Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-07-29

sion :
| This state Of society supported by
slavery would produce lestivty and dissi--
patton, the natural result Of wealth aud
leisure. Excursions TO Hartford TO lux
uriate on biooied salmon were the annual
indulgencies Of May. Pace races on
the beach for the prize Of a silver tank
ard and roasis OF shelled and scaled fish
were the social induIgencies Of summer.
When autumn arrived, the corn husking
festivals commenced. Invitations were
extended to all those proprielors who
were in habits OF family intimacy, and in
return the invited guests sent their
slaves to aid the host by their services,
Large numbers would be gathered Of
both sexes, expensive entertainments
prepared aud after the repast the recrea-
ton Of dancing commenced, as every
family was provided with large hall in
their spacious mansions, and with natural
musicians among their slaves Gentle.
men in their scarlet coats aud swords.
with laced ruilles over their hands, hair.
turned back from the forehead and curl
ed and hizzled, clubbed or queued be-
hind, highly powd cred and pomaiuned,
clothes, silk stockings, and shoes
ornamented with brilliant buckles and
ladies dressed in brocade, cushioned
head-drcsses, and high -heeled shoes,
performed the formal miuurt with IT'S
thiry-sx different positions and changes
These festivities would sometimes cUn-
tnue for days, aud the bauquets among
the land propretors would for n longer
or shorter time be continued during The.
season Of harvest. These seasons OF
hlarity AID ies,ivi,y were as gratifying
To the slaves IA To their masters, as
bounlllul preparations were made aud
like umusemenls we've enjoyed by them
in the large kitchens and out-houses, the
places OF their residence The great
land proprietors indulged in these eX-
pensve festivals until the Revolution -
People now living relate the fact OF
John Potter having had thousand bu~
shells OF corn husked III one day. Thus
practice was continued occasionally
down To the year 1900, but on dimn-
shed scale Of expense aud numbers.
AT Christmas commenced the Holy
days The work Of the season was
completed and done up, and the twelve
days were generally devoted to festive.
associations. ln former times, all con.
nexlons by blood or affinity, were cuti-
tied TO respectful attention, and they
were treated as welcome guests, IA IA
matter OF right on one side aud courtesy
on the other. Every gentleman of es-
ltnt. hoo h,C ln a - IL,
and acqnaintances, and they were iuv,-
ted from one plantation To another. Ev-
efy IN mbrr OF the family had his par
icular horse aud servant, aud they rare
ly rode unattended by their servant, to-
open gates and TO take charge oi the
horse. Carriages were unknown, aud
the public roads were not so good, nor
so numerous (many Of ,hem,) as at pres
ent. Narraganse,t has fewer public
roads than most parts Of the Stale
/ There were drIitways from one planta-
ton to another, with gatca, aud ihIs III
convenient obstruction still contiDues--
Qnednessett is travelled mostly through
gates, and from one extreme OF l}psl"n
neck to the other, a distance ot ten
miles, through the richest tract Of land in
Narrag ganseIt, the only mode Of travel
ling is bv drillways with gates, aud the
great Point Judith tract had no public
road until very lately. When all iba
riding was done on horseback, servants
always attended their masters, The bad
ness Of The roads aud the troublesome
Iimpedimenls Of gates aud bars were no,
as sens'bly felt as at this day, when car
rlages are used and every man is his own
servant.
But the wedding was the groat gala
Of oIden time The exhibition of rx.
pcnsive apparel aud the attendance "t
numbers almost exceeds belief The
last OF these celebrations was given n
bout the year 1880, by Nicholas Gardi-
ner, Esq ii wss attended by six hun
dred quests. knew Mr.. Gardner. -
lie dressed 10 the rich style of former
days, with cooked hat, a full boit oncd
white wing, snuff colored coat, aud waist
coat with deep pockets, cape low so as
not to disturb the Wig, aud VI The samo
tine expose The large silver stock buckle
OF tho plated neck cloth, Of white linen
cambric, small clothes, aud mhIte-lopped
boots, finely polished. lie was po,tly,
courteous gentleman of the old school. -
Since his death, his estate has been Jl,-
ded into several good larbs
The fox-chase, with hounds and horns,
fishing and low ling, were objects of en-
chanting recreation. lid pigeons, pat.
trldges, qualls, woodcocks, squirrels
and rabbns were iGuumerable. Such
were the amuscments. paslImes, lcsll,Ii,cs
aud golas ol ANCIENT NARRAGANsLrr.
Ii may not be unlntefesliug TO mention
the names ol some of the old famir,s
which frequently associated Us friends
aud companions. Among them wcir,
DIR. Babcock, Col. Stanton, Col Cham.
plIn, the two Gov. llbzalds, Gov. Rob
Iasou, Col. Potter, Judge Potter, tho
Gsrduers, Col Wllet. Elisha Cole,
John aud Edward Cole, Judge il,inr,
Col UpdIkc, Matthew Robinson, Col.
/ Brown, Dr McSparfan, and DR. Fa,rr-