molinet, gave my hand
with the old school flourish. could eludicate.
with accuracy, the angles Of right and left, or
unravel the intricacies of the Hays. What
more was desired' I could accommodate INV
step to the regular movement of Pea Straw $
(. beat martial time to /" When the hollow
drum or feel the Delphian inspiration Of the
more rapid Haymakers."
This, sir, was some twenty years or more
ago chance has since then, placed me in ac-
tive life abroad have occasionally been a
denizen Of the Sandwich Islands, have picked
my teeth with splinter ofthe ark, on Mount
Auarat, bathed in the Niger at Timbuctoo,
and served one campaign in South America
under Bolivar. II is only few months since
my return to my dear native Boston, and dear
as 1t is to me, think my stay in Il will be
short. You shall judge Of my chance for COM
fort.
! was invited by one fmy early friends TO a
small party. lsnsGilin the modern vocabulary,