The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1919-10-10
CHAPTER I.


Major ANDERSON had "made a for
tune" In 1873. when other people were
losing fortunes, and the magnificence
of the Ambersons began then. Their
splendor lasted all the years that saw
their Midland town spread and darken
during the period when every prosper
Gus family with children kept a New
foundland dog.
In TINT town in those days all the
women who wore silk or velvet knew
all the other women who wore silk or
velvet, and when there was new
purchase Of sealskin sick people were
got to windows to see 1t go by. Every
body knew everybody else's family
torse and carriage. could identify such
q silhouette half a mile down the
street, and thereby was sure who was
going to market or to reception or
coming home from Office or store to
noon dinner or evening supper.
During the earlier years of this pc
Rod elegance OF personal appearance
was believed to rest more upon the
texture Of garments than upon their
shaping A silk dress needed no re-
modelling when 1t was year or so old
II remained distinguished by merely
remaining silk Old men and COVER
nors wore broadcloth; "full dress was
broadcloth with 'doeskin" trousers;
and there were seen men Of all ages
TO whom hat meant only that rigid,
tail silk thing known to impudenco as
a "stoveplpe." In town and country
these men would wear no other hat.
and, without self-consciousness, they
went rowing in such hats.
Trousers with a crease were consid-
cred plebeian; the crease proved that
the garment had lain upon shelf, and
hence was "ready moGe;" these be-
traying trousers were called "hand-
me-downs," in nllusIon 70 the shelf. In
the early eighties, while bangs and
bustles were having their way with
women. that variation Of dandy known
ms the "dude" was invented: he wore
trousers as tight as stockings, dagger
pointed shoes. a spoon derby" a
slngle-breasted coat called Chester
field" with short flarlng skirts, a tor
turing cylindrical collar, Numbered to
polish and three inches high. while
his other neckgear might be heavy,
pulled cravat or q tiny bow fit for al
dolls braids. With evening dress he
wore tan overcoat so short that his
black coattails hung visible. five inches
below the overcoat; but after season
or two he heightened his overcOat till
It touched his heels. and he passed out
Of his tight trousers into trousers like
great bags. Then presently he was
seen no more, though the word that
had been coined for him remained In
the vocabularles of the impertinent.
Surely no more is. needed to prove
that SO short time ago we were liv-
ing I'm another age!
At the beginning of the Ambersons'
great period most Of the houses Of the
Midfand town were of pleasant ar
chitecture. They lacked style. but also
pretentiousness. and whatever does
not pretend at all hus style enough.
They stood In commodious yards, well
shaded b" leftover forest trees, elm
md walnut and beech. with here and
there a line Of tall sycamoses where
the land had been made by filling
bayous from the creek. The house of
q prominent resident" facing Mill
tary square or National avenue or Ten
nessec street, was built of brick upon
n stone foundation, or Of wood upon
brick foundation. Usually 1t had
front porch" dnd shack porch !"
often n aside porch" too. There was
n "front hall !" there wnsa "sIde hail."
and sometimes a 'back hall" From
the front half opened three rooms,
the "parlor," the Sitting ROOM and
The library" and the library coulo |
show vibrant TO Its title--for some
reason these people bought books. |
Commonly the family sat more In the |
library than In the Sitting room,"
while callers. when they came for
nally. were kept to the "parior," a
lace Of formidable polish md dIscom-
ort The upholstery OF the library !