The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-09-16
Life i'm New Work a Century Ago

It is always interesting to glance with
memory's eye over the history of the past
and compare things that were with those
that are. Life in New York a century
since Is in remarkable contrast with that OF
lie present day. Let the reader draw his
own line Of comparison while reading the
following account Of the days, labors, or
the fashions of a generation or two before
rs, in the little yet large) Island of Man
hatten One Of the features Of Dutch life
was the
Tea PARTIEs.-So regular were their
lives that the lack of time pieces made but
little difference. The model citizens rose
at cock Growing, breallfas .ed with the dawn
and went about their usual ayocations
When the sun reached the noon mark din
ner was on the table. This was strictly a
family meal; dinner parties were unheard
of, and the neighbor who should have drop
ped in without ceremony would have been
likely to have received an Indifferent wei
come. Bat this apparent want of social
ty was attoned for by the numerous tea
parties. After dinner the worthy Dutch
matrons would array themselves in their
best Hnsey jackets and petticoats Of their
own spinning, and, putting half finished
stocking into the cagacious pocket which
hung down from their girde, with their
scissors, pin-cushion and keys, outside their
dress, sally forth to a neighbors house to
g" take tea Here they piled their knit
ting needles and their tongues at the same
time, discussed the village gossip, settled
their neighbors' affairs to their own salts
faction, and finished their stockings in time
for tea, which was on the table at 6 o'clock
precisely. Tea over, the party donned
their cIodls and hoods, for bOnnets were
not, and set out stfaightway for home to
superntend the milking and look after the
household affairs before bedtime.
The DREss-The Dutch ladies' wore no
bOnnets, but brushed their hair back from
their foreheads and covered it with a close
fitting cap of muslin or calico; over this
they wore in the open air, hoods Of silk or
taffeta, e'aborately quilted. Their dress
consisted of jacket Of cloth or silk, and a
number Of short petticoats of every con-
ceivable hue and material, quilted in fanci
ful figures. If the pride Of the Dutch mat
rons lay in their beds and linen, the pride
Of the Dutch maidens lay equally in their
/ eIaborately wrought petticoats, which were
their own handiwork, and usually consti
tuted their only dowry. The wardrobe Of
fashionable lady usually contained from
ten to twenty OF these, of silk or camlet
cloth, drugget, India stuff, and variety
of other materials, all closely quilted and
costing from 50 to $50 each. They wore
blue, red, and green wosted stockings of
their own knitting with parti-coIored
cloakS, together with high heeled leather
shoes No finer material was known until
after the Revolution. Considerable Jewel
was in use among them in the shape Of
rings and brooches Gold neck and fob
chairs were unknown; the few who owned
watches attached them to chains Of silver
or STEEL though grdle-chains of gold and
silver were much in vogue among The most
fashionable bellies.
The burchers wore long wasted coats,
! with skirts reaching almost to the ankles,
vest with large flaps, and numerous pairs
/ of breeches. The coats and vests were
/ trimmed with large silver buttons, and dec
Grated with lace The low crowned hats
/ were made OF beaver-caps of fur and taf-
/ feta were also much in vogue. Though
! this custom was somewhat ponderous, the
/ gentlemen do not appear to have fallen be
hind the ladies in extravaganza in dress
/ 1atieta, plush and velvet were the fayorite
materials for their habIiments; their shoe
buckles and buttons were OF solid silver,
and they sported siiyeI-h.ited small swcrl7
aud iyory-mjuuted canes. 4 few wore
wigs; though the most wore their hair
! plai,el tightly in cues.
The men traded with the natives or the
other colonies, or kept their shops in their
own city-no one was idle. They made
no haste to be rich, were not given to spec
u'ation in bank stock or real estate, or any
/ other OF these schemes for making for
tune in the twlnkling OF an eye, that only
/ originate in the brain of the active and ad-
yenuurous \ anhees that their phlegmatlC
temperament forbade but they realized
/ the fable OF the hair and tue tortoise, and
made their way up tAe ladder OF fortune
slowly but surely.
Sheridan was staggering home one night
when ne was observed by policeman, to
whom he said confdentiaIly My name Is
NIlberiorce-I am areligious man-don't
expose me-"