Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-10-02
The Leisure Hour.
4 LESSON Nv HISTORY.

We lind in a late number of the Galaxy
very entertaining paper by II. w. Frost,
upon how they lived before tho Revolu-
ton, from which we take some Interesting
facts and hgures. Tue truth IL, the pre-
revolutionary epoch OF the United States is
To most Americans an exceedingly dim
and mythical period wherein loom vague
ly Salem witches, charter oaks, Miles
Slandish, Roger Williams, French wAIs,
Indians and Knickerbockers.
The most marked feature of colonial life,
and that in which the national habits have
since suffered most change, was doubtless
the arstocriiic character Of lis society.
Even here in New England the aristocrat-
ic feeling and distinction ur classes were
almost AS marked as in the feudal South
aud New York. Custom gave privileges
which the laws did not recognize, and
comparatively few families monupOlized
official digniles. John Adams, for in-
stance, mentions that the Chandler family
"engru>sed aim rst all the public Offices
aud employment in the town and county
of Worcester, Mass. II is well known how
The Hutchinson kin filled the chief places
Of public trust in that province In New
York the Delanoeys aud Livingslones
were the two families on whose motions
all their politics turn" Offices, in those
days, even of the humber sort, moreover
lent II dignity Ia the incumbent which he
was glad to magnify by II certain staleli-
| ness of life and carriage. II was even
Thought that a Justice OF tho peace should
! he at SOME cost To support his dignity by
public show. Until 1873 the catalogue of
Harvard college was arranged according
| to the social rank of the students and Ia
| determining this rank the date ur their
| fathers commissions as justices of the
| peace was considered, among other things.
| The heari-burnings that attended the
placing" Oft class were many aud sore.
The list was posted in the butlory usually
about six or nine months after tho class
had entered, and high place wns not only
gratifying Ia the pride, but conferred the
substantial privileges Of a better room aud
an earlier help at table. Yale had Il similar
system, which she took tho lead of Har-
ward in abolshing. Such thorough
| going Democrat as john Adams saw Keen
| ly the Hbsurdity of these aristOcratic no.
lions in a new country, and his diary con
tans divers hits at the prelensiOns uf the
| WinslOws, IIutchinsons, Quinceys, SAllon-
stalls, Chambers, LoOnards, Otises, etc.
The costumes of tho day were rich and
snowy. The judges wore In Massachusetts,
scarlet robes with iacings and cuffs OF black
velvet and powdered wigs adorned with
black silk bags. Their robes in summer
were Of black silk. In IVA tho sheriff of
York, now in Maine, came out 10 meet the
court, coming ON circuit with six Of his
deputies, all with gold laced hats, ruflles,
swords, etc. Nor did legal gentlemen mo-
nopolize brave apparel. Tho 0verseers Of
Harvard college in 1864 had to forbid the
students To wear gold aud silver lace or
brOcade. Laced and embroidered gar
ments of velvet and flOwered silk were
commonly found in genllemen's ward
robes, aud thero was ono solid man OF
Boston, thrifty merchant who went
about his business in green or purple and
gold. Wigs gavo place to queues when II
was seen that the officers of BraddOck' s
army did not wear the former. Artisans
wore leathern aprons and serving maids
were known by short gowns of domestic
stun. What would they have thought of
the satin aud silk which Bridget deems