Customs and Fashions in Old New EnglandEarle, Alice Morse
History
Customs and Fashions in Old New England
Earle, Alice Morse
New England -- Social life and customs -- To 1775
"I have now the pleasure to give you the result Viz; a very genteel
well regulated assembly which we had at Mr. Soleys last evening,
Miss Soley being mistress of the ceremony. Miss Soley desired me to
assist Miss Hannah in making out a list of guests which I did.
Sometime since I wrote all the invitation cards. There was a large
company assembled in a large handsome upper room in the new end of
the house. We had two fiddles and I had the honor to open the
diversion of the evening in a minuet with Miss Soley. Here follows
a list of the company as we form'd for country-dancing. Miss Soley
and Miss Anna Green Winslow; Miss Calif and Miss Scott; Miss
Williams and Miss McLarth; Miss Codman and Miss Winslow; Miss Ives
and Miss Coffin; Miss Scollay and Miss Bella Coffin; Miss Waldo and
Miss Quinsey; Miss Glover and Miss Draper; Miss Hubbard and Miss
Cregur (usually pronounced Kicker) and two Miss Sheafs were invited
but were sick or sorry and beg'd to be excused.
"There was a little Miss Russel and little ones of the family
present who could not dance. As spectators there were Mr. & Mrs.
Deming, Mr. & Mrs. Sweetser, Mr. and Mrs. Soley, Mr. & Mrs. Claney,
Mrs. Draper, Miss Orice, Miss Hannah--our treat was nuts, raisins,
cakes, Wine, punch hot and cold all in great plenty. We had a very
agreeable evening from 5 to 10 o'clock. For variety we woo'd a
widow, hunted the whistle, threaded the needle, & while the company
was collecting we diverted ourselves with playing of pawns--_no
rudeness_ Mamma I assure you. Aunt Deming desires you would
particularly observe that the elderly part of the Company were
_Spectators only_, that they mixed not in either of the
above-described scenes.
"I was dressed in my yelloe coat, black bib and apron, black
feathers on my head, my paste comb and all my paste garnet
marquasett & jet pins, together with my silver plume--my locket,
rings, black collar round my neck, black mitts and yards of blue
ribbon (black and blue is high tast) striped tucker & ruffles (not
my best) and my silk shoes completed my dress."
How clear the picture: can you not see it--the low raftered chamber
softly alight with candles on mantel-tree and in sconces; the two
fiddles soberly squeaking: the rows of demure little Boston maids, all
of New England Brahmin blood, in high rolls, with nodding plumes and
sparkling combs, with ruffles and mitts, little miniatures of their
elegant mammas, soberly walking and curtseying through the stately
minuet "with no rudeness I can assure you;" and discreetly partaking of
hot and cold punch afterward.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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