The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-01-28
Good Old Times in Early Maryland.

light. 1t was about inches square, 1t
contained English news six months old,
and Boston news aged about three Cop
les still exist, and are history of the good
old times of which we speak.
In 1747, this paper advertised for sale
quite number of "rebels, then recently
taken in war These were Scotch who had
failed to seat Charles the Pretender on the
English throne two years before.
OF course, men and women, whites
were frequently sold to pay their passage
over; but only for term of years. Irish
and Scotch, Acadians and Palatines, were
among the imported goods offered for such
sale
Servants had, surely in those days,
picturesque appearance; blue jackets, brown
coats, white flannel vests, white wigs, red
pea jacket, and so on, being mentioned
among their accoutrements.
But a Iadys-dearie me, what a JOY 1t
must nave neen 10 HtI-bidch FIN PS''i-
coat. with red and white border, cherry
colored stays, tricked off with silver and
blue: red gown shaded with dove color. and
embroidered all over with very small flow
ers and very large trees; satin apron, vel
low-think of it, white muslin head
dress, lace rufiies, and sombre black silk
scarf, spotted silk capuchin. Thus ar
rayed, she was in the very "pink of per
lection, and, suppose the very geranium
of fashion. But they were the good old
times.
Annapolis was the centre; Baltimore had
hardly yet put in much of an appearance.
The former was called the centre of the
globe; for while all the rest of the world
moved this quaint old town remained ever
stationary The joke was hardly relished
by the Aunapolitans, and, indeed, hardly
deserved. But the good old times would
have their little Joke, even If it was at
somebody's expense.
In 1745 the Tuesday Club voted against
cheese, adopted badge, appointed a Proto-
Mus icus, and adopted the celebrated Ge-
iastic Rule. By the terms of this rule, it
any speech offended any member he might
laugh loudly and continuously enough to
put the speaker to silence and keep him
there. Not long thereafter a speech did
offend, and after due course Of some half
hours yociferous laughing from the entire
club, yaliently persisted in, he was brought
60 order amid a dead silence. and taught
better manners for the future.
On the anniversaries of the martyrdom
of Charles the first, 'of blessed memory,
this club affixed black wax seals to its pro-
ceedings. At times yoluminous Latin in
dictments we're preferred against members,
and they were tried in due form of law,
around the fumes of rum and long-leaf to-
baeco away into the wee sma hours.
These were the good old times.
4 gentleman was everywhere known
10y his dainty hands and cumbersome dress
of course, the sword went with the gentle
man; chairs were carved, tables queer and
quaint the lady went about in her sedan,
the carriages had outriders all got up in
style, the pipe was long handled and ele-
..aut. punch was the fashion rivalled only
by Madeira, the race was the regular thing
and cards daily affair These were the
good old times; too good to let get old, yet in
time they passed away and gave place
well. to what we all do now see and hear
and know of.
/ belive Annapolis had the first paper,
the earliest race-course, theatre and watch
maker. and even the British regarded it
as the place to bide in, and to come away
from with tears of regrer. The clergy
wrote Latin as fuently as English; legal
lore abounded side by side with classic, and
the good old times were very good indeed
TO the good old folks that lived in them.
And the hair of the DANES and bellies, a
word of it, if may approach SO high IA
subject 1t was work of art and a tower
of elegance Done up over immense ter
races called pillows, sometimes by French
gentlemen passionately devoted to the art,
and getting. at times, 800 crowns year
for attending to single crown; it was a
mystery, thing Of beauty, and, some
times, joy forever. The average minis
ter got an hundred pounds; hair dresser
sometimes as high as three hundred. The
head first the soul after. Well, the good
old times and the bad new times are not
so very different; and the French cook to-
day gets the ultra ministerial salary, as the
dresser used to.
The good old times in this colony APP
peared to adjure the house made of wood;
brick imported, was the fashion, and Qneen
Anne the style OF course there was i
huge ballroom somewhere in the house,
and beaux and bellies had all the grace and
manner Of the best society Of Europe. In
fine, Maryland was little Europe, touch
of France, trife of Italy, some Holland
and much England. The good old times
were Tory both in Church and State
The Clergy were all high livers, if not high
churchmen, and fond, it is said las why
and would they not be-of canvasback
ducks and the celebrated terrapin. Ger
lainly, .if accounts be trae, the good old