Every Day Life in the Massachusetts Bay ColonyDow, George Francis
History
Every Day Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Dow, George Francis
Massachusetts -- Social life and customs -- To 1775
POPE'S NIGHT CELEBRATION. Friday last was carried about town the
Devil, Pope and Pretender; as also the Effigies of a certain English
Admiral, hung upon a gibbet, with a wooden sword on the right side,
and one of steel run through the body; upon the front of the stage
was written in capitals,
Come hither brave Boys, be jolly and sing,
Here's Death and Confusion to Admiral B--g.
--_Boston Gazette_, Nov. 8, 1756.
FIRE WORKS. On the evening of the day when the Royal Commission
appointing William Shirley, Governor of the Province of
Massachusetts Bay, was published in the Council Chamber, "there was
several fine Fire-Works displayed from the Top of the Town-House
and other Places; but unluckily one of the Serpents fell into the
Town House Lanthorn where all the Fire-Works lay, and set them
all off at once, which made a pretty Diversion; several Gentlemen
were in the Lanthorn, and some of them were a little scorcht,
but no other Damage done, except breaking a few of the Lanthorn
Windows."--_Boston Gazette_, Aug. 10-17, 1741.
FLYING MAN. This is to give Notice to all Gentlemen and Ladies, that
_John Childs_ has flewn off of most of the highest steeples in Old
England, and off of the monument by the Duke of Cumberlands' Desire,
and does intend this Day, and two Days following, to fly off of Dr.
Cutler's Church, where he hopes to give full Satisfaction to all
spectators.--_Boston Gazette_, Sept. 12, 1757.
The next issue of the newspaper states that he performed the feat
"to the satisfaction of a great Number of Spectators. It is supposed
from the steeple to the place where the Rope was fix'd was about
700 Feet upon a slope, and that he was about 16 or 18 seconds
performing each Time. As These Performances led many People from
their Business, he is forbid flying any more in the Town."
CURRANTS. Any Person that has a mind to take a walk in the Garden at
the Bottom of the Common, to eat Currants, shall be Kindly Welcome
for Six Pence a piece.--_Boston News-Letter_, July 10-17, 1735.
Jacob Bailey, a country boy born in 1731 of humble parentage in
Rowley, Mass., was inspired by the local minister to obtain a
college education, and after graduating at Harvard, he taught
school, eventually obtained a license to preach, and finally went
to England where he took orders in the Anglican Church. Bailey had
a gift for versification and while teaching school in the country
town of Kingston, N.H., his muse led him to describe a corn husking,
a favorite frolic in country towns until very recent times, an
occasion when the finding of an ear of red corn entitled the finder
to kiss the girls. He begins:
"The season was cheerful, the weather was bright,
When a number assembled to frolic all night."
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account