New-York tribune., 1876-09-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE HsoRY 2 os & EsTsEfFFRa % Faon REassYnssEE 4E YEsE
sSo pg RS. ssrmghcld: CIV. Bryan a Co.
The description of Pittsfeld at the besin-
p;a of the century, with which this volume opens.
,xcsrnss striking contrast TO the condition OF taaf
eeaarsln inland Massachusetts, town at the preserS
time It still retained TO great extent the Irimtiss
manners and habits OF the period before the Rev0lui
although tho natural scenery which makes II favoc
re ort OF of the picturesque exhibited the
sano attractive features that now give It such sg Al
preimincnee in the mountain region Of Berkshire. DO
ncstic lie marked by extreme simplicity. The
houses with a-few exceptions, plainly furnished
Ia souie famcs there might have been "reminiscences of
the mother country in tbs shape OF richly c0ryed ma
hogSuy saeboard with sofa and chairs to ateh mas
sive dasIl table, and carabes OF quaint pattern Nor
would Il have been surprising find large oid mirror
tan Dutch or English clock, with curious Goviees
the dial; set Of genuine chine, wAtn
Hs fantastic oriental oTnaments and the ineSlGiil
punch-bow Of silver, china or glss, with gttering
array Of deeante and gObets The huge old nrepaces
were ineOsed IN wooden mantels, frequently oI
a very handsome character, and their furniture,
II not rpoStly of brass, neatly decorated with
tha. metal There sperm or WAX candles
IN silver candlesticks for grand occasions, but
taOw eandcs in brass iron served for ordinary
In the cha mbers the high fOrrost bedstead with it's
stately canopy matched by wndow-curtains which
hung ample folds OF ch material But there were no
carpets except those made of rags and in the
family The floors for the most part were only ysprnked
with white sand Painted floors an innovation OF
later date aud found too slippery for comfort by
oa ladies Of conservative tastes The Introduction OF
stone doorsteps instead of wooden resisted on the
same ground The furDtnre of the frst-class houses
Diminished in quality with the descent of the social
scale. The sofa became SETTLE" sort OF wooden
settee the sdeboard was less costly In material
and construction; the mirror exchanged for cheap
lookng-glass a wooden clock of country make took
NH. H.
and exceedingly comfortable but there was no longer
mahogany or fine carving. Pewter seen instead Of
silver plain erockery instead OF china and glassware
grew less in quantity and OF inferior cutting In dress
there distinction between classes than i'll
furniture The of wealth the city costumes, at
least ON dress occasions. Ladies IN the same position
had their silk gowps but they not worn every day,
nor changed with every wind of fashion. Home made
wooden garments the common wear Of men, calico
and blue check of women. Scarlet coaks however,
worn by both sexes, made a brave show on sundays.
Social gatherings frequent Ncglbor invited each
other to eveRngsuppers at which they wero RECALLED on
substantial country luxues from and turkey TO
pumpkin pies aud nuteaes, with plenty of nuts and
apples and cider TIE OF ardent spirits, wine, and
beer was almost universal. Flip, seductive bev-
erage, compounded OF small beer, rum, sugar,
and nutmeg. and made hot with heated poker,
was the usual Sunday drink returning from
church, even OF ladies' The progress pt social I'M
proyemeut is well described in these pages The
ecclesiastical md political history of the town is treated
great fullness OF detail with interesting biographical
notices Of the prominent characters who figured IN the
events of the day. largo and important portion oil
the volume devoted to the industrial and commeroai
development of Pittsed, showing tho Introduction o.
various manufactures early date, aud the increase
of it's resources by the adoption OF improved agricultural
methods The author evinces exemplary diligence and
research in the preparation OF his materials enbody
them in valuable work which will hold high place
arnong the numerous American local histories