Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-01-28
A REVOLUTIONARY PICTURE.
Life in Philadelphia in the Latter
Days of the Colonies.
And so passed the years ITO, 1771

Adams now suggested committees Of
correspondence, and thus the first step
toward united action was taken.
These years, up to the autumn of
1772, were not without influence on my
own life for both good and evil. | was
of course kept sedulously at work at
our business, and, though liking it even
less than farriery, learned it well
enough. 1t was not without it's pleas
ures. Certainly it was an agreeable
thing to know the old merchant cap
tains, and to talk to their men or them
selves. The sea had not lost its ro-
nance. Men could remember Kidd
and Blackboard. In the low-lying dens
below Dock Creek and on King street
were many, it is to be feared, who had
seen the black flag flying, and who
knew too well the keys and shoals of
the West Indies. The captain who put
to sea with such sailors had need to be
resolute and ready. Ships went armed,
and l was amazed to see, in the holds
of our own ships, carronades, which
out on the ocean were hoisted up and
set in place on deck; also cutlasses and
muskets in the cabin, and good store of
pixies ventured once to ask my father
If this were consistent with non-resist-
ance. He replied that pirates were
like to wild beasts, and that had bet
ter attend to my business; after which
l said no more, having food for
thought.
These captains got thus noble train
ing, were splendid seamen, and not un-
used to arms and danger, as proved
fortunate in days to come. Once l
would have gone to the Maderas with
Captain Biddle, but unluckily my
mother prevailed with my father to for
bid 1t. 1t had been better for me had
1t been decided otherwise, because l
was fast getting an education which
did me no good.
Indeed" says Jack in his diary, 81
was much troubled in the seventies"
Che means up to IA, when we were full
twenty-one) "about my friend Hugh.
The town was full of officers of all
grades, who came and went, and
brought with them much license and
contempt for colonists in general, and
silly way Of parading their own SEN
tlments on all occasions. Gambling,
hard drinking. and all manner of
worse things became common and
more openly INDUCED in. Neither here
nor in Boston could young women walk
about unattended, new and strange
thing In our quiet town.
Mistress Gainor's house was full of
these gentlemen, whom she entertain
ed with freedom equaled only by that
with which she spoke her good Whip,
mind. The air was full of excitement.
Business fell off, and Hugh and | had
ample leisure to do much as we liked.
i declare that | deserve no praise
FOR having escaped the temptation
which beset Hugh. l hated all excess.
and suffered in body If l drank or ate
more than was wise. As to worse
things than wine and cards, l think
Miss Wynne was right when she de-
scrlbed me as girl-boy; for the least
rudeness or laxity Of talk in women
disliked, and as regards the mere
modesties of the person have ALWAYS
peen ike some well-nurtured maid.
THUS it was that when Hugh. on.
couraged by his aunt, fell into the COM
pany of the loose, staggering captains
and comets, l had either to give I'm
MIN, who was unable to resist them
or TO share in their vicious ways NV
self. 1t was my personal disgust at
drunkenness or loose society which
saved me, not any moral or religions
safeguards, although trust | was NOT
altogether without these helps, | have
seen now and then that to be refined
IN tastes and feelings is a great aid 70
a Virtuous life Also l have known
some who would have been drunkards
but for their heads and stomachs
which so behaved as to be good suhsti-
tutes for conscience. 1t is sometimes
the body which saves the soul. Both Of
these helps l had, but my dear Hugh
had neither. He was a great, strong
masculine fellow, and If | NAV seem
to have said that he wanted refined
feelings, that Is not so, and to him
who VIII never read these lines, and to
myself, l must apologize"
did come to see these pages, as Won
know. think he meant that, with tho
wine of youth, and at times of other
vintages, in my veins, the strong M.
ternal blood, which in my father only
a true, If hard, religion, kept In order
was too much for me. If l state This
awkwardly 1t is because all excuses
are awkward. Looking back, l wonder
that l was not worse, and that | did
not 90 to the nttarmnst dnrr -