The Republican journal., 1885-10-22
A Pilgrimage to Salem.
Correspondence of the journal.

Correspondence of the Journal.
visit to the quaint old town of Salem is one
of the pleasures that should not be omitted by
anyone spending few days In Boston. Easy
of access and only thirty-five minutes ride from
the city, it furnishes enough of interest to make
day spent there very enjoyable. A brief his
tory of the place will show that from Its settle
ment in 1926 1t became one of the most impor-
tant of the colonies, and during the Revolution
1t furnished large numbers of men for the army
and at least 15S vessels as prvateers; In our re-
cent war more than 5000 men from here Joined
the Union army. The past commercial record
OF Salem Is most remarkable. Her vessels were
the first from this country to display the Amer
lean flag In China, India, Arabia and Australia,
and the precious cargoes were unloaded at the
now dilapidated wharves and storehouses,
while the noble mansions were soon filled with
treasures from the East. Many Of these stately
houses are still standing, and as one walks
through the quiet, shaded streets the griefs and
Joys, sorrows and pleasures of the old town
seem still to pul.ate and stir the very air.
Our first visit was to the first Protestant
church established in America In the year 1854.
The restored building Is filled with articles of
historic interest among which we saw sofa
brought from Normandy In 1855, an old iron
christening stand, spinet made in Salem, and
some beautiful spinning wheels and mahogany
chairs which would fill the heart of collector
of antiquities with envy. The relic. at Plum
mer Hall make one feel as II he were living In
the past century. Revolutionary treasures,
among them some tea from the famous "Boston
tea party the christening robe of Gov Brad
ford, old mirrors and samplers, documents and
sermons relating to the wtchcraft deluslon
were but a few of the many objects Of interest.
An hour or two should certainly be spent in the
East India Museum, and there one can form a
better idea Of the wealth and prosperity Of old
Salem. 1t seems rs il all the merchant vessels
must have We'd with each other In bringing to
their fourishng town the treasures and curios-
tiles of foreign lands. Arrows and spears from
Africa, musical instruments richly carved,
trays and china from Japan, ivory carvings,
idol, and toys from China, war clubs. paddles
and unique ornaments from the South Sea Is
lands pottery and saddles from Mexico make
up In part the fine collection of which Salem Is
justly proud. Perhaps the greatest curiosity Is
delicate wood carving supposed to be the
work of monk in the 14th century, represent
ing Heaven and The Day of Judgment. The
two subjects are represented In separate hemis-
pheres and each is but 81 inches in diameter.
There are 40 figures carved with such skill
that they bear the most critical examination
with powerful glass.
Having seen enough antiquities for one day
we proceed to find IIawthorne's birthplace and
the House of the Seven Gables. The former
is plain brown building with nothing about it
to distinguish it from scores of others. The
House of the Seven Gables is most delightfully."-
situated and one of the most enchanting houses
possible. We We're fortunate enough to be
admitted to the house, and the low rambling
rooms, broad window seats, the queer garret
with the accumulation of many years, the old
fashioned garden and the pleasant view of the
sea seemed to fill the place with sweet remem-
brances.
We finished our tour of the town by visiting
the places made famous by the witchcraft
utuslOH VI loJA. tlG OtltSl uOuSt III llle LOW II
once owned by Roger Williams bears the name
of the 'Witch House, for here the witches
were tried and condemned. They were stripped
naked, wrapped in sheets and dragged through
ponds until they confess ssed their guilt, and it is
not strange that the innocent made false con-
fessions to spare themselves further torture.
Gallows Hill where the witches were hung is a
low hill in the upper part of the town, and
standing on its grassy summit that cool Octo-
Der afternoon it was hard to realize that fanati-
cism had caused such woeful tragedies to be
acted on the spot. One is apt to forget that
Salem contributed comparatively few to the
number of victims. The mania ragged over all
parts of Europe and III Scotland alone more than
1000 people were executed. Although In this
generation q monument has been erected to the
memory of lady who was hung as Il witch in
Salem. yet no eXpiation can wi.e out the blood
stain upon Galows Hill. NJ.