The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-09-16
The Puritan Sunday.

As every matter connected with the social
life and custom Of the first settlers of New
England is Of much interest To their descend.
ants, we propose, in few short articles, to
Live a. correct description of SUNDAY in
New England two hundred years ago. as
We can collhic from our local animals. The
Puritan Sabbath commenced on Saturday
afternoon. No labor was performed on the
evening which preceded the Lords day.
Early ON Sunday morning, the blowing Of Il
horn in some villages, announced that the
hour Of worship was at hand. Ia otler pla-
ces flag was hung out of the rude building
occupied by the church. In Cambridge a
drum was beat in military style. In Salem
bell indicated the opulencc OF the settle
mcnt. The religious services usually com
mcnced at nine o'clock in the morning, and
occupied from six to eight hours, divided by
an utermissiOn Of one hour for dinner. The
people collected quite punc.ually, as the law
compelled their attendance, and there was a
heavy fine for any one that rode too fast to
meeting. The sexton called upon the min
lister and escorted him to church in the same
fashion that the sheriff now conducts the
judge into our state courts. The ministers
was clothed with mysterious awe and great
sanctity by the people, and 50 intense was
this sentiment, that even the minister's fami-
/ ly was regarded as dcmi-gods The Puritan
meeting house was an odd structure. The
first ones erected by the colonists were built
Of logs and had cannon on the top. Those
standing two centuries ago were built Of
brick, with clay plastcrcd over the courses,
and covered with clay boards, now called
clap-boards. The roof was ,katchCd, as
/ buildings are now scoa IN Gina la East
Near the church cdilcc stood those ancient
/ ins,itutiDns-thC stocks, tic whipping post
and large wooden cage 10 cOnine of, nd.
ers against the laws. Upon thc outside Of
the church, and fastondod to the walls,
were the heads Of all the wolves killed this
{ season. In front Of the church in many
/ towns, an armed sentry stood, dressed in the
| habiIimcnts ofwar There were no pews in
I the church. The congregation lad places
assigned them on the rude bcn,hgs, at the
annual town meeting, according to their age
and sociai position. Seating the meeting
house, rs it was called, was delicate and
( difficult business, AS pride, envy and jealousy
( were active passions in those days. A per
son vas fincd if hc occupied seat assigned
to another. The eldest occupied seats be-
meath the pulpit. The boys were ordered
10 sit upon the gallery stairs, and as "boys
always viii be boys three cons.ables were
[ employed to keep them in order. Promi.
ncnt before the assembly some wretchcd
male or female offender sat, with scarlet
letter a" or "D' on the breast, 10 denote a
crime against the stern code. We make a
few extracts from the laws of the New Eng.
land colonies respecting the sabbath:
"Thc Sabbath day shall begin at Sunset
on Saturday.
no woman Shall kiss her children on the
sabbath or fasting day"
"No one shall run on the Sabbath DAY, or
wax in his own garden or elsewhere except
reycrcntIy to and from meeting
NO one to cross the river, but with all
authorized icfrynan. - Eos'gH JraHscipt
"GviSc EYrs TO THIS Sour."-In July. a
trial before the Correctional Police Of Paris,
revealed tie following inter-, sting facts to
those who dine upon three dishes for five
SOUS. The case was between the Cook and
Customer---thc former advertising the fol,
logiug "I}ill of Fare:
Plate Of Meats sous. Vegetables. - sous.
llalfa-Plate. . sous. soup. p.........l sou.
This was read to the Court and the plain.
tiff was instructed to tell his story.
! Piliat,E-l had done nothing to him.
when he came whore was, and battered ms
on the head, and then on the antipolcs, with
vhang! q whacll! and bsngl so that
saw s.c.s ..c.;, '5y,fylv ana behind!
! Prcaden'.-Whcrc did this take place.
Piaiat.f.--In the kitchen, where work
DeJcndC,nt.-Wi your honor ask him
What ho was doing, and whether any onc
would not have served him as | did:
Pl0iEtiF-l was giving eyes to the soup
U,Gndof.-Ah, that's what wanted him
10 acknowledge lie WAS giving eyes TO tho
soup! Now, l,t me just eXpaterate the
clean way he was doing it, No one can say
the cooking of Marin Bap,iStc is good or
the contrary, it's indccently bad, especially
tie SOUP which is made out OF bones, that
have been twice stcwcd already, and Of old
dominos, and such like succulcnt materials
and, of course, there is never any shadow o
an eye upon It, so the cook makes eyes fol
it. And caught him ling it, having step
ped into the kitchen to see why the soup did
not come. lie was just then making the
eyes He put little oil in his mouth, held
his head over the pot, and then snapped his
checks, which made the oil spirit out IL
drops all over the soup, and that makes tn,
eyes Don't you think, when | saw that
that ] had good right TO come down upor
him: ] kicked him behind, and spattcd hi,
two checks with my two hands, which
brought all the rest Of the eyes out Of his
mouth.
P,ojtF-Wcll, do you suppose that fol
one sou people are going to give you soup