New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-01


.,otber lop about eight inches in diameter, called
forestiek. The wood was then laid on, inter-
,uersed with pine ksots, brch-bark, or other
DIV fuel, and when the whole was kindled, pro-
sen.ed 8 splendor Of warmth and comfort to
which these degenerate days of stoves and hot
air furnaces can show no parallel.
The meals of the colonists were Of d primitive
character The Hsual breskfas. was bean PSF
ridge. This Wand, celebrated in song consisted
OF q tosp made Of talt meat and beans, aud sea-
sontd with ssvory herbs. Tea and coffee we're
not urtd during the seventeenth celtIry. The
principal drink was beer and cicer, after tie or
chsrds were grown; aud as early as 1854, laws
were ps.sed regulating the ssle Of those bever-
sges. The dinner was 8 substantial meal.
large Indian pudding was generally the fret
course; after that boiled beef and pork then
wild game, with potatoes; Winding up With tur-
nps and other vegetables native to the climate.
Succatosh, in its season, was luxury. Ssmp
took ito place in the susumD. Pumpkins, cooked
Ia various ways, crowned the resources CT their
gastronomY. Dinner wss served at noon. Sup
per, which came in few bOurs was no sham.
II consisted tf the remains OF the previous meal
"coldly furnished forth, with an abundance of
cakes made Of corn meal, rye, or buckweat, sufi-
ciept to rejoice the heart Of Scotchman. The
table furniture was plain. Pewter was the ordi-
nary metal in use. Tin and crockery we're scarce
Silver tsnkards and beakers were 10 be found in
the houses OF most of The wealthy planters.
They had no wheeled carriages or wagons uusil
the MIDDLE Of she eighteenth century, and very
few until the close of the revolutionary wsr
The first pleasure carriage ever brought into
Li.cbfeld was owued by Mr Matthews, the
EDglish Mayor Of Ne1.York, who was confined
ia that town SO prisoner OF war in l776. The
bridegroom, who went TO q neighboring town to
be married rode On horseback, and brought his
bride home On pillon behind him.
Tire Puritan coonists of Connecticut were no
ascetcs 10 the matter OF costume. Many of them
had brought brave wearing apparel with them
from England. The gentry INDUCED in silks, vel
vets and beavers, though the clothing for common
use wss from bOmespun materials. Tney ralsed
their own sheep. The wool was shorn by the
hands of the planters, and spun and weven into
then cut by the rkillful matron into garments for
the members Of her household. Flax an hemp
were also cultivated with great care, and served
a. materials for raiment during the summer
months. Small clothes were worn from the
earliest since. They were made of sheep aud
deer-sk as well as Of cloth. Until nearly the
CONNER cement of the present century, they we're
4 1 L.. nf Cd
had been laid aide. Shoes with silver or brass
buckles were used instead of boots; and buckles
of the same material secured the small clothes
and stockings ct the knee. The coat In fashion
at the time of the emigration came down in front
below the knee and was fastened 70 the very bot
tom with buttons or clasps, and sometimes with
hooks and eyes. Tee skirts were very full and
were made to hang off from the person by being
stifTened with buckram. The cost worn by
weal,by gentlemen, and public Off ;ers was
gorgeou.Iy decorated with gold lace. Inssesd of
broad collar, is had only mario Y hem that ex-
pe.ed to view the plated stock Of fine linen cam
bic, with It's large silver buckle at the back of
the neck. The close bodied coat, with les abort
waist, ans flexible shirts. was not introduced IN.
iii 1870. Cloaks were favorite COSTUME With
the fathers of Connecticut. They were of va
riety Of colors, but red bore the palm.
Has were at first generally made OF wool, but
beaver soon came into use and prevailed ior
many years. OF wbatever ma.eria they were
crow ned and in the form of q sugsr-loaf. Tne
brin, were go broad tbs. furry OF wind blew
them of the head unless they were held on BY
the hand. The plumed hat, worn BY Charles 1
and his cavaliers, was sometimes seen among the
Connecticut Purtans. About the year 1879, the
military cooked hat came into fashion and was
extensively worn. 1t assumed various shapes
until it subsidized into the three-corned cooked hat,
which was in slmost universal use amsng gen.
tlemen in New England from 1892 to l779. Soon
after the middle of the seventeenth century, the
custom Of wearing wigs was introduced. They
were Of various cOlcrs, patterns and dimen'ions,
according to the taste OF the wearer. Judges,
magistrates lawyers, and gentlemen claiming to
belong 10 the "better class were Smong the
fret to adopt the fashion. Many OF the clergy
sfterwsrd adopted it, though Others talked,
preached aad prayed sgsinst it as 40 unchristiau
habit; ard the deyout Eliot, the celebrated apostle
to the Indians, regarded il as an abundant source
OF TIE cslami;ies which at that time afflicted
New-Eneland. The wigs were often powdered
and fell in long, luxurisnt cOfls upon the shout
Sers. Human hair soon became unequal to the
demand Horses sid goats were shorn to exc
out the materials. For light-coored wigs the
neyan IoeLs of chiliran were cut off and spread