Chapter XVIII: Conclusion

We have thus travelled over some of the old avenues, ways, customs, and things, peaceful and warlike, more or less in connection with the early settlement, the mature town, and the gorgeous city, from 1630 to 1880; from the period of scarcity and deprivation to that of prosperity and abundance. The task has been delightful, and whatever may be thought of the ways and doings, and we may almost say the undoings, of the Puritans, the town which they planted and the principles they promulgated, rather than the intolerance they practised, have become permanent and sure. Now, indeed, there is neither intolerance nor scarcity; and however much our predecessors may have suffered we are now able to supply bread and beef to millions of people less favorably circumstanced. Perhaps nothing more distinctly or emphatically marks the character and quality of a people than their "ways and means" of living. It has been said that Americans are disposed to revel in big dinners; and, in fact, undertake to accomplish every thing with a big dinner, or at least celebrate the accomplishment of it in that way. One writer has said, if we welcome a guest it is done with a dinner; if we inaugurate a stock company or start a charity, it is pretty sure to have its relations with the market and the stomach. This may be partly so. A good dinner, social and liberal, is the reconciler, the inspiration, the motive power of good works generally; and what it cannot do, or at least help to do, is pretty sure not to be accomplished. Of course, all this is understood, and almost sure to be practised, so that, when any thing comes up, instead of going to bed to sleep on it, we hurry off to Parker's or Young's, or it may be, if the matter is very staid and respectable, to the old Tremont, and eat on it. The custom is in us--in the blood; it is Saxon, and comes naturally enough from the mother country. In England, the great diner-out, Douglas Jerrold, who knows all about it, says, "If an earthquake were to engulf all England to-morrow, Englishmen would manage to meet, and dine somewhere among the rubbish," as if the occasion needed to be celebrated in that way.

There have been times, now fortunately more than a hundred years ago, when our market could not be made to furnish a big dinner; when there was no market; when the enemy were seizing all the sheep and cattle; when the people were starving on salt provisions, and, in one instance at least, a party of gentlemen were invited to dine off a roasted rat in Boston; and again when a special request was made to the people, in consequence of the necessities of the times, "not to have more than two dishes of meat on their tables." But not long after this, on the 24th of January, 1793, there was a grand festival in honor of French Liberty and Equality, when an ox of more than a thousand weight was roasted entire, and drawn on a car by fifteen horses, followed by other carriages with hogsheads of punch, loaves of bread, &c., and a large procession of civil, military, municipal officers, and citizens, through the principal streets to State Street, where the table was spread and the dinner was served up in high style. At the present time, it would be an easy matter to roast an ox every day, and big dinners are regarded as of small account on the score of rarity. Some philosopher has said, "Eating dinner is a task which, above all others, requires the conscience pure, the mind easy, a reason undisturbed, the senses critical, and the body and spirit perfectly at rest." It may be said that the philosophers of the present day do not deem eating a good dinner "a task;" and it is pretty certain the mass of the people do not. It is to be hoped our market will never again be unprepared to furnish a big dinner, on all reasonable occasions, supply a British fleet, or meet the requirements of the people at home, or the necessities of the race abroad.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The Second Volume of the Writings of the Author of the London Spy. London: 1706.

[2] The New England Tragedies in Prose, by Rowland H. Allen.

[3] In the first interview between Governor Carver of Plymouth and the Indian Chief Massasoit, "after salutations, the Governor kissing his hand and the king kissing him, the Governor entertains him with some refreshments, and then they agree on a league of friendship." March 22, 1621.

[4] Walford Street, in Charlestown, we believe, has been cut off by the Eastern Railroad freight tracks and likely to be lost.

[5] William Paddy died in 1658, and the alley (now North Centre Street) bore his name for more than a hundred years. When some changes were made in the Old State House, in 1830, to accommodate the Boston Post Office, a stone was dug up which proved to be his grave-stone, though it is a little difficult to tell how it came there. On one side of it was the inscription, "Here lyeth the body of Mr. William Paddy, aged 58 years. Departed this life August--, 1658." And on the other side,--

"Here sleaps that
Blessed one whose lief
God help vs all to live
That so when time shall be
That we this world must lief
We ever may be happy
With blessed William Paddy."

It may be concluded, we judge, that Paddy's Alley was well named.

[6] In 1693, an eminent Quaker visited Boston, and afterwards wrote an account of his visit. He says, being a stranger and traveller, he could not but observe the barbarous and unchristian welcome he had into Boston. "Oh, what a pity it was," said one, "that all your society were not hanged with the other four!"

[7] Faust invented printing, 1450.

[8] Printing introduced into England, 1571.

[9] The "Lion Tavern," or possibly the "Green Dragon."

[10] Gordon's History, Vol. I., p. 253.

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS.

_Siege and Evacuation of Boston and Charlestown_, with a brief account of Pre-Revolutionary Buildings. By WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. 8vo. pp. 64. 50 cents.

"In this pamphlet Mr. Wheildon has gathered together, and put in a
compact and readable form, such records as are accessible of the
stirring events of a hundred years ago. Nothing could be more timely;
and whoever wishes to acquaint himself with the events of 17th of
March, 1776, will find what he seeks told in a simple and modest style
between the covers of this pamphlet."--_Boston Journal._

"His account of the Siege and Evacuation of Boston and Charlestown, is
by far the most complete and the best that has been
prepared."--_Index._

"It is the most concise and accurate history of this interesting year
of the Revolution published."--_Herald._

"To those who have read the history of the Battle of Bunker Hill, by
the same author, William W. Wheildon, it is unnecessary to praise this
work which covers a longer period."--_New Haven Palladium._

"It is an interesting story as told by Mr. Wheildon, who gives the
chief credit for the conduct of the military operations, not to
Washington, but to the Massachusetts officers."--_Boston Daily
Advertiser._

_Sentry or Beacon Hill: Its Beacon and Monument_, 1635 to 1812. By WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. 8vo. pp. 120, with plans, heliotype plates, and engravings. 75 cents and $1.25.

EXTRACTS FROM SOME PRIVATE LETTERS.

"I am delighted with your new book Beacon Hill, &c. Nothing of the
kind ever pleased me more."

"I have read and re-read your exhaustive history of Beacon Hill. It
revives a thousand delightful memories of my boyhood; all its
statements tally with my recollections."

"I enjoyed the reading of your book on Beacon Hill very highly. You
have certainly made a careful study of that field, and have given me a
large amount of information. I know much more about ancient Boston
than I did before."

_Paul Revere's Signal Lanterns_, April 18, 1775. By WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. 8vo. pp. 50. Concord, 1878.

"Mr. Wheildon considers, one by one, the various statements that have
been made and theories broached concerning the display of lights from
the Old North Church, on the evening of April 18, 1775. The conclusion
to which he arrives seems to be supported by both documentary evidence
and local tradition."--_Transcript._

"An occasional doubt has been thrown on the authenticity of the story;
but the author of this pamphlet has evidently made a patient
investigation, and appears to have established a very satisfactory
case."--_Daily Globe._

"The author introduces many fresh facts having a direct bearing upon
the once disputed position of the lanterns; and in consequence has
produced a work of great historical value, in addition to many others
of a similar nature from his pen."--_Commercial Bulletin._

[Since the publication of this pamphlet, the city committee have
purchased two hundred copies of the work.]

Transcriber's Notes:

Passages in italics are indicated by _italics_.

Passages in Blackleter font are indicated by =Blackleter=.

End of Project Gutenberg's Curiosities of History, by William W. Wheildon