The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-01-16
Baltimore Before the Revolution.

| OF those primitive days before the Revolu-
| ton it is recorded of Baltimore town" that
"as all were peaceable and healthy, lawyers
and doctors found little to do, but tradesman
and workingmen found ready pay and con-
slant employment. Women's wages espe-
cially were high, as the sex was not numerous,
and as they generally married by the time
they were twenty, they sought maid servant
for themselves in turn. A duty of from
five to twenty shillings per annum was
laid upon all bachelors, and old maids were
not to be met with, neither jealousy of hus-
| bands. The children were well-favored and
beautiful to behold and without the least blem-
sh. A frank and generous hospitality pre-
vailed devoid of glare and show, but always
abundant and good. Bashfulness and mod
| esty in the young were regarded as virtues,
and young lovers listened gravely, and took
| sidelong glances before their elders AT even
| tide the family, neatly dressed, sat in the
street porch and welcomed their neighbors
| 1t was customary to live at ones place of
business, and the wives and daughters served
| the shop, retailers of dry goods being most
| ly widows and spinstcrs. 1fatownsman fail
| ed in trade it was a cause ofgencral and deep
| regret Every man who met his neighbor ex
pressed his sorrow. Bankruptcy was q rare
occurrence, because honesty and Temperance
in trade were then universal, and none en-
| parked without means adequate to their bust
ness. AT Christmas, dinner and suppers went
the round of every social circle, and they
| who partook of the former were expected to
remain for the supper Afternoon visits
were made at such an hour as to permit ma
irons to go home and see their children put
to bed.
between tradeSman and the gentry there
was a marked difference The aristocracy
of the gentlemen was noticed if not felt
Such as followed rough trades, and all men
and boys from the country, were seen on the
streets in leather brooches and aprons, and
would have been deemed out ofplace without
them. Hired women wore short gowns and
linsey-woolsey petticoats, and some are still
alive who used to call master and mistress
who will no longer it. Cookery was palmer
then now, and coffee as beverage was used
but rarely Chocolate was the morning and
evening drink, and thickened milk for
children. A white floor, sprinkled with clean
silver sand, large tables and high-backed
chairs of solid walnut or mahogany, decora-
ted parlor enough for the best. Sometimes
a carpet, not, however, covering the whole
floor, was seen upon the dining-room. There
was ashow parlor upstairs, not used but upon
gala occasions. Pewter plates were in gen.
eral use, but were rarity Plate, in the form
of bowls, tankards and walters, was seen in
most families of easy circumstances. Punch,
the most common beverage was drunk from
one large bowl, and beer from tankard of
silver. AT dancing assemblies no gentleman
under twenty-one or lady under eighteen
was admitted, and the supper consisted of
tea, chocolate and rusk. Six married man
ayers distributed partners by lot for the even
ing, leaving nothing tothe success of forward
ness or favoritism. Gentlemen always drank
tea with the parents of the ladies who were
their partners, the day after the assembly"
Invitations were printed on playing cards -
"The honor of Miss IS company at ball
to be held at six o'clock p, NJ, Endorses the
queen of hearts, and is one of many such
trophies still prescrved.-Hmpcr's Maga=ine.