The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-08-23
L CONDITION OF1HE COLONIES.


NJ LCOSDITTON OF1HE COLONIES.
stvle of architecture prevailing
ighout the colonies in the early part
HE eighteenth century gives proof
Ugh that the mode of living among
higher classes at that period must
u .rywhere have been much the same.
!, 1ne same great square edifices, the same
stocks of chimneys, the same tiles, the
same mahongany stairways, and the same
carving are still to be seen in the old
dwellings, of Portsmouth, Newburyport,
Salem, Boston, Newport, Philadelphia,
Annapolis and Norfolk. When Wash
ington came from Mount Vernon to Cam
bridge as commander of the American
army, he occupied as headquarters a
house resembling in many respects his
! own; and this was one Of the line OF sim.
liar houses, afterwards known as TORY
Row." and extending from Harvard Col
lege to Mount Auburn. These were but
the types of the whole series OF colonial
or rather provincial houses, North and
South. Sometimes they were built of
wood, the oaken frames being brought
from England, sometimes OF stone. The
chief difference between the Northern
and Southern houses was that the cham.
bers, being less important in q warm
country, were less ample and comfort
able in the Southern houses, and the
windows were EN- Her, while for the
reason there was much more lavishness
in the way Of piazzas. Every one sccus'
toned to the Northern houses is sur
prised at the inadequate chambers
of Mount Vernon, and it ap-
pears from the diary of Mr.. Frost, u
New England traveller in 1877, that he
was then so struck with the smallness
OF the windows as to have made note OF
it. The stairway at Arlington is singu.
larly disproportioned to the external
dignity of the house, and there is tradi.
ton that at the funeral of Jefferson the
stairway OF his house at Monticello
proved too narrow for the coffin, SO that
It had to he lowered from the window.
All this was the result of the outdoor
climate, and apart from these trivial
variations the life north and south was
much the same-stately and ceremonious
in the higher classes, with social dis
tinctions much more thoroughly marked
than we are now accustomed to remem-
Der.
We know by the private memoirs of
the provincial period-for instance, from
the charming recollections of Mrs.
Ouincy-that the costumes and manners
OF the upper classes were everywhere
modelled on the English style of the
period. Even after the war of independ-
ence. when the wealthier inhabitants of
Boston had largely gone into exile ut
Halifax, the churches we're still filled Oh
important occasions with gentlemen
wearing wigs, cooked hats, and scarlet
cloaks: and before the revolution the
display must have been far greater. In
MARYLAND. at a somewhat earlier period,
We find an advertisement in the Maryland
Gazette of O servant who offers himself
ito wait on table, curry horses, clean
knives, boots and shoes, lay table,
shave. and dress wigs, carry lantern,
and talk French; is as honest rs the
times will admit, and as sober as can
be-" From this standard OF a servants
ACCOMPLISHMENTS we can easily infer the
mode of life among the masters.
A striking illustration Of these social
damarkstions is to be found in the gen.
ersI catalogues, now called "triennial
or "auinauennial," of our older col
lcKe8. NOWu W VIC yCoA A'oD ~ A"sS
and 1878 Ut Harvard, the students Of
each class will be found arranged in al
order which 10 not alphabetical, ~ al
the present day, but see ms arbitrary
Not at all; they were arranged according
n the social positions Of their parents
and We know from the recollections o.
the venerable Paine Wingate that thu
first thing done by the college suthori
ties on the admission Of . new class wal
TO obtsin by careful inquiry the relativ,
social position OF the parents. Accord
ing to this position the young student
were placed" in the dining ball and tn
reoitation.room. and upon this was als'
based the choiss Of college rooms. Ha.
they always retained this relative Posi-
ton 1t would have been less CALLING, bu
while the most distinguished studen
could not rise in the list, the reprobate
could fall; and the best scholsr in tn
GLASS might find himself not m srely II
low position through his parentage
out hanksd on each side by scions q
more famed families who had been de
Graded by their own folly or vice
Inere could not be Q more conclusiv
proof that American provincial society
even IN the eastern colonies, was found
eus doxn to almost the time o, tho fina
separation from England, ON An esser
vl2IIV ayioAoo~ox.~ 4