The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-03-04

not get q drop" A censor of drinks
might not be a bad idea even in these
later days of high license and police reg
ulationS.
This tavern which Joselyn visited was
undoubtedly the first established in Bos-
ton. for it is recorded that in 1854, four
years after the founding of the town,
Samuel Cole opened the first tavern, or
SOrdinary," as it was called, in yard
on Merchants row, midway between
Faneuil hall and what is now state
street. Coles ordinary, for it seems to
have borne no other name, was built or
brick and wood, four stories high, dingy
and low-studded. One entered from
corner door directly into the main parlor
with it's low, square windows, huge
chimney piece and sanded floor; and
this same small, dingy room witnessed
manv a stirring scene of our earliest his
tory. For 16 years, as far as we know,
it was the only hosiery in town, and
here the early Puritan dignitaries and
roval governors went to such entertain
ments as each found consistent with his
tastes and scruples. Here was given the
first state dinner in the colony, in which
20 Indian braves participated, and here
many distinguished visitors were enter
tanned.
lust when the old inn went out Of ex-
istence is not known, but Phenix-like,
ont of its ruins rose the Brasier inn, now
known as the Hancock House, which
stands in Corn court, in the rear OF Mer-
chants row, and near the Sun tavern.
It is a pity that this famous old inn
should have been allowed to meet the
usual fate of our American antiquities,
hut TODAY there is nothing left to remind
lis of it's existence. So, too, passed
evay the next tavern established, the
Shin tavern. so called from the sign
which swung over the door, the artistic
correctness of which was so dubious as
to give the inn a second name-the
Noah's Ark This tavern was situated
at the North END, then the center of
commercial life, on what is now the cor
ner of Hanover and Prince streets. II
was a favorite resort of Charles lis
commissioners and other Tory officials.
This old hosiery was standing as late
as 1866 but it is now gone beyond recah.
Later, there sprung up Hlally '"voiii''
but all have gone the way OF all the
world. and not one was preserved TO
show US how the traveller Jared in those
early days. 1t seems almost a wonder
that of the many, some of them so es-
sentially a part of the early history or
this great republic, not one remains. AS
late as 1854, the Green Dragon, the most
noted of all, was with us, but not WORD
of protest is recorded at it's destruction.
Here in this 2-story building were
formed the plans for the Boston tea
party and secret preparations made Tor
many other daring acts of rebell1on-the
burning of effigies and preparing OF
warnings, the writing of resolutions ana
the organizing of troops 1t was the
meeting place of the first American
lodge of Masons; and it listened to the
orations of Revere and Adams, Otis,
Warren and Quincy, Faneuil and Han
cock. But it is no more. have recalled
these old buildings as evidence OF the
passing away of things historic, the
more to emphasize the need of caring for
Faneuil hall and other buildings still left
to us. The trouble is, we have awakened
too late.