The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-06
THEY DRANK RUM IN THOSE DAYS
 AND TOWN PAID
Representatives Put Charges for Liqu1r Right in the Bills and They
 Drank the Best.
Records of Good O,d Stratford Show Per.
 sonaI Habits of Peaple Have Changed Since l8]0 - Car Fare and Gowns Higher, But Food StnffS Lower Then.

Every one Is interested III the Oe- tails of the lives of our ancestors which are considered too small and uninportant to be matters of record in themselves. but frequently come to light through various records made for other purposes. The good old town of Stratford, now inhabited by people who will not allow saloon in the centre. but relegate these seemingly necessary evils to out of the way places, was at one time willing to provide its repre- sentatives in court and at the general l assembly not only with meals at a good stln figure. but also with the rum. wine and brandy that went With the meals in all first class hotels and figured on the tables of the best peo- pie. parson and layman alike. Several old pills which the town paid almost a century ago have come to light and they furnish very good reading.
 In 1919 Anuis Judson sent a bill to the Town of Stratford amounting to $11.00. Of this amount $500 is for liquors consumed and the remainder for dinners at 75 cents each, and sup pers at 50 cents each. In /the same year David B. Brooks presented a bill amount to s4. Is. or $14 50.. which in cluded A gallons of rum," at shill- ings and per gallon A quart of rum and PA pounds of sugar were billed together. at five shil1in2s and eight pence A days work was put in at four shillings. sixpence. Rye flour brought three cents per pound and beef seven cents Ter pound. The inevitable rum appears again and again in the bills.
 Another bill by William Walker tirely for wines and liquors. Walker was a peace officer and his bill was for his expenses while engaged in the business of the town. It is dated April i he r>f f1a officer for three months. Sixteen sup pers are charged at 50 cents each. Two bowls of Sling cost 50 cents. Gin, brandy. wine and segars also figure in th9 account.
 These bills are all marked passed with the dates and were paid by the town. Residents of Stratford at that time were good flyers. The town did not believe in stinting its representa- lives Rum was not so much cheaper then than it is now. Spirits. gin and brandy were each charged at $1 per bottle. Wine is charged at 62k cents. Dinners were invariably 75 cents each and they were always accompanied by the wine and spirits.
 The preceding accounts refer on1Y to the expenses of men, A few quota of Mrs. D. M. Seeley-Ely. a school teacher at Fairhaven- may be of in terest to the ladies. In 1928 Mrs. Ely made visit to Philadelphia. She pa d $S TOT her passage Dy steamer rom New Haven to New York. The fare from New York to Newark. N. J., was 621k cents. Some of the items in the account are: Thread, 10c; materials for scorsets. s1.e1: contribution. 25c; 1 pair cotton hose. 71c: yard Swiss null. 37tkc; tax for people of colour. 25c; bonnet and band box. $5.16: tooth brush. 15c; Opedildoc. FOG; l pair shoes. $1.34: 31k yards of cotton. soc; 1 pair cotton hose. GIG; Mrs. Hinman's bill for riding dress. s1293: stage fare to Fair field s1.50; stage fare from Fairfield to Saugatuck. soc: carriage hire to Wes- ton s1.30: ? pairs white worsted hose, S1. 6S1s: Louisa's chenise. s1-371s;- ride to chemical lectures. 200: bonne ' $4.00: 1 pair of boots. s2.25; shoes. $l.5J; pair of combs for Louise. 121ac: muslin for caps, $2.06: quills for Louise, Sc; # yard of cambric 25c; gloves, 75c: g yards Of Italian silk. $1O12k: yards of Nankeen. S1.15. Other items picked at random during the year are 'shad, 42c; dozen eggs. 1214c: quart cider brandy. 121zc; pew rent half year. s7.50."
 Prices of household commodities were as follows: Pork hams. Il cents per nound; smoked beef. 10c; fresh pork hams. Sc: cheese. 1oc per pound: lump sugar. 16 cents per pound: writing pa per. 2S cents per Quire: brandy. $1.26 per gallon: lard. 10 cents per pound sperm candles. 121a cents Der, pound flour. Sc per pound: potatoes. 25 cents per bushel: butter. IS cents per pound; {; unbIeached shiTS.ng. Is cents per yard shooting. 151e cents per yard; soap (soft) g per barrel.