The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-11-22
FORTY YEARS AGO.
The Days of Volunteer Firemen, Strong
Medicine, and Greasy Diet.

Prentice MuliOru VIRTUES III Tue Gan
Francisco Chronicle of the times forty
years ago:
In dress, black was the prevailing
color--black for promenade, parlor,
church, ball, or business. The motto
ran. "a black suit is always genteel."
The hat was bell-crowned, long-napped,
broai-brimmed, and pressed vice-like
on the head
People did not so much then give
away their secondhand clothes, or dis
pose of them to the ''old clo' man.
They wore them out" For this rea-
son the >swallow-tail'' dress coat was
often an article OF everyday attire. 1t
was the secondhand swallow-tail, sup
planted by the new one for Sunday or
state occasions.
The shirt collar was high, standing
and sharp-pointed at the ends. The
black frock-coat was short-waisted,
narrow-chested, with long narrow skirts,
and the sleeves were as tight as pos
sible
The ladies' bonnet was modelled after
the coal-scuttle. An artificial full-blown
pcony or bunch of roses adorned its
summit. A plain cloak or shawl hung
like rag from the shoulders. A plain
untrimmed skirt reached to the ankle.
Their slippers were heelless, fiat and
secured by black strings wound round
the ankle. The parasol was edged with
deep, heavy silken fringe. A bag Of
gayly-colored silk, embroidered with
beads, was necessary for full dress.
The handkerchief was bordered with
lace, and carried exactly in the middle
by the thumb and forefnger.
The 'b'hoy" of New York was fea-
ture forty years ago. His hair was
closely cropped behind, but allowed to
grow long in front. To these front ends
perfumed bears grease was applied in
generous quantities. They were care
ends tucked under
His face was closely shaven, and he
wore a black plug hat, pitched promi-
nently forward over his brow and also
slightly inclined to one side.
\ large shirt-collar was turned loose
" down and so fastened as to expose a
bull-like neck. The skirts of his black
frock-coat extended below the knee.
His vest was of highly-colored or figured
satin or velvet, and SO cut as to expose
his entire shirt bosom. Pantaloons
sailor fashion-tight to the knee, and
from thence to the ankle growing larger,
as does blunderbuss from chamber to
muzzle.
His jewelry was often varied, profuse,
and snowy. He walked with roll and
! Il swacger. In the street he preferred
to lean against lamp-post.
Ia his mouth his cigar was cooked up
NJ about the same angle the brim of his
nat was cooked down.
In voice his information wavered be-
wcen q falsetto and a growl. He vas
IN his element at fires and balls. He
belonged or iran" with some volunteer
tire company, the number of which was
embroidered on his red flannel shirt.
He always wore red, for it,was the color
OF blood, and in blood he delighted.
His crowning ambition was to get the
first water from his ''masheen'' on the
fire. He fought with his fists, but was
not averse in emergencies to the use OF
''spannern or fire trumpet.
Unlike the ruffians of to-day, he
scorned the use of knife and pistol. He
was rough, but also had good deal of
rough chivalry in his composition. His
generic name was ''Mose." That of his
Girl was Lie.
In early life the b'hoy was generally
apprenticed to some boss butcher. In
the labor peculiar to his calling he spent
his days. To run to fires at night was
bis recreation. To become a ''boss
butcher was the summit of his ambi-
ton.
He worked, and worked hard, for a
living. Chanfrau made a great hit when
he put him on the stage in company
with Lie
'.Lize's' attire was an aggravated
and exaggerated copy of that of a Broad
way belle of the period. The skirt
was shorter and fuller, the handker-
chief larger and more ostentatiously
carried, the corkscrew curls longer,
Simmer, and sitter; but her gait re-
sembled as nearly as possible that of
the man who ruled her affections and
everything else.
The Bowery .'b'hoy" is now extinct
The war extinguished him.
The city Saturday night of that time
was dull. Parties were inadmissible.
Visitingwas ofrather doubtful propriety.
For the theatre it was the poorest night
of the week. Stars in their engage
ments invariably excepted Saturday
nights. The theatre was on that night
often given over to some aspiring de-
butante, for whom none were hopeful
but himself
The lawyers office of the time was
generally on the second floor back. Its
floor was carpetless. Its chairs were of
divers patterns and some were cripples.
The inkstand was of gray stone. Stub
by quill pens lay about in all degrees Of
inefficiency. There was a pad of red
blotting-paper, a boxwood sandbox.
scattering of settled cases tied with red
tape. A few unpainted pine boxes
served for the bookcase The floor was
begrimmed with dust and ink stains.
Safes had not arrived; banking and
insurance houses had their iron chests.
These were formidable shows. but i'm
potent safeguards The wooden sides
were crossed with bars of strap iron,
and the whole box was thickly jutted
with knobs. These knobs were TO the
chest what were gongs TO. former
Chinese armies The cro0oS nsaHR an