USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Greenfield > History of Greenfield : shire town of Franklin county, Massachusetts, Vol. II > Part 33
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the crowds of people, and three rings confused the senscs and despoiled criticism. The circus became a "great show;" it was modernized and vulgarized.
In my childhood it was "summer's brightest gaud," watched and waited for. It came in early morning procession with band chariot and a long line of variegated and cream- colored horses, some of which had a flesh color and mottled spots quite different from the modest black of the family horse, a peculiarity which was considered an undoubted mark of Arabian blood. There was activity at the taverns, the stable yards filled with "teams," and there was sharp note of preparation on the selected ground, where quick moving men were driving stakes, raising the centre pole and pitching the tent. Then the exciting rush for tickets while the huge canvas bellied in the breeze and the strains of the band floated on the air.
The circus owners of those days were Turner, Howe, and later Rockwell & Stone and Sands & Lent. The really great man of the performance, to my boyish judgment, was the ring- master. What dignity was in his careful dress and bearing, with what calm, commanding power he directed the gorgeous scene as if his whiplash was the wand of Prospero ; with what perfect temper he bore the personal remarks, answered the impertinent questions or moderated the exuberance of the clown, whom, in a rich, fine voice, he addressed as " Mr. Merryman." With what lofty restraint he abstained from the weakness of a smile when the audience was shaken loose with inextinguishable laughter. When I saw the ringmaster of Howe's circus I knew what manner of man George Wash- ington was. Then the clown, the conventional jester of a thousand years, who joked, tumbled and took liberties with the ringmaster, as his mediaval predecessors did with kings ; venturing to ask him if he happened to have a custard pie in the pocket of his elegant dress coat, insisting that the young lady who called for the " hoops " asked for soup, and like the
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immortals fools of Shakespeare, under the guise of his motley, gave us grand truths and wise philosophy. Short sayings to a speaker are like short robes to him who runs a race, and the effect of the jester's wit was in its laconic character ; it evoked the happy laugh of surprise and did not strain the memory. The influence of the circus was felt long after the revels were ended and the pageant faded.
The metallic currency of those days was nearly all Spanish silver. There were Mexican dollars and the Spanish " pillar " dollar, which bore the design of the pillars of Hercules ; these were not often seen. I think they bore a premium over gold. The Spanish half real, which we called " fo' pence," the real which was called " nine-pence," and the two-real piece which was our quarter, worn quite smooth, were the common coins. Sometimes one saw a peseta, a Spanish coin of the 18th cen- tury, worth 20 cents ; this was called a " pistareen." Copper coin was the large cent, and a handful of them in a boy's pocket made him feel the embarrassment of riches.
The religious life of the town was somewhat variegated ; as farm advertisements read it was "suitably divided " between several Protestant sects. If there were Catholics, they had no place of worship. The first "orthodox " meetinghouse was at Nash's mills, under the life-long guidance of the venerable and impressive Dr. Chandler, who, being asked at a confer- ence if there was much vital piety in his parish, replied, " Noth- ing to boast of." The Second Congregational Church was " the brick meetinghouse," on the ground of the present stone structure, but there were ancient elm trees about it which are not.
It was the largest congregation, gathered from a wide circle, but like Paul's Athenians, inclined to seek new things and frequently changing ministers. The Episcopal Church under the permanent pastorate of Dr. Titus Strong, a sound divine and good citizen, was a wooden structure on ground now oc- cupied by the stone church built in 1847.
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This later building was from a plan by the distinguished New York architect, Upjohn, and the beautiful timber work of the roof was done by " Phil " Holden, a local carpenter.
The Methodists had a church on Main, opposite what is now the south end of Franklin street. It was a prosperous society. I think it had a Baptist attachment, for immersions half way between the gristmill and the Green river works were not uncommon and crowds gathered at the river. Most of the serious citizens employed at " the cutlery " were Metho- dists. Of all the Yorkshiremen who came early to Greenfield I do not remember any who were not dissenters, most of them going with the Methodists.
In those days there was a feeling that the world, through wickedness and wear and tear was near its end, and there was much excitement over the prediction of William Miller, of Pittsfield, that the judgment day would come in 1843. It was preached all over Western Massachusetts that repentant believers would be caught up in the air and the unrepentant, with the sin-sick earth, would be destroyed by fire. This comfortable doctrine had belief among a credulous fringe of the community. There was a deep sensation over the report that a prophetic hen in one of the hill towns had laid an egg bearing the legend :-
In eighteen hundred and forty-three The end of the world will surely be.
One Hines, a traveling preacher, proved from the prophecies of Ezekiel that Miller was right and the end was at hand. The uneventful character of 1843 was a deep disappointment to people who had neglected business, spent their substance, repented of their sins and made ascension robes. They were the subject of jeers and scoffing. Of one family it was told that the wife, awakened by the winter winds, roused her hus- band, declaring she heard the noise of Gabriel's chariot wheels. The drowsy man bade her to go to sleep, for Gabriel would
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not come on wheels when there was good sleighing. The Unitarians were increasing in numbers, and built a church in a good situation. The "foreign element" was strong in the attraction that the Green river works had for Sheffield cut- lers of a superior class. They were sturdy, skilful Yorkshire men : most of them became valuable citizens, though the Bradshaw brothers returned to England, and one family be- came Mormons and went to Nauvoo. There were several German cutlers, but they did not come with families until after 1846. There were few Irish until after the potato rot and famine. Hugh Rafferty, a jolly fat man, was night watch- man at the cutlery ; his brother-in-law, James Hickey, was day watchman and porter in the yard. My father said he could always tell what part of the works Hickey was in by the smell of raw onions.
In these recollections of a past glowing with the obscuring haze of happy childhood, there are some dark shadows. The old life had its problems and its troubles. In many respects there are great improvements in the detail of daily life. Green- field had a small minority of heathenish native stock, that sawed wood, chopped in winter and "ran river " in summer. The river was alive with shad and " lamper " eels in the spring, when no man of this class could work; they had many chil- dren, none of whom missed their heredity. The men were of the sort described in one of Arthur Gilman's stories who was partly paid for his work in rum. On Saturday night he wanted a quart, but was given a pint, with the admonition that it was enough to keep Sunday. "Yes," he replied, " but how will it be kept?" These families intermarried and inten- sified their characteristics ; a woman from one of them, who sometimes visited our kitchen for its mistaken hospitality, was asked by my mother about one of her sisters. " Oh, Melissy; well, she is keepin' about as bad a house as you could find in any seaport town." Another, whose partner was uncommonly worthless even in their circle, informed my mother that " hus-
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bands is only lent marcies." This class, for it was a class of degenerate people, were not from the so-called " scum of Europe," but from the original New England stock, with good family names. I do not think any effort was put forth to improve them. They seem to have disappeared from the active towns of the state, though specimens of them can be found not far off by those curious in sociology.
I think they faded away before the immigration of the ener- getic and hopeful Irish, who, though poorer, had the training and care of a vigilant church and the ardent desire to improve and raise the condition of their children to a better than their own. I feel quite sure that boys are better looked after and do less mischief than formerly. All young people, I may say all people, are better nourished and more sensibly dressed and shod than in old times, owing in great part to facility of trans- portation, use of ice, improvement in food preparations and the vast increase of fruit and cheapness of sugar, and in the greater cheapness of all kinds of clothing.
Women had a hard lot in providing, cooking and in sewing and knitting by hand. Domestic " help "-the word servant was not in use except in the scriptures-was difficult to obtain. After the young women my mother brought to Greenfield were well married, and that was not long, she had a proces- sion of bright daughters of farmers from the hills ; they came, I fancy, rather to see the world. They were intelligent, read " Mr. Buckinam's paper," the Tribune, and Graham's and Godey's magazines, like the rest of the family, and married so fast that our house was a sort of matrimonial agency. My father had a man, Jonas Leroy, who was skilful in hunting these mountain maidens. He frequently made long excur- sions on the usual quest, once going as far as Savoy, returning with a black-eyed girl of the Susan Nipper variety from " Cuttin Holler." But it was not long before the Irish girls came to relieve the household strain and make life more comfortable.
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I am often told that schools are much better than formerly. Perhaps they are. I wish they gave more attention to in- struction in the English language and literature. My recol- lections include one teacher, happily still living, whose gentle manners, sweet face and devotion to her duty, persuaded one idle, dreaming boy to a measure of industry. I think a larger proportion of boys and girls were sent to private schools and away from home to academies. In 1846 I was one of seven Greenfield boys at Williston seminary. The next year my father took me to Bridgeport, to the private school kept by Henry Jones. The only public conveyance from New Haven to Bridgeport was a coach which ran three times a week. To save time we took a pair of horses and a driver. Surely times have changed on that line! Among the teachers at Greenfield in my day were Mr. Mitchell from Cunnington, Pliny Fisk, Mr. Atkinson, who had an excellent school in - the wing, long ago removed, of Mr. Hollister's house. Mr. Upton, at a later day, taught at the "Fellenberg " school building. He gave me lessons. I think he was ac- complished and I know he was patient.
The sanitary condition of American towns 60 years ago, and much later, may be recalled by the traveler in some parts of the Turkish dominions. No place could be better calculated for drainage than Greenfield, but in former times every autumn there was typhoid fever. It was a scourge that carried off whole families. It was not so bad in the village as on thrifty meadow farms, because, as I now see it, a large part of the village was supplied with water from a pine log aqueduct man- aged by that sententious philosopher, Peter Sprague, who usually prefaced his conversation with the saying, " There's a thousand things to every thing." Our family never had a case of typhoid. We had an aqueduct from a safe spring.
The fever was supposed by many to be a visitation of God's wrath, and by others to result from decaying vegetation in the late rains. No one thought of tracing it to lack
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of drainage and the inevitable pollution of the moss-covered bucket which dripping with the coldness of death arose from the well. Cities were no better off. Boston had neither water nor sewers. New York had water but was not half- sewered, and I have seen pigs wandering in the streets eating garbage thrown out by housekeepers. Bringing the Glen water to Greenfield, long before some of the large cities were supplied, was a manifestation of public spirit greatly to the credit of the citizens. It was a return to antique ways ; mod- ern civilization has too long overlooked the object lessons left by the ancients. Now we can be clean, healthy and godly if we will.
Our fathers, who never went out in the morning without shaving smooth and putting on a clawhammer coat, were not strenuous about daily bathing. When the Glen water was in- troduced, it is told of a man whose house was being altered to allow of its use, that he refused to have hot water in the bath- room, for "in summer you don't want it and in winter you don't bathe." A member of a distinguished Boston family told me that in his boyhood he had an aunt for whose health sea-bathing was recommended ; mornings she was taken to the shore, water was dipped in a basin and she washed her face and hands sitting in the chaise. There must be an end to the recollections even of the most garrulous, though no doubt I have made many mistakes for which I may plead a " forgetful memory."
CHAPTER LXXI
THE SESQUI
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 1903
" Take noble courage, and make perfect what Is happily begun."
-Fletcher.
A T the annual town meeting held April 7, 1902, acting under an article in the warrant "to see if the town will vote to take any action in reference to the 150th anniversary of its incorporation, appoint a committee, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the same or pass any vote or votes relative thereto," the town voted that the moderator of the meeting (the Honorable Dana Malone) ap- point a committee of five citizens who should have full charge of such celebration.
Franklin G. Fessenden, Francis M. Thompson, Eugene B. Blake, Charles R. Lowell and William G. Packard were named as such committee. Considerable interest was manifested in the approaching celebration, and at the annual meeting in 1903 the sum of one thousand dollars was raised and placed in the hands of the committee to use at their discretion in putting into execution the wishes of the people.
The committee had hardly entered upon their deliberations before it became manifest that the public were determined upon a much more impressive and popular demonstration than the general committee had planned.
Feeling themselves but the servants of the people, the
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committee yielded to the public demand, insisting however that a sum sufficiently large to erect a lasting memorial of the day should be reserved from the additional sum of two thou- sand dollars, which at a special meeting the town directed to be placed at the disposal of the committee.
The wisdom of incorporating in this work so extended and minute an account of this epoch in the history of the town, may be questioned by many ; but the event was such a de- cided success, and this work being largely intended by its author as a medium to preserve interesting events happening in the history of the town, this narrative is given with the hope that the future historian of Greenfield will find in it convenient material for his work. With the consent of the Gazette and Courier, I have to a large extent adopted their report of the celebration, their work having received many compliments.
THE STORY OF THE GREAT DAY
Greenfield's anniversary day was begun with the booming of cannon. A salute of 21 guns was fired from Poet's Seat at about 5 o'clock. The noise woke every one up. Some people who love to sleep even on anniversary mornings thought in their half-awakened state by the length of time the firing continued that 150 guns were being sent off.
The crowd rapidly thickened on the streets during the morning hours. The most common estimate of the size of the crowd is 20,000. It would not be strange if there were that number of visitors, when one considers that the enor- mous crowd at the fireworks in the evening must have included many who were not here for the day. For about two hours it was very difficult to force a passage through the central part of Main street, and there were people scattered in small groups all along the line of march. The parade covered so great a distance that it tended to scatter the crowd.
The parade was considered by almost everyone to be much superior to any ever gotten up in Greenfield. It covered
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from a mile to a mile and a quarter of space. The view of the procession gained from an elevated position along Main street and looking over the whole line was one of great beauty, the features resolving themselves into a line of white.
Had the weather not been so threatening in the morning it is probable that the crowd would have been swelled by sev- eral thousands. Altogether, however, the weather was as good for the purposes of the parade as could have been expected. The dust was laid, and no rain fell. The dubious prospect the day before, and even on the morning of the parade, made some of the pretty girls who took part look askance at their white gowns.
A noticeable feature of the day, as of other like occasions in Greenfield, was the silence of the crowd. At a number of places there was a disposition to applaud, but this was unusual. The Yankee temperament is rather impassive, and does not easily show much enthusiasm. This was marked at the reception of distinguished guests, there being but little applause to greet them along the line of march. Had the crowd realized who Admiral Clark was, they would probably have made more demonstration. At the station there was some hand-clapping for Governor Bates and his party, but as a whole there was not much show of enthusiasm. The applause at the Opera House must be counted an exception, however, for both Sena- tor Lodge and Governor Bates were warmly greeted.
The municipal features of the parade made a dignified and imposing introduction to the floats and private carriages. The chief marshal was Maj. Frederick E. Pierce, and his aids were T. L. Comstock, Frederick H. Payne, Albert T. Hall, C. W. Nims, A. L. Smith, J. S. Coates, J. W. Smead, Dr. R. W. Hunter, Ralph Wood, H. H. Hackley, J. M. Hackley, W. C. Bacon, John Sauter, Dr. C. F. Canedy, Walter Pond, Frank Yetter and Clarence Judkins. Five boys dressed in very taking Indian costumes made a very distinct addition. These were Harold Partenheimer, Raymond Barber, Frank
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Passut, Harold Lilly and Elwin Streeter. In their war paint and feathers the lads "made up" a good representation of the genuine article.
Misses Georgia Bruce and Ethel Williams were the two equestriennes, and rode prettily decorated horses. Miss Bruce had red and white poppies, and Miss Williams pink and white roses. The Fitchburg band followed a detail of policemen, and the musicians had their hands full. They had a very strenuous day's work, and must have felt decidedly weary when their toil was over. The Grand Army, Co. L., and the fire department made an important addition to the parade. The old hand fire engine was decorated with laurel and bunt- ing. Edward Bates and Louis Ballou, both members of hose company No. I, dressed in the veteran fireman's costume with red shirts, rode in the old machine.
Col. Geo. D. Wells Camp, No. 107, S. of V., turned out with a piece of field artillery, under command of Capt. D. E. Wonsey. The riders were Capt. Wonsey, Ist Lieut. C. E. Bascom, 2d Lieut. F. D. Tilden. The drivers of the gun were Samuel Gilbert, Color Sergt. E. J. Newton, Corp. Geo. Gilbert, C. B. Jenkins and D. W. Newton. The drivers on the caisson were Sergt. H. S. Porter and G. H. Dunton ; on the caisson were Ransom Kenney, L. I. Ballou, J. B. Treat, Frank Chilson, A. Jackson, F. A. Jackman, Luther Tilden, Bugler H. H. Barnes. The regulation cap and blouse of the order, white pants and black leggins were worn. The gun and caisson were draped with red, white and blue.
The parade was so beautiful and so artistic that it is diffi- cult to single out any special features and give special praise to them. It can fairly be said that there was not an inade- quate or poorly planned feature in the parade. All had merit and showed diligent preparation, and some of them almost in- finite pains.
The float of the Sportman's club was possibly the one that excited the most interest. The two live racoons secured from
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a Gill man, and perfectly tame, were the subject of great amount of speculation as to whether they were dead or not. They soon demonstrated that they were in the land of the living. One weighed over 30 pounds. When they passed the reviewing stand where the Governor was, one of them ran down the side of the roof as if to give a salute to His Ex- cellency. The log cabin was built in a very solid fashion by the committee, and it will be saved and used at the range as a lounging place for the members, and a memento of this oc- casion. The trees came from the club's grounds.
The Arts and Crafts float was distinctive and one of the most original conceptions of the procession. The float was carried out in the thorough way that suggests the good crafts- manship which is one of the leading principles of the society. The occupants were busy all the time and fully occupied the time by menacing the crowd upon the sidewalks with their various Indian implements.
The two Indian floats put in by the Red Men and the Degree of Pocahontas were features that attracted a great deal of attention. The Indians on the Red Men's float were seemingly of a very warlike disposition, as they threatened the crowd by their fiendish war-whoops at which the small boys trembled, and which they have been secretly imitating ever since.
Many considered the temple of Vesta float the most beau- tiful in the parade. It was a conception in harmony with its classical subject and did credit to its originator, Mason H. Morse, also to his success in picking out some pretty girls, who by face and costume graced the historic scene they rep- ยท resented.
The four school floats showed much work, and were very strong features. The Greenfield industry float was another one of classic type whose occupants graced the subject and who added to the charm of the representation. The float representing the grammar grades was attractive to all who
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like to see a group of children together, and the public was glad for the glimpse of the upper class of the high school in all the reverend dignity of the senior. The 1753 school float was one of the most amusing, and the teacher was kept busy in the exercises of his birch rod, his pupils proving very unruly.
The Columbian orchestra float was a welcome addition to the line. One band is hardly enough music for so long a parade, and the work of the orchestra helped fill the gap. Herbert Streeter as captain of the craft was very much alive, and used his spy glass constantly to discern possible breakers and rival craft, bestowing gracious bows upon the crowd. The Foresters' float was a pretty woodland scene, and the goat attracted much attention. The floats of Sedan Lodge, the United Workmen, the auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and Rosina Lodge are fully described elsewhere, and all showed pains and appreciation of good color effects.
The Knights of Columbus had a float that meant a very considerable expenditure of time and money, and for which some elegant costumes were secured.
Riding upon these floats looked to the spectators about as precarious as passage upon the deck of an Atlantic liner in a storm. The young man who took the part of John Smith in the Pocahontas float appeared to be suffering a good deal more from the rising and falling of the float than from fear of the executioners, who so patiently threatened his life for an hour and a half.
The coaches and larger outfits deserve the warmest praise. The Daughters of the Revolution was a gem, the Gladys Wood party was an equally beautiful conception, the Richt- myre party was charming. The two teams that represented Franklin E. Snow and his family were as pretty features as any in the parade. It would be impossible to speak in detail of the private carriages other than in the detailed description.
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Every one was beautifully decorated. Some thought Dr. Pfersick had as attractive an outfit as any, but there was very little difference. The pony carriages were as interesting as any features in the parade. The aggressive note in Green & Vosburg's championship of Greenfield and of Americanism was particularly liked by the crowd.
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