Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-28
5;IS'EOIsIC CHAIRS.
And something OF Interest about
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, And something OF Interest about
ihcIfi-
Our own country contains several chairs
that possess II deep historic interest. A.
moug them are two on three which "camo
over in the Mayilowcr." AT Mount Yer
non there is one, an antique, old fashion
cd thing, with stiff, high back, and staid,
substantial appearance. Two others are
in Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth-the chair of
John Carver, the first governor OF Ply
mouth Colony, and that Of Elder William
Brewster, Il clergyman of great eminence,
of whom the ecclesiastical writers of that
time have mnch to say. The chairs are
both canc-bottomcd, and have turned
posts and balustcrs, showing that the
forcfathcrs were not wholly insensiblc to
the value Of art and beauty. Banvard III
forms us. us Il matter worthy OF record,
that at the first Celebration OF the landing
of the Pilgrim Fathers, held Nt Plymouth,
December. 1863, the president occupiel
the antique chair which was formerly the
seat Of the Governor Bradford. Thi,
clar is now in the possession Of the Rus
sci family at Boston,
There are still other chairs In America
highly eminent for their historic value.
In the rooms ufthc NIussachusetts Histor-
zeal Society is preserved a heavy urique
snohin@ armchair which was used many
years by Governor Winthrop i'll the Col
oUlHl Assembly of the province. Many
81 the royal governors occupied it, and
many importautre re 'Ulutiuus have been put
from Tins chair. Governor Gage was the
last to occupy it, in MI! The chair that
WIS occupied by General Washington,
when he took his farewell Of the generals
of the army. Is To be seen in the council
chamber in New York The chair of the
first president of Ynlc College is square
wooden armchair OF the conventional con
went pattern. It's date is l700 and the
name ut Rev. Abraham Pirrson, its first
occupant, will ever hc held in high es-
teem by the friends of this ancIeut and
honorable university. For many years
the chair wna uot in the collge buildings,
I but since lS}j il las been IN the library,
where 1t is likely to remain.
Among tie remarkable chairs now in
existence is one in the school at Wit scn-
burg, Germany, which was used by Mar
tin Luther. The distinguished refon ucr
was often troubled by visits from the evil
one, j. Is said; and B..cyua, the Jesuit,
tells us that when Satan once appeared to
him, ho invited the priuc" of darkness to
sit III l4ia chair, rs bciug more worthy oi
j. than The Jo-uit himsef Wickiiil >
.n c,,,,,.i 81 .,ttn,',vnr,t Ta;.osta,. .
.Ia., Tl;a ..epc,"il, ,nan ,ybn w,. ono
~ I,n.,.,,',,, ,,,.lia.l ,'r'a,',,,'rs ,I;ni i,
i.-5 ,l,ni,. il, ,,li,.i, IT,, ,,s,"ii,. o..
.u.'1 g., Win Ln ~ ,l,. nc",,,;os :,
,,a.o H.. iL' r,,,,nrnin,', t"i',o - ihe ol1
church. Ia thp y,stry Of John Bunyan's s
Church in Ntd!Grd. is seen the chair of
thUt "glpIious dreamer" IN style it re-
,,,. ..',,,;'',, ,.,,. - ,',.i, ,,,.,iior
oni lnr'r ,,'I L,. tl,in I6,,. and vnrv
.Li,,' .'.,,,
,r'nt;,;i.,. .,,Str,4f n,. ,,..,r will bn
.,t, H., ,t.,,i. H., ,.,.;..t t:i,i,,,,'ra .,t
,n .' ,. ,''i' IN ~ thn "i'',. i.n,, ''" VI iLn ,, LII
I,c,,'.. !, v,Ii.r rc y,ns j',", T. s.,UJs
in M, rbi,,i,a,-I.,,I. or >, n,nIll ,,inomv
,.t.,.i.,. ;"st l,4,;,I ,t'',t ,.as H..
fat ''rs stup. j is of oak, and OF II
quaint though not unhant,sumc pattern.
There ~ some difference OF opinion as to
whether this chair was ever used by
Shakespeare; bat there is chair Mt
Sratiord which was really often occupied
by the immortal bard. 1t III at Anne Hath
away's cottage, and iscallt d Shakespeare
cuurting-clair. In this rustic settle must
have often set the future tiramatist with
that superb faccc his fun oi love and ten
dcmrss for thc fair peasant girl whom he
ai.erWarJ married.
Onc oi the mu q interesting seats in the
world is the papal thronuut Rome, which,
according to tradition has been occupied
by ali the popcs ii the line Of St. Peter.
Certain il is that tGcchair has been in use
since the time o' Innocent Ill. more than
seven hundred y,arl hpo. \ seat some
what older is shown in the Chapel of the