Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-20
CLASS OF lsos CROSBY meH scHooss, ,gERBuRY CONN
n yesteru

1 sSSs~A> >' best to keep the people from spend ing their money in this manner. and preached often against the waste of wealth, the effect of the habit, the sin, "the intolerable pride shown in clothes and hair"
 Leather was much used, especially in the form of tanned buckskin brooches and deerskin hunters jack cts, which have always and deserved | Ily been a favorite wear, since they are one of the most appropriate, use full, comfortable and picturesque gar ments ever worn by any man in any active outdoor life.
 All the men wore wigs, arranged in various fashions.
 Comparatively little jewelry was worn. A few men had gold or silver sleeve buttons; a few women had bracelets or lockets; nearly all of any social standing had rings, which were chiefly mourning rings. Rings and gloves were given to the mourn CTS.
 In 1760 there were but eight mails year from Philadelphia to the Po- tomac river. and even then the post rider need not start till he had re- ceived enough letters to pay the ex- penses of the trip. It was not till postal affairs were placed in the ca pable and responsible hands of Ben- jamin Franklin that there were any regular or trustworthy mails. On account of the bad roads travelling and carrying was very slow. A Penn sylvania post-rider, an aged man, oc- cupied himself as he slowly logged along by knitting mittens and stock ings.
 The first stage coach which ran di- rectly from Philadelphia to New York in 1766-and primitive enough 1t was-was called "the flying machine, good stage wagon set on springs" It's swift trip occupied two days in good weather. It was but year later than the original stage coach between Edinburgh and Glasgow. At that time in favorable weather, the coach between London and Edin- bourgh made the trip in thirteen days. The London mail coach in its palmiest days could make this trip in forty-three hours and a half.
 The poet. Moore, gives in rhyme his testimony of Virginia roads in 1900:
 Dear George. though every bone is
 aching
 After the shaking
 I've had this week over ruts and
 ridges.
 And bridges,
 Made of few uneasy blanks.
 In open ranks,
 Over rivers of mud whose names
 alone
 Would make knock the knees of
 stoutest man"
 One of the most important holi- days of the early years of the coll onies was New Years day. New Years calling was a new fashion to General Washington when he came lto New York to live for a short time. but he adopted it with approval. and his New Years receptions were im- posing functions In the palmiest days of New Years calling. New York city appeared one great family re- union Every wheeled vehicle In the town seemed to be loaded with yis- itors going from house to house Great four and six horse stages packed with hilarious mobs of men vent to a house where they were sure of being welcomed, stayed an hour. had refreshments. and then on to the homes of every acquaintance of everyone in the stage. The copi- ous board of substantial food. with decsnters of wine. bowls of milk punch and pitchers of egz-nog. no longer "crovn the festive board" on New Years day. but we still have New Years cakes. though not deiiv- cred by singing bakers 'prentiees as of yore-
 The English brought a political holiday to New York In the code of laws given to the province In 1sss. and known as the ~Dukefs lavs. leach minister throughout the pro vince vas ordered to preach c ser mon on November s. to commsnorste the EnEiish de1iverance from GuT .Faukes and the 0unpovder Plot in lees. h 1714s Ngvs0bsr ( yas