USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Reminiscences of a nonagenarian > Part 43
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
The following summer, lectures on Botany were given to the Sunday school children after the afternoon service ; and in the autumn Mr. Fox got up a picnie in the woods around the "Devil's Den and Basin." The Sunday school was conveyed in hacks and stage-coach- es ; the society went in their own teams. This was the first picnic ever held in these parts. That winter, Mr. Fox, to the great delight of the participants, in- troduced tableaux. The next summer flowers were placed upon the table at the children's meetings ; after a time a small vase adorned the table amidst the massive, antique, silver tankards, at the observance of the Lord's Supper. Af- ter a while this vase of flowers became
a regular adjunct of the Sabbath wor- ship.
Mr. Fox having been placed upon the school committee, a new era commenced in our public schools ; and in after years he was principally instrumental in the formation of the High school for girls in Newburyport, which was the first in the state. To the youth of the town he was a most faithful friend and cham- pion, and his memory will ever be grate- fully cherished. As might be inferred, these innovations on old-time usages, "these new-fangled doings," caused no small stir throughout our quiet, staid, strict community. It was a period of much religious excitement. "Protract- ed," or four days' meetings were the vogue. Great revivals were in progress, and there was much controversy and sectarian bitterness ; Mr. Fox and his society received a full share of con- tumely ; his "little sermons"and lectures were derided, his picnics were termed "Fox's Caravans ;" the tableaux. were theatrical enormities, which could not be too severely condemned, and the flowers in the church were something too terrible to contemplate without a shudder-"Such Popish folly ! Posies in the meeten'us ! they might as well turn Papists at once."
Annually in the spring, a serviee had been held at the Orphan Asylum, when those unbaptized children who had been admitted during the year were conse- crated by the rite. If a new clergyman had been ordained since the last service, it had been customary to invite him to officiate. According to custom, it was proposed to extend this courtesy to Mr. Fox ; but such a fierce opposition was raised, that the members of the Asylum Society belonging to the Pleasant street congregation, withdrew from the asso-
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ciation, leaving the opposition to con- duct matters to their satisfaction. Funds in consequence became low, and the Asylum was eventually discontin- ued. Soon after, the Society for Aged Females was instituted.
Dr. Spring dicd in March, 1819, and the Rev. Luther F. Dimmick was or- dained over the society of the North church the next December. The Rev. John Charles March was ordained over the Belleville society in March, 1832. The Rev. James Miltimore died in March, 1836, at the venerable age of 81 years. Parson Miltimore was an af- fable and courteous gentleman, a fine writer, and a most devoted pastor and friend.
Dr. Elijah Parish died Oct. 15th, 1825, in his 64th year. Thus was lost to the New England church one of its most distinguished members ; but the fervent eloquence and fiery zeal of the great Federalist divine is still a cher- ished memory, and his quick wit and fine social qualities will remain as pleas- ant reminiscences to be transmitted to posterity.
At this time, Dr. Lyman Beecher was at the zenith of his fame. Upon his re- moval to Boston, my brother, Joseph L. Smith, became his parishioner ; but not being fully satisfied with the preach- ing of the celebrated clergyman, through Dr. Shurtleff, his family physician, he became a reader of the works of Eman- uel Swedenborg. Though not inclined to literary pursuits, in an incredibly short time he became. thoroughly ac- quainted with the voluminous writings of the Swedish seer, and an enthusiastic receiver of his doctrine.
The New Jerusalem church in Boston was then in its infancy, comprising scarcely more than a dozen communi-
cants. Mr. Smith became one of the most zealous and energetic of the soci- ety, devoting both his purse and his apt business talents to its service. This in- terest never flagged until his decease, which took place at the early age of forty-three.
Father, mother, sister and husband have also gone ;- of the former house- hold band, my brother James alone re- . mains.
The only persons still living on High street, who resided there during my early married life, are Capt. and Mrs. Joshua Pillsbury, Mr. and Mrs. Rich- ard Ordway, and Capt. David Wood.
That Centennial of our Independence which loomed so dimly in the far future when my husband gave his sentiment at the Fiftieth Anniversary, I have passed. I have lived to ride upon rail- roads, and receive messages by the electric wires ; to have friends cross the ocean in steamships ; to send messages back by the sub-marine cable ; the tele- phone is in operation in several lines through our streets, and the phonograph is on exhibition in our public halls.
The first anthracite coal fire I ever saw was in an open grate in my broth- er's house, in Boston, about 1830. It was regarded with curiosity ; and the idea of using such material for fuel clic- ited considerable derision in the com- munity. Now, a wood fire is the curi- osity. Kerosene and gas illuminate our dwellings in lieu of candles and fish or whale oil. The horse cars run through our streets, and steamboats navigate our river. Though our dwell- ings on the whole may not be as spa- cious and imposing as formerly, they are much more convenient and comfort- able ; the same may be said of the churches, public edifices, and stores.
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Every department of life has been im- proved by science, art, and ingenuity. Though our schools may not exhibit the superiority commensurate with the in- creased expense, no one would wish to renew the ancient regime, or return to the former incommodious school-houses, with their huge fireplaces and sizzling green logs. Though there is more lax- ity on the Sabbath, and fine organs and choirs are requisite concomitants of re- ligious service, still, considering the in- crease and change in our population, I see no decrease in true christianity ; on the contrary, we are before our fathers in the truest interpretation of neighbor- ly love and charity. Look at our insti- tutions for the amelioration of the race ; at the various societies for spiritual and moral advancement ; if there is not as much of the letter there is more of the spirit of the Divine law. Much is said of the deterioration of society ; perhaps it would be well to teach our children a little of the old-time courtesy, and as well to practise it somewhat more our- selves ; but in that kindly social inter- est which constitutes true politeness, we are not deficient, and many of the every-day customs of our fathers would not be tolerated for a moment. Our "young ladies would not so smilingly re- ceive a band of young men reeling from the dining to the drawing-room, with the slightly deprecating remark that, "they were only a little over-dinnerish, and not to be minded." And the boys' battle-cry of "up-alongers and down- alongers, rush 'em, rush 'em !" has long since ceased. Another feature in the former social system would not now be permitted ; I refer to the treatment often received by the little bound girls in fam- ilies. I have often seen such children going to the pump in mid-winter, clad
only in a homespun short gown and petticoat, with slipshod shoes, disclos- ing huge holes in the heels of their stockings, and an old hood tied over their tangled hair. Domestic servitude and labor of all kinds commands much more respect and regard for its rights and comfort than it did a hundred years ago. We hear much complaint of hard times and low wages. But what would our laborers think of working for fifty cents a day, or our domestics at receiv- ing only two shillings and sixpence a week, with cotton cloth at fifty cents, and calico a dollar per yard ! The best of mechanics received not more than a dollar a day ; many, for a time, could not obtain work even at a lower price.
In physical knowledge and culture there is also a marked change. The laws of health are better understood and applied. As a rule our houses are kept neater, all are warm in winter, and in every way better prepared for health and comfort through the year. One would now be considered insane to dress through the cold season, as was the mode in my girlhood. Generally there are truer views of life amongst the youth in our community, less false pride, and more industry amongst the higher classes. Our young men form Christian Associations and similar so- cieties ; our young ladies employ their leisure in teaching in Sunday schools and weck day sewing schools for poor children, taxing their skill and ingenuity on articles for charity fairs, while they visit the poor, sick and infirm, carrying not only solid aid, but the light of their bright, sympathetic faces. We sce lit- tle of the "Lydia Languish," the sickly, sentimental, mincing style, which held fashionable ascendeney for a period.
Art has taken a much higher rank
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than of yore ; though the public taste has not quite risen to a perfect standard, it has greatly improved. Instead of only three or four pianos in the town, scarcely a dwelling of any pretension is without an instrument of some kind ; even in the humblest abode the strains of a cabinet organ are often heard, ac- companied by the cultivated voice of a sweet singer.
Our public library and reading room furnish the best of books ; these, with magazines and periodicals, and the li-
braries attached to the Sabbath schools, preclude that literary hunger which I often experienced in my youthful days.
Though there is yet room for improve- ment, on the whole, the world is stead- ily advancing in material and spiritual interests. Let every one "press towards the mark for the prize of the high call- ing of God in Christ Jesus."
"I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."
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