Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-10-09

Umbrellas came into use about four years
rrior to the Declaration of Independence
At G7s; thev were secuted a. eEeminatc au1
absurd The doctors, on tie other hand,
recommended them As good for yeriigoes and
sore eyes. They were Of oiled six. coarse
and clumsy in their make, with rattan stocks,
and were imported form Indil by way Of
Ensand This was the period OF the work
ingman's paradise. There was plenty OF en-
plOyment and ready pay. The services OF
the lawyer and physician were not IN great
demand Girls were married before twenty,
and there were no old maids. Great respect
was paid to the aged. Young lovers listened
gravely, and took sile-long glhnces at each
other when before parents Or elders. Tow
ard the close Of the day, they would dress
up in their best clothes, and sit N the street
porch. Ii was the custom to % from porcn
TO porch in that neighborho1d and ENJOY a
social chat. The people lived on the sane
spot where they carried on their business.
The wives and daughters often served IN tac
store Of the head Of the flmily, and tue re-
| tail dry goods business was mostly IN the
hands Of widows or the few vocng !adies
who had escaped marriage. Dinners aud
/ suppers went the round Of every social circle
| at 50 carly an hour as to permit the matrons
to % home and put their children 10 bed.
| Eyervbody knew everybody, and a stranger
in the streets was recognized at once The
tradesmen before the Revolution were Il
different race from the present. They were
none Of them ashamed Of their leather a.
prons. Faded buckskin breechcs, once ra-
diant in yellow splendors. checked shirts and
red flannel jackets were the common wear
of most wofkingmen. All the hired women
wore short gowns and liusey-woOlscy petit
coats. CalG-kin shoes were the exclusive
property Of the gentry. The servants wore
cowhide. Tooth brushes were unknown.
The better sort were content - rub their
teeth with chslked rag or with snuff. Il
was commonly thought eieminate for mcr
to clean the teeth at all.
Not only the registering cavalier, bat tht
ouiet citizens, were fond OF a certain bravery
in dress. Men wore cooked hats and wigs
coats with large cuffs and skirts, lined anC
stidened with buckram. The coat of bear
had three large plaits in the skirt, wadie,
profuselv to keep them smooth, with low
collars to show off the fine lineu cambria
stock, and the largest silver backle on tn
back Of the neck. The shirt was rufled a
the wrists. The breeches had silver, stone
or paste buckles Gold or silver sleeve but
tons, set with stones, were generally worn
No cotton fabrics were then known. Stock
ines were of thread or silk 10 Summer and 0
wJrsted in winter. Sartouts never wcr
worn. but they had cloth great coats instead
or brown caInet cloaks, with green baiz
lining. In the time of the Revolution man
of the American officers introduced the Us
Of Dntch blankets for great coats. In win
ter. gentlemen wore little woolen mnh- {
protect their hands. IL was not uncommol
10 see old people with large silver buttons %
coats and vests, with their initials eusravc
on each button. The ladies' all wore larg
pockets under their gowns, and whiIeapTons
No color but black was ever made up for sil
or satin bonnets. Fancy colors were ur
known and white silk bonnets had never bee
seen. The use Of lace wells did no; con meme
until the present century. Ladies' shoe
were of silk or russet, stitched with waze
thread and having wooden heels. The sol
leather was worked with the flesh side ou
: Subscription balls became very fashionab
soon after the Revolution. No gentlema
under twenty-one and no lady under eightee
was admitted. The supper consisted Of te'
: chocolate and rusks. Everything was COZ
Quoted by six married managers. They di
tributed places by lot and arranged the par
ners for the evening. The gentlemen dram
,, tea with the parents Of their partners, Il
day after the ball, which gave chance for
more lasting acquaintance
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