The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-13
THE NEW ORLEANS BULLETIN, SUNDAY DECEMBER 49, 1874
MODERN SILVER WARE.

| MODEkN SILVER WAkEs
It was but . little before the American revolu
ton, about 176O, that silver tablespoons bega1
to exclude those of wood, horn and pewter from
the tables of the quality in England, and ever
| teaspoons of silver are said to have been rare
To this day, if ! am rightly informed, no spoons
Of solid silver, large or small, much less silver
forks are to be found in common use among the
"plain people" with rare exceptions) OF any
European country. In the United States, on the
contrary, it is unnecessary to inform the Ameri-
can reader of Sc,ilne, that as rule, the farmer
is but thriftless, and the mechanic but jour-
neyman, whose spoons and perhaps forks are not
Of solid silver. The journeyman furnishes his
table with plated articles Of this class, or al
worst britannia, and only the rude day-labore1
contents himself with timed or pewter ware
Plated tea-services. castors, savers. pitchers, Ia
dies. cake and fruit baskets. etc, are too COM
mon to be noticed, unless wanting. on the tables
OF those In easy circumstances, and it is no rare
distinction If they are of solid silver. In fact
for bridal gifts nothing less than solid silver is
thought respectable and in this way, so univer-
sal has the custom OF bridal gifts become, hardly
any comfortable young couple now begin house.
keeping without fair show of genuine table sill
yer, so far at least spoons, forks, butter, fruit
pie and fish knives napkin rings and such trl
ies.
The beauty Of the ordinary American table.
with its SNOWY damask and china, sparkling cut
glass; and lustrOus utensils of silver. all disposed
in the tasteful symmetry native to the American
housewife, ls power, and one that goes too
near the springs OF moral as we'll as aesthetic
| culture to be lightly esteemed by the most seri-
GUS observer. The dew lopment Of this crown
ing symbol OF domestic refinement is worthy OF
our attention. critical journal has remarked
| that an American lady idea OF dinner is hand
some service Of silver and china. with two or
three vases Of choice dollhouse flowers. I sup
pose it was typical American lady, among the
plain people" too, who stated to me the ele-
ments Of meal as she understood it, in the
following series: First, order Including elegance
and good attendance y second, intellectual con-
versation, and lastly, something to eat.
| Plated ware originated in England about the
middle OF the last century the first application
| having been made to small articles in 1912, by
Thomas Bolsorer, a Sheffield mechanic; The new
| elegance brought within the means and supposed
properties of the middle class, took the name Of
| Sheffield plate, not from the process OF plating
but from the slverware OF which it was an imi-
tatOn. Plate. in this Is not our Saxon word
cognate with r0t- but wa. borrowed from the
Spanish Plata (slver), and applied to all utensils
made OF the precious metals, in whatever form.
| To elderly readers sheffield plate will still
have familiar sound, for under this name the
beauty of silver was first popularized in America
| and to far greater extent than even in Eng land
Probably the Sheffield and Birmingham mannfac.
turers Of plated ware at one period exported more
goods to this country than they sold at home.
A further and greater advance was made in
the practical application OF the method, which
had been known. but strangely neglected, for
thirty years. At one roke plating was greatly
reduced in cost its applications indefinitely ex-
tended and its effects incOmparaby improved.
Everybody in America is now familiar with the
ordinary wares OF DumerCns eloctrO-p plating
companies, and there is hardly a cottage worth
two hundred dollars in the country where such
wares are not to be found: although the rich
plating Of the Elkintons, in England, and the
Gorhams. i'll America, is too high i'll first cost for
the strictly popular demand.
Within halt century the business Of the
American silversmith was mostly confined to
making spoons to order for jewellers, who rarely
for particular orders. About 1925 it was noticed
that the sllyersmiths began to venture into the
manufacture of light spoons for general sale
through a class Of cheap jewelry peddlers, who
are still well remembered by natives of the New
England Of thai period. The Providence manu-
facture had begun to be extended and brought
into national relations by the enterprise OF
young goldsmith named Jabez GOrham, who
adapted his work to the general requirements OF
the trade, and made his way with it III the Bos
ton market by underselling and outpushing the
unmercantlle mechanics OF his craft. The urOll
account the old gentleman. who died about five
years age, used to give OF his semi-annual mar
ketinS in Boston, is more expressive than gen
eral description could be, Of the very modest
status OF the now imposing silver trade OF our
chief cities how the Boston jewelers. assembled
at his lodgings, pursuant to notice, that they
might be Ill admitted at the same moment, with
out partially, to view and divide the little trunk
full OF new jewelry spread out upon his bed -
"7he .Sarer lge, 'by Wa. c. Conant: Sc''ib"eT''s,
for December.
The finest glassware in the city, cheap at Nav
ra g, ia Canal street.
They have high suspension bridge in Bristol,
Engla from the top of which there is but
step to the next world. Ten persons have taken
this step since the bridge built and the
way seemed to be so tempting, the authorities
the eyes of the passengers, and thus endeavors
to pierce their secret thoughts. He is supposed
to read human nature like book. Lately
young girl paid him penny as toll and smiled
toll-takers suspicious that all was not right with
the girl. He told Waterman to follow, and the
girl having gone some distance, the Waterman
started after her on run. The girl saw him
giving chase and she ran. She climbed the rail-
ing of the bridge, got down on the outside
grasped the floor, and swung by her hands over
the abyss. The Waterman says she smiled at
him when he came up. He rushed forward and
attempted to seize her. just touched her hands
and she dropped. That made ten. The Jury of
inquest were unable to decide whether it was
case of deliberate suicide or whether the girl was
frightened at being chased and just stepped out
OF the way Of her pursuer.
Hot Springs, Arkansas. the other day hunting her
husband and carrying child which she uufrlrled
to the breeze like a flag of conquest She in
CURED for Mr. C. T. Robinson and was informed
where he was living with his wife. Mary Ann
marched directly to that house without impede
ment and into it, and sat down her child and sat
down herself Robinson was not at home. Mrs.
Robinson was and inquired the meaning of the
unseemly intrusion. Mary Ann replied that she
was Mrs. Mary Ann Robinson nee Smlndle and
had come to take possession of her husbands
hearth and home. At the same time she drew a
pistol and examined it critically. Mrs. c. T. Rob-
inson No. grabbed her sun.bonnet and ran out
Of the house leaving No. I'm peaceful possession
of single hair. No. went straight to justice
of the peace and swore out warrant for the
arrest of Mrs. Mary Ann Robinson nee Smindle,
charging that che threatened to disturb the peace
and floor the dignity Of the State Of Arkansas.
No. and child were lodged in Jail. All this was
done in the absence of Robinson. How he ex-
planned the conflict of wives ii any is not stated.
English stone China dinner sets complete for
s14 so, at Navras, ia Canal street.