Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-14
WHEREIN HISTORY WAS MADE.
Longfellow's Description of the Red Horse
Inn Covers Many
STARTER FOR AN AMERICAN NOVEL

na1t urlGan arlslocracY OF yore stlll give
their crouching forms q certain stately al
and flavor. And much American histor,
is written beneath the cobwebs of thei
faded ceilings and crumbling walls. On
visits them to-day and longs for some great
Drained American to come and throw asid
the creakirg shutters that the sun of geniu
may food in upon their dingy rooms unit
1t shall revive and preserve for Ameri
cans 1.-THE of the real romance every one
| possesses.
But ore Of all these old New England
inns has been truly and properly preserved
IN literature. That one least of all deserved
it for its inherent value TO the writer, o.
proper place as a relic of American socia
antiquity. That the true and tender meas
ure of the master-singer, Longfellow, CAV,
this one ramshackle old roadside taverr
such universal American recognition is bes
proof how half a hundred of its hale
rugged fellows could be given literary res
toration which would end in preserving
them as loved shrines in travel, and still
richer Meccas in mind and heart.
OLD SUDBURY INN.
For who, though he has never seen it.
does not know old Sudbury Inn, the Red
Horse "Wayside Inn" of Lorgfellow's
most colorful and tuneful creation? But a
week ago it stood there in the first autumn
days, just as in years agone,
A kind of old b obgoblin Hall,
Now somewhat fallen to decay
With weather stains upon the wall,
And stalrways worn, and crazy doors,
And creaking and uneven floors.
And chimneys huge, and tiled and tall.
Deep silence reigned, save where gust
Went rushing down the country road
And skeletons of leaves, and dust,
A moment quickened by its breath
Shuduered and danced their dance of death,
And through the ancient oaks oerhead
Mysterious voices moaned and fed,
Get down your "Longfellow, and read
over all that sweet prelude to 'sTales of a
Wayside Inn" Then close your eyes and
you will see in thought old Sudbury tavern
thousand miles to see it, while you thank
heaven for that one American man who
had both the patriotism and genius to paint
American pictures for endless keeping.
WONDERFUL CIDER FLIPs.
Two famous old New England inns, re-
Gently destroyed by fIe, and worthy to be
recalled, were the Hyde Tavern, of Revolu-
tionary fame, near Norwich, Conn.,, and the
historic inn known as the Oxford House, at
Fryeburg, Me. The former was burned in
March of last year, and the latter, Just
month earlier. Hyde Tavern was one of
the most ancient and famous resorts in New
England, situated on the old post road to
Hartford. the road over which Lafayette
and his army passed; and in this old hos
telry Lafayette and his officers d1med dur
ing the Revolutionary War. 1t was a
typical old-fashioned New England tavern.
with large green in front, surrounded by
gigantic elms, many of which were 100 feet
high. The struggling, one-story structure
had a low, sway-back, moss-covered roof
with huge caves covering and projecting
over q wide veranda, extending the whole
length of the inn.
Washington and his officers, recognizing
its antiquity and fame, shortly after the
Revolution visited the noble old tavern,
and ate, drank, danced, and held high car
nival within it. But the greatest fame en-
joved by the ancient hostelry was for its
wonderful cider clips" Every good fellow
of olden and modern times from Boston to
Albany, and from New York City to the
White Mountains, knew of, or was able to
boast of having partaken of, these. An
iron rod nearly three feet long was heated to
a white heat in the glowing Goals of the fire.
place, the latter SO large that a whole bull
lock could have been "barbecued" within
it, and then plunged in fagons of cider and
drank off while still sputtering and sizzling
from the heat.
PRIDE OF NEW ENGLAND.
The old Oxford House at Fryeburg, Me-,
was huge rambling affair, big as a church,
covered with dormer windows, fronted with
huge two-stOry verandas, surrounded by
trees, and provided with number
less hooks, crannies, cupboards and delight
full corners; in fact, a labarynth of Quaint
ness and repose. 1t was the ancient great
resort between Portland and the
White Mountains, and its wondrous good
cheer and bounteousness, as we'll as its re.
housekeeper, Molly Brewster, a
direct descendent of Elder Brewster, of the
May yf1ower, were the pride and boast of all
Northern New England.
Freyburg folk, however, set the greatest
store by the fact that the old Oxford House
was once the home of Daniel Webster. Just
81 years ago Webster became principal of
the little Freyburg Academy, his stipend
him to board, and in some de-
gree of state, Tor those times, at the then
ancient Oxford House. History is silent on
The subject, but Webster's room at the tay-
ern was so frequently pervaded with the |
fascinating odor of New England rum, that |
many other men of great brain and paunch
we're attracted thither: and village legends |
nave it that many saturnalia was held
within its barred windows and doors.
OLDEST BUILDING EXTANT.
In Springfield, Mass, are still standing
ome very ancient New England inns. and
f l mistake not, one of these is the oldest
American building now extant originally
,uilt for a public house. This old relic. at
he corner of Dwight and Sanford streets. is
low in the neighborhood of structures
learly as woebegohe as itself, but still
erves the general public as laundry. Just
"a years ago the court licensed Nathaniel
ely to keep an ordinary" or "a house for
Common entertainment, also for selling
vines and strong liquors" and at the same
ime released him from "trayning in We
Town so long as he continues to keep We
rdinary."
A once famous hostelry, the Parsons
Tavern, of Springfield, though now in dis
race and dilapidation. is still picturesque
xample of colonial architecture. It once
TODD in pride and glory over against Court
quare; and james Monroe early in his
Presidency honored it as guest In those
ays, and for half a century before. the
amous attractions of Parsons Tavern were
q that it stood in full view of Springfeld's
and that its clip" irons
ERE nearly as long and hinge, and its
quite as enthralling as those
{ the noted Hyde Tavern at Norwich.
There are two very old New England inns
} which make pilgrimages almost an
ua1lv One I viqit hecause IL doon = |