New-York tribune., 1907-11-25
"a GREAT-GRANDMoTHER ROOM"
Repository of Quaint Family Relics Collected
by Daughter of the Revolution.

\ room that is possibly unique in these days OF
changeful fashion is in the country home at
Great Neck Long Island. Of Mrs. Zeb Mayhem.
recording secretary of the New York State Daugh-
ters OF the Revolution.
Mrs Mayhem calls it the great grandmother
room," and in it she has gathered all the olden
treasures belonging to her and Mr.. Mayhew's
FAMILIES, OF which she could Cby any means short
Of robbery" she says) become possessed. It is a
storehouse OF relics literally from floor to ceiling
even the rug being an old-fashioned rag carpet
brought from a farmhouse up in York State"
is the four-posterN huge bed inciosed by
curtains 5 ms OF no%ered muslin with genuine straw
aLu Lealners' supported by lacings of rope, in
stead of the modern springs and hair or cotton.
IT of dP fe % sBoW 9B0S thar IN t5a surprising
grandTnothers We're often artists in their quiet,
The top one is a beautiful specimen Of the old
antique shops. It is red blue and white and is
made OF fax grown. spun, dyed and woven by Mrs.
real Colonial Dame" The pillows are cased in
Nsar me nead OF the @ PEG STANDS a small square
table OF painted pine, with slender straight legs
Mayhew's great-grandnother. who the irst
white child born in Oneida County. Her spectacles
and Bible lie on it now, they undoubtedly did
while she still lived, in days when the great Revo
luton was as fresh in human memory as the great
The chairs in the room belonged to the same an
first Housekeeping Sturdy pioneers We're these
dscomforts Of that Wild region, and their furniture
simple and strong, best suited TO their needs
eplint seats and backs almost whole some are
adorned with cushions of crewel work, embroidered
The mahogany ''chest of drawers" belonged to
eSove II hangs one OF the high. narrow mirrors
same Period stiiI in its original frame of black
with a border of tarnished gilt. On il are oldtime
Some of their less valuable contentsEtortoise she'll
necklaces brooches and earrings, similar vanites
once held richer trinkets Mrs. Mayhews own jewel
which have been put into modern settings, while
Others are just as they came from their makers
The pincushion that stands on the chest of draw
a CAV design that remotely suggests, a wreath OF
roses A box Of flowers reposes beside it, fresh and
rocIs and scores OF other birds must have contrib
uted to these flowers, for every possible tint is
On each side of the looking glass quaint old sill
houettes in black frames are hanging one OF
them presents the austere profile of NathanIei - =;
Willis: father OF the poet ana grea'-si iiold %
An old mahogany table with drop leaves" stands
Del%eeh d t"o e1y Nv u siI .ieic reneroIs space is
are Iot droppeo nov" aS Il ~ e1dttl III re
arranged on IL. There is silver spoon, worn INN
with Use that came over in the Mayaower When en-
the tons and tons Of things alleged Ito 10 % naTe cRe f
at any rate it seems TO me that In this case there
rs my mother has told us that, when she was "A
child, her grandmother used TO say tnat Iat & soo m
the Mayhower at that early age did not extehG e l ~
at the spoon she says, with wonder and some awe,
Ilnaile fr cornDrehend how IL could have grown on
Books lie prlmly the table, as BELTS the period
fo which II belongs but none bears a ater Date OF
r veer that antedates 100. There are sentimental
novels of ringieted, languishing naidens ready 10
faint az, the slightest provOcauon There are mn
dew spotted aimanacs aTd of !s ReadeT er from Which
dead and gone Mayhews and Gateses reSited p pros &
poems and more less poetic prose ana mere are
psalm books and hymn pook5 lF9i 1nn befnre The
sang decorously IN emily chuiCheS' IOie " 80
81 paguerre6types in ornate cases there care arc
many How funny some OF them are rsS lounS
RirIs whose huge pokebonnets ana ouLre LOWE
make them look old enough TO I 9e se foiSed STOCKS
and queer cravats give them an app eaFance % ~
vanced middle age TO modern eye1s ey1n6,sh enough to
Comparatively modern, YET oulaileiS ,r,,ie tbet
twentieth century eyes, are the pnoto&sLaI,d III pa 7ae
a half dozen albums OF ne eaaiy i ,,onoinons
gowns distended by hoopskirts wide sleeves anu anu
the tightest Of ponies m eseHt @1t'6s dav ~ tastes
In close i1ixtaposition thdse elics OF Clyl
fni IN as ss1geestjon being nothing less than the
bullet mould used by one Of the ancestors WHO'S
fbe Dauel1Iers Of the Revolution. Near i lies a
'shingle splitter with which srea.i+ "a nv
niture roofing and doors. II is a cgriousy shaped
Implement that might puzz!s 3 ~ hgor ,, @ IA is at
tacbed Ike a scythe handle no longer.
Awkward and unwieldy as y l9oks, n9%TEef' ne e
Especially interesting Is an old sssteF 40 cPVs5ae T
So che5t studded with brass nais a %TU og for
sgn ports POI f9r the Mayhew family has been one
Of shipownors for generations IL IS now % -1 IsIs
short ard 20 @scsnf of waist and long and fun OF
skrt-piaids and ombres and broca ades,also uI-
nerwear "nand en9fro.de rec DE estiii ,n- 81
lowed by me years though the dancing feet be, be
eaIle retioness long. long ag2i - l cabU,or ane
stockings Of white SILK silk embroideTed ana lace
inset that aD8i have 'res wof4 W. W. ,t,, ,o-,y
On the walls Of great grandmother room 's"s