The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-09
OF By-Gone DAVIS.
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most entertaining as well as one of the
most copious of writer's upon the man.
ners and customs of ye olden times Her
latest volume is entitled stage Coach
and Tavern Days" and the amount OF
varied and interesting information which
she has to give us concerning the colo
NAL houses of entertainment for man
and beast is really nothing less than
wonderful. To go no farther than the first
chapter, who knew that in Puritan DAYS
the establishment of an hostelry was
deemed so important that towns were
fined by the general court of Massachu-
sets for not sustaining an Ordinary as
II was then called and that great IN
ducements were offered to individuals to
become tavern keepers; sometimes land
was granted them. or pasturage for their
cattle, or exemption from church rates
and school taxes.
From the Puritan Ordinary" with its
curious laws and restrictions, Mrs. Earle
goes on to the eighteenth century tav-
ems. Grave and respectable citizens were
chosen to keep the early ordnaries and
to sell liquor, for 1t was rightly deemed
that the profession required weight and
dignity. The first house OF entertainment
In Cambridge was kept by deacon OF
the church, afterward steward OF Har-
ward college.
The tavern at the Moravian settlement
at Bethlehem, Pa. was known as the
Rose, for 1t was built on land released by
William Penn on an annual payment as
rental of one red rosel
The old tavern signs. the tap-room and
other furnishings, the tavern fare and
tavern ways. the landlord, the laws gov
erning taverns. the celebrated hostelries
of different periods. all furnish Mrs. Earle
with much interesting matter. There Is
one chapter devoted to "Kiil-devil and
Its Affines," otherwise the liquor rum.
cheap IN New England, and the stimu-
liant that entered into the various ances-
trail connections known as Clip" teddy,
punch, mimbo and black strap.
In early days all diversions centered
at the tavern. Whatever there was of
novelty in entertainment and Instruction
was delivered there: II was the lodging
and exhibition place of all secular shows:
auctions were held there. and dances and
weddings. puppets, pictures. monstrosi-
ties, travelling menageries and all such
devices Little plays called "drolls" were
exhibited in taverns and coffee houses.
also .moral dialogues" Concerts we're
given. lottery drawings We're held. Lodges
of Freemasons met In taverns. the stocks
were always set up in front OF the inn.
Connected with the history OF taverns
Is the whole subject 81 coaches and stag
ing. which fills nearly quarter Of Mrs.
Earles interesting book. Then there are
hIghwaymcu and tavern ghosts 10 be
considered, and, on the whole. the sub
iect covered by the title is ono Of the
richest yet treated OF by Mrs. Earle in
her colonial studies.
Colonial Days and Ways" BY Helen
Evertson Smith. deals less with minute
details and more with the general aspect
Of life In colonial days. II was largely
gathered from family papers In the pos
session Of the author. who Is fortunate
in owning both Puritan and Dutch an
cestry ana In having records OF each upon
which she can draw for the detail Of an
instructive volume There are chapters
also descriptive 90 life IN the bones OF
early Hugnenot immigrants 10 This coun-
try. and life upon the great manors Of
colonial DAYS. and chapters upon the Ia
horious existence ia a country paysou-
age. The hook - pleasantly written and
presents a good though not exhaustive
picture Of the times DESERVED.
The First American. Ills Homes and
His Households" By Leila Herbert deals
with the private ard domestic life OF
Washington. and especially az the title
indicates with the various houses IN which
as lived aud she households gathered
about him in eaca ONE There are eight
houses Identified with his domestic life.
but Of these only two are standing. his
beloved Mount Vernon and the PerQt-Mar-
ris house. in Philadelphia. which was oc-
cupied by him Tor short time only. Miss
Herbert's work Is well and gracefully
done and the volume Is Handsomely
bound and printed and fully illustrated
The author WAS the daughter OF Secretary
Herbert. and the book was undertaken
and written In the scaut leisure OF an
exacting social and domestic life. At q
years OF age she was called 10 preside
over n cabinet house. a position which
would have seemed 10 an older woman
TO leave little time for the historical stud
les in which Miss Herbert delighted Had
she lived. she intended to pursue liter
arure seriously, and the present volune
shows ample evidence that she was iustf-
fed in such a choice. The preface 10
the book, containing a very interesting
account Of the authors life and person
ality. Is written by Molly Elliot seawell.
stage Coach and Tavern Days ay
Alice Morse Earle The Macmillan COM
pany; $40 Colonial Days and Ways"
by Helen Evertson Smith. The Century
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