The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-09-05
DURING THE WAR.

Hers was not the life Of the CAMPS,
places in which the wives of Washing
ton, Greene, Knox and Others lent their
aid and influence, but rather in, the CEN
tiers from Which went forta the plans
of war Necessarily. her life was much
mere gay than that of many of the 9TH
er ladies, although it, too, had its dam
gers. a large amount of entertaining
fell to her, as the wife of her husband,
and we have many descriptions of her
dinners 4 large tankard of punch was
made in her home each morning, and the
visitors during the day were all urged to
partake. Her dinners we're usually CIV
en- at O'Clock in the afternoon, unless
the occasion was specially formal, when
the hour of was chosen. Suppers, how
ever we're as frequently given as din
ners and the hour for these was or
O'Clock. These were preferred by many
because they afforded pleasant even
ing afterWard. In the evening Mistress
Hancock 50 far forgot her Puritan
training as TO indulge in cards, and as
dancing was not considered criminal
that, too, was enjoyed. The line, now
ever, was drawn at theatre going, and
neither Dorothy Hancock nor the Hon
John, esq. ever crossed the Threshold
of the playhouse. As her husband was
very punctilious and insistent upon all
the details of dress and the formalities
of the times. Dorothy Hancock was
compelled to give much attention TO her
personal appearance, though as she Was
commonly known as splendid belle,
perhaps this was no trial TO her. we
have some graphic descriptions OF the
garb of the companies at her table, the
gorgeous and varied colored coats of
the men. the brilliant dresses of the Ia
dies. and above all of these. marvellous
dressings of the hair. The Wings were
NOT so pronounced in this last particu-
lar as the Tories, for the latter some
times wore them "one-third higher than
their bodies"
MANAGER OF THE HONORABLE
JOHN. ESQ.
In spite of his fine physique and
courtly bearing, John Hancock was
very nervous, oVerstrained and lrrfta-
bic man. His greatness none denied;
his ability to please when he eXerted
himself was we'll known, but he was
quick spoken, decided and very tena-
cious Of his opinion HIS bitter Quarrel 81
With Samuel Adams we'll illustrates
this. But his wife soon learned just
how to deal with him. She was gentle,
but won her way by her very gentle
ness, and perhaps it was from her that
many a modern woman learned how to
gain her own way. while apparently
leading her husband all the time TO
think that she is yielding in every pdfT
ticular TO his wishes. So it came to
pass that men who wished to gain the
favor of the president of congress
found oftentimes the best route was
via Mistress Hancock, and many a
point was gained by the wife whom
John Hancock loved with a passionate
devotion. and of whom he was e0-
tremely proud. which the husband
would never have granted of his own
free will.
CHANGES
In October, 1777. John Hancock res
signed his position in congress. Worn
by anxiety, the constant strain proved
too heavy, and he laid the burden
down. His wife. however. was delight
ed to be again in the Boston home. The
house was on Beacon hill, Boston, and
considered a marvellous residence in
its day. But King" Hancock was not
permitted to rest. The "insufferable
piece of bravery as one of his COM
patriots half angrily dubbed him, was
elected to the convention of Massachu-
sets to aid in forming a. constitution
for it's government. and in 1880 hefwas
chosen the first governor. Two years
later he was reelected, and served,
with the exception OF one year, till his
death on Oct. s, 1888 SO during all
these years Mistress Hancock was
compelled to be a society leader and
we are told that there we're many
stories current of her "uprightness,
good sense and benevolence."
John Hancock's death freed his wife
from the strain of public life, and in
her freedom the widow Hancock chose
to become the wife of Captain Scott a
husband brought a changed
life. The formal dinners, the grand