National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-06

there is a suburb called Outlay, so presery-
ing the memory OF that prosperous time
when Bristol, next TO London, was th3
richest and most important city Of the
kingdom OF that proud period when her
merchants carried on thriving trade with
the Indies, before Columbus sailed TO find
a western passage to the far east.n Their
trade was not alone with the East Indies.
From the twelfth century on there was no
maritime center where Bristol vessels were
not sometimes seen, including such far-oh
places as Archangel, the Canarics and even
Thule, in Iceland, but not ultima Thule,
for her indomitable mariners soon passed
beyond, and under Cabot were the first to
cast anchor by the mainland OF the new
continent.
No sooner were colonies established In
the new world than Bristol ships were there
to trade; and an extensive and lucrative
commerce sprung up with Virginia and es-
pecially with the West Indies In sugar,
which became In after years the staple aud
made Bristol In proportiouate population,
the most Opulent city In the world. Its
planters were celebrated for their bounte.
Gus hospitality and luxurious prodlgality.
Horace complains Of fowls dressed In Faler-
nian wines, of Lucrnc mussels, and crcean
oysters; of black game from the Umbrlan
forest, but here was Caviare from Archangel,
turtle from the West Indies, carp, Just ac-
climnted in England, and turkeys from Nir-
ginia; the whole topped of with few
whilrs Of the novel and famous weed. Nor
did our opicurcs eat dry. Says the quaint
old Fuller, "Though as many elephants are
fed as cows Craze within the walls of this
city, yet Is drank great plenty Of this meta
phorical milk whereby NCrXcs or sherry sack
Is intended. Some will have IL called milk
because(whereas nurses give newborn babes
in some places pap, in some places sugar and
water such wine is the first food given in
fants In this city, The old name still ex.
lists, and at the dinner parties Of wealthy
Bristolians among the last and finest wines
is sure to be a flask Of Bristol milk. Nor
were these merchant princes less luxurious
in other ways than IN eating; aud the gOr-
gcousness OF their wives was inherited; for
Henry VII when he came to Bristol in 14JD
made every burgess worth 1900 pay him 90
shillings "becausc their wives were so
sumptuously apparellcd." And yet all Of
the latter were not satisfied, for we read
soon after that Charlotte Trym, "being a
common scold and dsturber OF the peace OF
her neighborhood, was taken to ye cucking
stool and there ducked three tines
There were other pleasant diversions be-
sides this. Bear batting was great favor
ite. In 1882 anstocratic bruins belonging
to the Dukes Of Suffolk and Westmorclaud
were loaned to Bristol for n grand fight.
Cockshying rose to the dignity of n church
festival, and every Shrove Tuesday fowls
were tied up by the leg as targets for clubs,
good shot winning the bird.
Mayst thou be punished for 81, Peters crime,
And on ShrOvc Tuesday perish in thy prime.
Still more original amusements existed.
In 1888 "thcre came TO Bristol the Earl Of
Ormond with the Duke OF Desmond's head
picked In n pipkin, which he exhibited to
the mayor and his brethren, who were much
gratilled, and returned the duke many
thanks for the entertainment
But there were redeemlng features about
our burghers. They established the first
free library In the kingdom in 1913; the first
savings bank that England knew was here
inaugurated and pious citizens have so
constantly been bequeathing large sums
for charity that 1t has come about, through
appreciation Of property, that endowmcnts
are almost incredible. There are large
amounts invested, the interest Of which Is
to be loaned to struggling young business
men In sums OF from $50 to $500, at inter
est rates varying from nothing to 3 per
cent. per annlim. All over the city may he
seen quaint old structures, rows.of cottages,
the everything monument to some thought
full founder, who has In all cases left an
endowment for each occupant, amounting
generally to about shillngs q week. DR..
Thomas White, who died In 1902 left money
by which thirty-two persons are now pro-
vided wi tn comfortable home, including
food, coal, and clothing. This will pro.
vides that his trustees, who must he cX.
mayors Of Bristol, shall dine at his expense
| once year, and he.speciilcally directs what
they must eat. So on each anniversary OF
his birth grave and reverend company
| assemble In the old board room and, under
the presidency Of the vicar of the ancient
| parish of Temple, they attack, on the bright.
est of pewter plates, pork, boiled and washed
and grilled. Then follows, In the hands Of
two bending walters, q half baron of beef:
but this is looked at askance, II being a
bold innovation on the will Of DIR. White,
and only having century or SO of custom
to excuse its presence. Then comes an
apple pie. But what pie. The old doc
tor ordained that II must contain hundred
| apples, neither more nor less. IL is mas
todon Of pies, but its steamy juice pro
claims II no desiccated relic OF past centu-
ries. The most luscious Of port and the
| blandest OF sherry induce kindlicst remem.
hrance OF the dead phllanthropist, aud by
the time his health is drunk the staid eX.
| fathers of the city relax little from theil
habltual and becoming dignity.
The city suffered severe blow from the
manumissiOn of the slaves In the West In
dies. Those who owned plantations in the
islands could no longer compete with the
| slnNcEfOWn sugar OF inc lhlteu states
They lost money at home, too, for they were
obliged to close their reilneries thus theil
chief industry was ruined; nor had the peO
pie energy to look for another. The paraly
sis Of slavery was on them. They had al
ways been shareholders. At the time Of
the conquest In 1866 they were found car
rying on large trade with Ireland In thel
white friends and enemies, and in Charlie
IFS time the municipal officers recruited
their plantations in the West Indies from
the criminals who came before them
OF late, however, Il new spirit has arisen
and vigorous efforts are being made to cap
ture more of the steam trade of the world
The population, Just doubled in fifty years
now numbers nearly Il quarter Of n million
of busy, pushing people. Manufacture
are Increasing, large and expensive docks
are building, new steamship lines are being
inaugurated, and activity reigns every
where. l.. A. l..
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