The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-13
Colonial Life in achusetts

Congress. was noted as BOWMAN
The governor was both good-hearte
and vain. He kept open house; an
even strangers we're invited to warn
themselves in his chimneycorner, an
sip from his tankard Of punch,-a
ways after he had quenched his ow
thirst. Many stories are extant of hi
! travels, attended by two outrlders,
| position. coachman, and footman, a
in livery. The coach-and-four was hi
favorite mode OF conveyance.
The governor married sweet Mis-
| tress Dorothy Quincy, the cousin o
John Adams. at the very time when
price was offered for his head b.
King George. Theye were welded II
concealment while he held office q
governor. in Fairfield Conn; and jus
as they We're about sitting down t
dinner, a countryman rushed in, ex
claiming that the British were coming
The Company disappeared in no
haste, and that dinner was never
eaten,-a fact which. no doubt, The
governor, lover of good cheer, al
ways regretted,
He made up for 1t later, however
in his elegant home on Beacon street
Boston, which became the centre OF
fashionable festivities till his death
in 1888 The silver tankard. holding
a gallon or more, filled with punch in
the early morning, was empty by bed
time spite of the govt which 1t aggra-
waited. Another and smaller tankard
of silver with massive handles, held
only half as much as its larger neigh
Dor and this it was which so frequent
ly passed from hand to hand. replen-
ished from the other
Mistress Dorothy ably seconded his
open hospitality. and was admired as
the most lovely. graceful, and accom-
plished of all the fair daughtres OF the
Commonwealth Seductively beauti-
full in her portrait. as, with an arch
smile, she rests her shapely head up
on a no less shapely hand. Excelling
in the preparation of rich viands. she
was successful above all in the cook
ing of venison and the making of
the fame of which Is as
as that OF her beauty. There
wefe thirteen servants TO manage,
large stores of homespun and fine
napery, and much sterling silver, bear
ing the Tower stamp. including i'm
lnense salyers and candelabra, spoons.
forks. and wash-bowl end ever.
Governor Hancock was the owner
OF valuable china. as fine as any now
but lie chose TO eat from a.
service OF English pewter, with which.
he thought. there was less chatter OF
knives and forks Not so, thought the
iomestirs, whose duty 1t was to keep
them brightly FURNISHED, no slight
task with such. a tableful as gathered
daily In. that gorgeous dmning-hall. So
china was laid npon the spotless cloth
whenever the equity master was con.
lined to his chamber with that con-
stantly increasing disease which final
y cost his life. Have you been us
inc my china?" he queried one day
The servants were. obliged to tell the
truth. Bring IL up here. every piece
If it," he numbered out They brought
II up, and piled it beside his COUCH
fine, fragile, and out with 1t all upon
the ground" lie Numbered forth
and silent they obeyed,
But the peevish and arbitrary inva
lid shrewdly listened for the noise of
breakage, and listened in vain.
Bring up the pieces, every one." he
Numbered again u will see who is
master here"
Silently they brought up the unbrok
en- dishes. They had been purposely
and carefully thrown upon the soft
turf.
Throw them on the pavement.
every piece! Let none escape" And
his time his commands we're oheyed
The Hancock porcelain was all de
iti-oyed.
II is not related how Mistress Doro-
.hy liked these arbitrary measures of
Ter liege lord. Was she mistress of
herself, though china fall?" II is re-
ated, though, that she successfully
conducted an historic repast.
The French fleet lay in Boston Har-
)or with Admiral D'Estaing i'm charge
Him and thirty of his chief officers
he governor invited to luncheon at
lis mansion, the finest the min all the
,ity. Gladly accepting, the Admiral
lad the hardihood TO ask that all his
,etty officers might be included in the
and Gov Hancock did not
lecline.
Without regular market, without
bakers. confectioners, and caterers,
Mrs Hancock was at her wits end to
lily supply her table All the rough
wagons in the suburbs were pressed
nto service, and the country secured
If fowls, pigs, beeves, and poultry, as
veil as vegetables
The morning wore apace, and there
vas not half milk enough for the cof-
ee Summoning the city guards. and
PRESSING into service the servants, she
ave them pitchers, bowls and pals
nd sent out to milk the COWS upon
session Common. which was then the
General pasturage-ground of all the cit
zens. Much laughter, fun, and frolic
and there was milk enough
nd to spare. The French officers
marched up at the appointed hour, and
ever did Gallo queen treat her cour-
iers more royalty than this provincial
epublican. They were charmed with
er grace and wit.
Not long q ffarward tho Adu,iyoI uova