Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-05-23
[From the Salem Register.
OLDEN TINE.


'Tis 60 years since the CONNIE ncem Mt
otthe rev volution; and what changes have
those years wrought, as they have rolled
away, one by one, each bringing with il
ITS mutations, its new combinations, its
new forms. A new race have come up
I on the stage Of life, who know nothing OF
Z former things, and we can only recall
some of them to our notice by the remini-
SCIENCES of those who lived in days gone
by. The gentleman of the oIden time,
with his ruflled hands, his tie wig, his
short unmentionables, his woollen stock
ings drawn IN to his knees, and his paste
buckles in his shoes, was a fair match
for the brocaded silk gown, the hoop pet
ticoat, the roll on the head, over which
the hair was smoothed up, Of our grand
mothers. The wigs have disappeared,
and the last fthe cooked hats is about
to disappear from this changing scene of
human vanity. Every year turns over
the Kaleidoscope, and presents to the eye
some new and surprising form, and the
young observer, ust entering on the stage
of life looks and wonders at the beautiful
catch distinct impression, another rolls
away, and another change is presented
to the eyes of the new comers, to be G.
qualy wondered at, admired, and equal
ly calculated to afford disappointment TO
those who have had hardly time TO say
behold before another succeeding change
takes place. The wigs of yesterday
give place to a new irizzle ofto-morrow; /;
and the long queue, bound with dozen
yards of ribbon, or a good greasy eel
skin, is curtailed of its fair proportions,
to make way for the fashionable irizzle
and crapcd ear-locks, frosted with pow
der, which becomes oil the vogue with
the dandy of the present moment. And
so each succeeding year bringsits change,
each having its admirers in those who
arc blooming into life, while those who
have seen the show before, look on with
distrust, and at last with positive aver
sion. Ladies of a certain age become
| tired of the show, are Disguised with
change, and look askance upon panta-
let's, and with great dread upon hoops in
the bottom Of a certain garment, although
our grand-mothers wore them as high as
the hips, and took care when they went
TO meeting to cant them aside, occasion
ally, so as to give the young teaux a
glance at their beautifully turned ankles.
Every age has its tricks, and devices,
and clap traps, and all seem TO work to
the same end. Even the s,aid drab-col-
orcd gentlemen and ladies have their
mutations also, and William Penn would
hardly know his friends in these days
The young delight in novelty, and call
it the march Of mind ;the old abhor chang
cs, and denominate all such, tangled
I innovations.
/ But every mutation is not an anchor
alton, neither is it change for the worse
But whether general extravaganza il
dress, a mere external personal appear
ance, as far as the tailor alone can give
the form and pressure to the age, to the
neglect of many other things, as man.
ners, society, comfortable houses, a taste
for architecture, sc. is proof Of the
wisdom of the present generation or not
we do not undertake now to say; but that
the great body of people Of the present
day, dress extravagantly, and expenc
vast sums of money for what is more thar
comfortable, we believe no one will doubt
Yet we are not sure that this desire foi
personal appearance, in extravaganza oil
dress, is not the first step in the advance
ment of any population towards state oI
wealth, a highe refinement Of manners,
and more substantial and comfortable
dwellings. From log houses to frame
buildings, and then to brick and stone,
| seems as natural as from skins to blank
cts, and from thence to broadcloths, silks
and velvets, cut in the most elegant fash
ion, which can be conceived Of by Pa
rsian tailor, or gorgeous dress invented
by some Partisan dress maker, and sent
over in the Petit Courier des Danes, to
witch the young and tasteful ladies' who
ornament our fashionable parties, or hau
TON socieiy Our forefathers ate from
wooden trenchcrs, and drank small beer
and their posterity dine from China o
English painted plates, and drink Cham
paigne.
II In the oldcn time, in this part Of New
England, it was the fashion to serve W
dish Of chocolate, which had just ther
come into use, in curious style. The
height Of the fashion was, to put into the
kettle of chocolate several pounds Of sau-
sages, and, after boiling all together, 10
serve the guests with bowl Of choco-
late and a sausage, which was cut up
I and then the mess eaten with spoon
When tea was first introduced into Sa-
lem. the fashionable mode Of serving il
up was, to boil the tea IN an IRON Kettle,
and after straining the liquor of, the boil