The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-01-02

broad. tailed coats, with huge pockets, Ions
waistcoats, and brecches. Hats had low
crowns, with broad brims-some 50 wide a
to be supported at tho sides with cords
The stockings Of the parson and few 9th
ers were Of silk in summer and worsted il
the winter; those Of the people were sener
ally of wool. and blue and gray Mixed
Women dressed in wide bonnets-sometime'
Of straw and sometimes Of silk; tho gowns
were of silk, muslin, &c.-gcnerally clos
and short wasted, the breast and shoulders
being covered by full muslin kerchief
GIRLS oruamented themselves with q large
white vandyke. On the whole the dress o
men and women has greatly changed.
The amusements were then much the
same as at present-though some striking
differences may be noted. Books and news
papers-which arc now difused even among
the country towns, 80 as to be in the hands
of all, young and old-were then scarce
and were read respectfully, as if they were
grave matters, demanding thought and at
tention. They were not toys and pastimcs
taken up every day, and by everybody in
the short intervals Of labor, and then hasti
ly dismissed, like waste paper. The aged
sat down when they read, and drew forth
their spcstaclcs, and put them deliberately
and revercntly upon the nose. These in
struments were not as now, little tortoise
shell hooks, attached to ribbon, and put
of and ON witha jerk; but they were Of
silver or steel, substantially made, and cal.
culated to hold on with firm and steady
grasp, showing the gravity Of the uses to
which they were devoted. Even the young
approached book with reverence and a
newspaper with awe. How the world has
changed!
The two great festivals were Thanksgiv'
ing and I" training day "-the latter deriv.
ing from the still lingering spirit of the
revolutionary war, decidededly martial
character. The marching Of troops and the
discharging of gunpowder, which invariably
closed the exercises, were glorious and in
spring momentoes Of heroic achievements
upon many bloody field. The music oil
the drum and fife resounded on every side,
4 match between two rival drummers always
drew an admiring crowd, and was in fact
one Of the chief eIcitements Of the great day
Tavern huntins-especially in winter,
when there was little to do-for manufac-
lures had not then sprung up to give profit
able occupation, during this inclement season
was common, even among respectable
farmers. Marriages were celebrated in the
evening, at the house of tho bride, with q
general gathering Of the neighbornood, and
usually wound of by dancing. Everybody
went as to a public exhibition, without in
vitation Funerals generally drew large
professions, which proceeded to the grave.
Here the minister always made an address
suited to the occasion. If there was any
thing remarkable in the history of the de-
ceased, it was turned to religious account in
in the next Sundays sermon. Singing
meetings, to practice church music, were
great resource for the young, in winter
Dances at private houses were common, and
drew no reproaches from the sober people
present. Balls ut the taverns were frequent
cd by the young; the children of deacon'
and ministers attended, though the parents
did not. The winter brought sleighin 6
skating, and the usual round Of indoor
sports. In general, the intercourse Of all
classes was kindly and considcrate-no one
arrogating superiority, and yet no one re,
fusing to acknowledge it, where it existed
You would hardly have noticed that there
was higher anda lower class. Such there
were certainly, for there must always and
everywhere bc the strong and the weak, and
the wise and the foolish-those Of superior
and those of inferior intellect, taste, man
ners, appearance and character. But in
our society, these existed without being felt
as privilege to one which must give offence
to another. The feuds between Up and
Down, which have since disturbed the whole
fabric of society, had not then begun.
1t may serve. in some degree, to throw
light upon the manners and customs Of this
period, If give you sketch Of my two
grandmothers. Both were widows and well
stricken in years, when they came to visit
us at Ridge6eld-about the year 1903 or 4,
Ny grandmother Ely was Of the old regime
"a lady Of the old school, and sustaining
the character in her upright carriage, hei
long, tapering waist, and her high.heeled
shoes. The costumes Of Louis XV'stime had
prevailed in New York and Boston, and
even at this period they still fingered there,
in isolated cases, though the Revolution had
generally exercised transforming influence
upon the toilet of both men and women. II
is curious enough that at this moment
lS55-the female attire Of q century ago is
revived; and in every black-eyed, stately
old lady, dressed in black silk, and showing
her steel-gray hair beneath her cap, | can
now $50 semblancc Of this, my maternal
grandmother.
My other grandmother was in all things
the opposite; short, fat, bluc-eycd, practi'
cal utilitarian. She was good example ol
the country dame-hcarty, ,homespun, famil'
Jar, full Of strong sense and practical oncr,
y. scarcely know which of the two
like best. The FIRST sang me plaintivc songs,
told me stories Of tho revolution-her hus.
band, Col. Ely, having large and painful
share in its vicissitudes; she described Gen.
Washington whom she had seen; and the
rrcncb officers LAFAYETTE, Rochambeau, and