Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-07-08
4 ROMANCE OF
n OLD PHILADELPHIA
fOriginal.1

..oI romances, especially one that has
occnrred many years ago. Perhaps 1t
q because the people of the past were
d,serent from ourselves and more diff
sorent than we are from each other.
How different from that immense
c,tv which today is spread over thou
sands of acres, whose streets are I'M
sdorned except with colossal buildings
and whose people are engaged In the
mad rush for money! Then beautiful
,rpes lined her thoroughfares, her
houses were quaint little buildings, and
her Quaker population wore broad
trimmed hats, broad tailed coats and
knee breeches.
Polly Pennell, nineteen years old,
mas the daughter of Philadelphia
Quaker father - "the strictest sect a
Pharisee'-and a Church of England
mother. Polly was pretty as a picture
and had hosts of admirers, all of whom
were sharply watched by her curmudg-
con father. Her most intimate friend
was Rebecca Hamilton. Rebecca was
not to the taste Of old Pennell, she be-
ing Of the world worldly. She took
fancy TO Polly, however, and soon aft
or their first meeting one Sunday after
church she came down the street car
rying aloft a beaver hat, two feet on
fine brim, looking for all the world like
balloon lib. leg o. mutton sleeves for
splnnakers, and gloves laced to the ell
bows The rest of her rig was pro-
fusion of tulle and india muslin. Meet
Ing Polly, she swooped down upon her
and carried her Off to dinner.
Polly was rescued by her Quaker at
tendants and received severe ad-
monltion to Shun the worldly creature.
But Rebecca was as much to Polly's
taste as she was to Polly's parents
distaste. A high bred dame, she dis
dalned eonventionalities as only neces-
sary for inferior people who did not
know how to behave themselves and
made her own rules. Within week
after the rescue Polly had visited her
in her home. There she was taken into
dinner by young Virginian. the very
antipodes of a Quaker, named Francis
Dulaney His dress was far more eff
fective In impresslng a young girl than
the conventional black steel pen jack
ct" of today--a canary colored waist
coat embroidered with blooming red
silk roses. claret colored coat with
cuffs. fiat brass buttons the size OF
modern individual butter plate, breech-
es and stockings of the color of the
coat. buckles on his shoes and plenty
of lace about his throat. How could
any young girl resist a handsome fell
low In such attire? Polly certainly did
not resist him. for she fell in love with
him, and her love was returned. Re-
becca Hamilton fostered the courtship
not only for sympathy with the young
couple. but TO score a point on the
Quakers.
Think of the broad brim hated, coal
scoop coated old Pinnell having for a
sOn-in-law young man adorned like
Francis Dulaney! Fancy the scene
when these two costumes containing
the two men stood before each other
and the younger man, perfect stran-
ger TO the older, asked for the hand of
his daughter! OF course he was re-
fused. Could Quaker drab mate with
canary and claret color? One might as
well think of a daughter of prophet
mating with a spangled circus rider.
The old man stood rigid, listening to
the young ones entreaties, then gave
n Nm
len retreat. Pinnell sent for his daugh-
Ter. Instead Of meeting an obedient
child he found firm woman. She
told him that she had pledged herself
to marry Dulaney and would do so.
Pinnell placed Polly under the care
OF his sister. Patience, woman more
austere, mote Quakerly dressed, more
commanding, than her brother. Polly
was forbidden to leave the house unac-
companied by her aunt, and her father
made preparations to take her to Eng
land.
One crisp October morning in 1900
Pencil put on his broad brimmed hat,
took his long staff, with a silver head
as big as dinner bell, and went down
Town. The duenna went TO her room to
put 1t in order. She had no sooner en-
tered than the door was locked from
the outside. The family black servant
was locked in the cellar. Then Polly,
pale and excited. came downstairs and,
pausing moment to bid farewell to
nome, sailed forth. followed by her
maid. Under large buttonwosd tree,
s'ahdlng on u corner, were Dulaney
ana Miss Hamilton, with the Hamil-
IONS ulbury. Entering the tilbury.
ule party were driven to the home of
Tue Hamiltons, All the wedding ar
engagements had been completed. No
TESS parsonage than the mayor of the
"~n performed the ceremony, and An
urew Hamilton gave away the bride.
"hen Mr.. Pennell returned to his
nome he found gaping crowd of
oroau brims before his house, attracted
U! the screams OF his sister and his
servant, who were demanding to be I'M
tucked. Entaripu ha found tho house