Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-07-10

ciate the vast increase of human happiness
in the last few hundred years half so well AS
glance at the gloomy street and walls oi
those old towns, more eloquent than any his
tory of the danger and the misery that
clouded the lives OF even the most prosper.
Gus burghers In the days Of the sword and
lance. When paper and the press
when the musket and powder, were
used by the awakening giant OF popu-
lar sovereignty to clear the ground for the
founding OF n better civilization, then with
courage born of the power these weapons
gave him the lines of defense were spread,
the streets were widened and,l as the dover
OF civilization, the front step appeared
This is an historical event that the chronl-
clers have most shamefully neglected, and
we tind no record OF that bold man who first
built his front steps out into the street,
planted himself thereon and detantly con-
templated the landscape.
THE FRONT srEr IN AMERICA.
In this country. the front step has grown
immensely popular, 80 popular in fact that
when we came to build our capitol at Wash.
ington, and wanted a building that should
move the respect and admiration Of all peo-
pie, we first constructed three vast flights OF
front steps, higher than an ordinary house,
and placed column-clai, triple temple ON
top OF them.
We are not aware that our senators and
representatives have ever sat upon these front
steps, but such was doubtless the intention
of the designer, aud proper spirit of demo
cratic simplicity would lead to the ESTABLISH
meut of the custom.
They might carry chair cushions from the
legislative halls to prevent the chill OF the
cold marble, and srtistically disposed on the
vast steps, could be readily massacred pS
mob of one with gatliug gun, II they should
refuse to pass his pension bill or do any other
unreasonable thing.
In the old colonial days front steps were
quite as popular as they are to-day.
| The daughter of officer OF the British
army writing in 1857 from Albany, tells OF
| the shaded streets of that town and OF the
open portcos at the doors which were sur
| rounded by seats and assembled 10y few steps
| 1t was in these that each domestic group
was seated in summer evenings to enjoy the
balmy twilight or the serenely clear moon
| light
Nothing could be more pleasing to a benevo
lent mind than to see thus all the inhabitants
| of a town which contained not one very rich
| or very poor, very knowing or very ignorant
| very rude or very polished individuals-tC
| see all these children of nature enjoying III
| easy Incidence or social intercourse, " the
| COOL the fragrant and dusky hour.
| They were dispersed in porches grouped &C
| cordiug To similarity OF years and inclina
| tious At one door were young matrons
at another the elders ot the people; at thiro
the youths and madens, gaily chatting ol
singing together while children played
| around the trees, waited by the tamii
cows for the chief ingredient OF the fruga
supper which they ate sitting on the steps il
the open air
This was Dutch village community, ant
1t is probable that our own town presented
similar appearance in the summer evening
of a hundred and thirty years ago. But il
Watson's Annals We are told that II was tn
custom for the good people of Philadelphia +
| dress neatly towards the close of the day an
sit in the street porch aud it was customar'
also to go from porch to porch and con
| verse.
"YOung gentlemen in passing" said al
old lady TO Mr.. Watson, "used 10 affect {
say, that, while they admired the charms {
the fair, they found it a severe ordeal. This
however, was mere banter as those day
were really very agreeable and sociabl,
Our girls used to attend to the work of tn
family in the daytime, and in the evenin
, | paraded in their porch at the door. Some
them, however, even then read novels, an
walked without business abroad" lmagr
the tone of the prim old Quaker lady, as 81
; sat upright In a straght.backed chair an
} ended her CHEEKY memories of early day
with the last severe remark.
, As a town grows to a large city the trol
, | step becomes less used.
. May 1t long survive in Lancaster.