USA > New York > Kings County > Flatbush > The social history of Flatbush : and manners and customs of the Dutch settlers in Kings county > Part 6
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pieces of furniture resulted in the cutting off of all un- necessary ornamentation, and thus many of these curi- ous old articles of furniture have been remodeled into ordinary clothes-presses.
OLD CHESTS.
Long chests, also standing upon huge ball feet, were considered by our Dutch ancestors as a necessary and valuable bit of property to the householder. They were made of cherry or some dark, hard wood, and were about five or six feet long and two and a half feet wide. These were similar in size and shape to the elaborately carved coffers which one sees in the museums of the German and Italian cities, but, in the simple homes of our Dutch ancestors, they held no costly treasures of jewels and gold ; they were receptacles for the rolls of homespun linen, from which the bed-linen, table-linen, and toweling were cut. When the young wife was about to leave her father's house, it was from these stores that she received the linen for her new home, and, if some of it was not of her own spinning, it was because she was a bride too early in life to have assisted her mother and sisters at the spinning-wheel. There are some of these chests still remaining in the old houses ; they have been banished to the garret or to the linen closet ; but the housekeeper of to-day finds them as useful as they ever were, as they form a commodious receptacle for the cur- tains, the blankets, and whatever storage the changing seasons make necessary.
One of these old chests in the wide garret of the house of Mr. John Lefferts was found to have a false bottom. When the discovery was made, it contained a large amount of Continental currency. At the time it
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was so carefully secreted it was, of course, redeemable, but when found it was about as valuable as are now the bills of the Southern Confederacy.
It is probable that these chests are referred to in the old English story of the bride who playfully hid in the great chest in the lumber room, and was made prisoner by the spring-lock until, a century after, her bones were found and identified by her wedding finery.
CHESTS OF DRAWERS.
A style of bureau, made more recently than the chests and cupboards above described, consisted of inclosed shelves in the upper portion, a writing-desk with pigeon- holes and secret compartments in the central division, and drawers below. It was ornamented with plates of brass around the key-holes of the locks, and there were brass handles and plates upon the drawers. The brass mounting was kept brightly polished, which made this piece of furniture quite showy in appearance. The desk portion had frequently secret divisions and hidden drawers, to be opened by unseen springs, which revealed places for concealing valuable papers and money.
At a time in which there were no safe-deposit com- panies and no patent safes, the old parchment wills, bonds, and mortgages were generally kept within these secret compartments. While on the subject of writing- desks, it is in place to state that the writing paper was very different from the fine sheets which we can now procure at such a low price ; it was of a yellowish hue, not by any means smooth and clear. Envelopes were never used for letters ; the sheets were large enough to fold in such a way that the address could be written on the exterior of the last page. Pens were made of quills ;
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these were sharpened every time they were used, the penknife being as necessary as the pen itself. Sand was sifted over the fresh ink, instead of using blotting-paper such as is now prepared for the purpose. Letters were sealed with red wafers or sealing-wax. If the family were in mourning, black wafers or black sealing-wax was used.
TOILET-TABLES.
Says one, writing for " Scribner's Magazine " on "New York fashions in 1814-1830" : " Our toilet-tables I used to consider very pretty ; they were of half-moon shape, the top stuffed and covered with white, the frills, reaching to the floor, of transparent muslin over some bright color."
There were many of this kind also in the houses here ; some of them were covered with white dimity ; these were trimmed with ball fringe. Toilet-tables such as these were placed in small bedrooms under a hanging glass.
There were other styles of dressing-tables and bu- reaus, but they did not differ essentially from those made at the present day.
BEDSTEADS.
Until within the last fifty years it is not probable that there was in use any other style of bedstead than the high, four-post, rope-corded bedstead. What un- wieldy things they were to manage in the semi-annual house-cleaning !
It required a man's strength to turn the machine that tightened the ropes in cording these beds when they were put together ; some one was stationed at each post to keep it upright, while a man-it might be pater-
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familias himself-was exhausting his strength, and per- haps his stock of patience and good temper, in getting the ropes sufficiently tight to suit the wife or mother standing at one of the posts inspecting the work.
When the bedstead was duly corded and strung to the tension required, then a straw bed, in a case of brown home-made linen, was first placed over these cords, and upon this were piled feather beds to the number of three or four, and even more if this was the spare-room bed- stead.
The sheets and pillow-cases were always of linen ; homespun open work or knit lace often ornamented the end of the pillow-case ; this was made the more conspicuous by a strip of some bright color beneath it. The blankets were home-made, and were woven from the wool of the sheep sheared upon the farm. They were not so soft and white as those which we may now purchase, yet probably cost more for the spinning and weaving. There were other coverings for beds besides the blankets ; these were made in the family, by dye- ing the wool or flax and weaving the cloth in figures ; they were generally bluc and white, as the dye was in- digo, and, being used for upper coverings, went by the name of " beddekleeden." The various intricate designs of patchwork quilts occupied the spare moments of our grandmothers, and were an expression of their love of design and fancy work, just as worsted work or embroid- ery expresses a similar taste in their grandchildren.
It is a mistake, however, to think that these patch- work quilts, however neatly made or elaborately designed, were considered for the last sixty years as the suitable upper covering on the best bed. There was a heavy white coverlet used for such a purpose, which bore some
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resemblance to what is called now a Marseilles quilt ; the figure upon it was more puffed out, being stuffed with cotton, and the coverlet itself was heavier than the modern material, which it somewhat resembled.
This white coverlet was used when white dimity curtains were upon the bedstead ; these were generally trimmed with ball fringe, and the hanging, festooning, and arranging of these curtains required a great amount of skill, patience, and labor. Another coverlet, much used, we might describe as a white cotton rep; the figure was woven on the surface in little knots or knobs. The bedsteads, particularly those which were in the best bedroom, had the four posts richly carved ; these reached to the ceiling and were surmounted with a tester. Bed- steads similar to these are frequently seen in England, but now are rarely found here, they having been gen- erally replaced by French bedsteads.
A material also much used for curtains and cover- lets in the beginning of this century was of linen, printed in gay colors, with an India pattern of palm, trees and Oriental birds, with interlacing vines and foli- age. When this was used as curtains, the coverlet was of the same piece. This material was expensive, but it was very durable, and no amount of washing, or even boiling, could make it fade.
We have seen a set of chocolate-colored curtains, which found great favor just after the close of the War of the Revolution, from the patriotic sentiments ex- pressed thereon. They contained medallion heads of all the heroes of the war, while winged cherubs were blowing from their puffy cheeks substantial lines, sup- posed to be the breath of fame. Apparently in an ecstasy of cherubic delight, these little winged creatures
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pointed to scrolls which contained couplets in praise of the military heroes, whose staring eyes were not very suggestive of repose or slumber.
These canopied bedsteads varied in shape ; some had square tops reaching to the ceiling, with an upper valance on three sides and long curtains at the posts. Others were rounded over the top ; the posts, not being so tall, were finished by an ornamental knob or ball ; the cur- tains were festooned below the canopy, which, spring- ing from the posts, made an arch covered with chintz like the curtains.
For young children a small bed called a "trundle bed," in Dutch "een slaapbank op rollen," was fre- quently used. This was, as the name implies, a low bed- stead upon rollers, which during the day was rolled under the great high post bedstead and hidden by the valance. At night this was rolled out at the side of the mother, and was convenient for her watchful care over the little ones; for the Dutch mother never gave up the care of her children to others, even in families where the colored people in the kitchen were numerous enough and willing to relieve her.
The cradles were not the pretty, satin-lined, rattan baskets such as those in which the children of this gen- eration are rocked. They were of heavy, solid mahogany, with a mahogany roof, if we may so call it, which extend- ed one third of the length above, to shield the light from the eyes of the little sleeper. These cradles were handed down from generation to generation ; some of them are still in existence. With the cradle there has also sur- vived an old Dutch lullaby. As it is a sort of tradi- tional "Mother Goose " among our Dutch families, we give it here, but we are not willing to vouch for the
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spelling, as we have never seen the words printed ; prob- ably it has never before been in print. We feel sure, however, that it is a familiar sound to the descend- ants of every Dutch family, and that grandpa and grandma have trotted many a little four-year-old upon their knees to the little song of
" Trip a trop a tronjes, De varkens in de boonjes, De koejes in de klaver, De paarden in de haver, De eenjes in de waterplass, So groot myn kleine - was."
A free translation of the above being that, to climb up to father's or mother's knee was for the child a little throne upon which he might be as happy as were the little pigs among the beans, the cows among the clover, the horses among the oats, and the ducks splashing in the water.
At the last line the singer is supposed to toss up the child as high as he could reach, giving the real name in the blank left above in saying, "So great my little - was."
As a nursery rhyme it is certainly more rational than " Old Mother Hubbard," "The Cat's in the Fiddle," " Little Jack Horner," or the rest of the Mother Goose melodies with which the English babies of the same age were tossed up by mother or nurse.
We find upon inquiry that this little cradle song was everywhere in use in the Dutch settlements, from Albany to Long Island. It is familiar, and is recognized as the nursery song in the Dutch towns along the Hudson, so that, upon application, it has been sent to us from
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different sources, with only the slight variation occa- sioned by the loss of one line in the Long Island version. Following
" De eenjes in de waterplass,"
should be
" De kalf es in de long gras."
This is the only theft that time has succeeded in making for, perhaps, two hundred years, for we can give no date to the bit of rhyme ; there is nothing in the words which makes it improbable that it came with the children from the fatherland.
Sometimes, instead of the child's name in the last line, it was altered thus :
"So groot myn kleine poppetje was."
That is, so tall is my little puppet, doll, or baby, as it may be translated-a term of endearment.
There is another little rhyme which we may also take as a sample of Dutch " Mother Goose." As it has been preserved in the memory of the Dutch people in Albany during these two centuries, we give it another toss onward to the coming years by placing it, probably for the first time, in print :
" Duur zat een aapje op een stokje Achter myn moeder's keuken deur ; Hy had een gaatje in syn rokje, Duur stok dat schelmje syn kopje deur."
The translation of this is : "A little monkey sat on a bench behind the kitchen door ; he has a hole in his jacket, and through that the little rogue (schelmje) sticks his head."
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Under the faint disguise of " een aapje " we see lit- tle Hans himself, mischievously bent upon increasing the size of the hole in his jacket, while the reproof, rather insinuated than expressed, implied that the child surely would not care to be like a little monkey !
As we have wandered from cradles to cradle-songs, we will so far continue the subject as to copy from the " History of New York," by Mary L. Booth, a Christmas address of the children to Santa Claus, said to be re- peated on Christmas-Day ; but it was not so widely known as " Trip a trop a tronjes " :
"St. Nicholaas, goed heilig man, Trekt uw' besten tabbard aan En reis daamee naar Amsterdam, Von Amsterdam naar Spanje, Waar appellen von Oranje, En appellen von Granaten, Rollen door de straaten, St. Nicholaas, myn goeden vriend Ek heb uwe altyd wel gediend As gy my nu wat wilt geben Zal ik uwe dienen als myn leven."
We would here remark in parentheses that we think the writer from whose pages we have transcribed the above scarcely appreciates the stern Calvinism of the Dutch, when, in another chapter, we read that "at nine o'clock they commended themselves to the protection of the good St. Nicholas and went to bed." The old worthies, brought up on the doctrines of the Heidelberg Catechism and the Synod of Dordrecht, would scarcely have appreciated the jest, so abhorrent to them was anything like prayers to the saints.
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THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF FLATBUSH.
WARMING-PANS.
At a time when there were no furnaces nor stoves, and the cold was only moderated by the wood fire upon the hearth, the temperature of the halls and sleeping apartments was such that water froze if left in the room. One can imagine under such circumstances the comfort afforded to the chilled occupant of these apart- ments by having the bed warmed. A large copper or brass covered pan was used for this purpose. The warming-pan, as it was called, was filled with glowing hickory coals, and when sufficiently heated was passed rapidly to and fro between the sheets, thus taking off the chill from the cold linen, and preparing a grateful warmth for those who had been shivering while un- dressing in the atmosphere of a room which in mid- winter was not many degrees warmer than the open air.
LOOKING-GLASSES.
People generally think that the old Dutch farmers had nothing more than the bare necessaries of life. We should have inclined to believe that they had no look- ing-glasses whatever, had we not abundant proof to the contrary. The large mirrors of the present day were of course unknown among them, but, as early as 1684, there is mention made of looking-glasses in the colony. In the inventory of the household effects of Nicholas Rutgersen Van Brunt, made at that date, two looking- glasses are mentioned. In 1732 a toll of four pence was imposed upon every looking-glass of two feet high and upward which was carried across the Fulton Ferry.
We find advertised in 1773, "an assortment of oval looking-glasses ; pier ditto ; sconces and dressing-glass- es," for sale on Hunter's Quay, New York. So that even
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handsome mirrors must have been in general use in the colonies at that time. Under the date of 1776 we find the following advertisement :
" An elegant assortment of looking-glasses in oval and square ornamental frames; ditto mahogany, etc., etc. I flatter myself from the assurance of my correspondent in London, when the difference is settled between England and the colonies, of having my store so constantly supplied with the above article as will give general satisfaction."
By reference to the prices upon the bill of sale in 1767, to which we have referred previously, we find that a large looking-glass (een spiegel) sold for three pounds.
In the appraisement of the property of Peter Lef- ferts, in 1792, there are at least three looking-glasses mentioned, one of which was valued at five pounds, one at one pound ten shillings, and one at one pound.
The glass in the mirrors of a later period was rarely in one plate ; there was usually a division across the top, making it a plate and a quarter ; in some this up- per quarter was a gilded landscape, instead of glass. The gilt frames of these mirrors were sometimes elaborately ornamented with gilded balls, chains, eagles, or foliage.
The mirrors which were first used as mantel-glasses had two divisions, one near each end, thus dividing the plate-glass into three divisions, one large and two smaller.
There were also frames of dark wood, or of mahog- any ornamented ; these were sometimes adorned with gilt-embossed figures along the borders of the frame.
TABLES.
Of the tables used previously to the Revolution we know little ; there are probably none now remaining in
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the village which were in use at that early date. The oldest which have come under our notice are not nearly so convenient as the extension dining-tables of the pres- ent day.
They had "leaves," which hung down when not used, and were held up, when extended, by legs drawn from under the central portion of the table. These were found to be very heavy when moved, and uncom- fortable when in use unless the leaves were opened.
These dining-tables were usually square ; the oval and round tables now in use were only occasionally to be seen ; there were semicircular tables placed in the halls, or under looking-glasses which were formed to make part of the dining-table, and thus increase its size when needed ; these were joined to this table by a small brass fastening made for the purpose.
These semicircular halves, when added to the two extended leaves, formed the largest-sized table around which guests could be seated. We can not offer them unqualified praise, for the legs of the table made some of the seats uncomfortable ; but they have been the cen- ters of much hospitality, and a genial, true-hearted wel- come to the abundance spread upon them was never lacking ; neither was there wanting the expression of gratitude to God for the goodness that provided the feast ; before and after every meal there was grace said by the head of the household, while the whole fam- ily bowed in reverent silence until the blessing, wheth- er silent or audible, had been asked and thanks re- turned.
There were small tea-tables, the four legs of which were stayed and joined by a cross-piece terminating in claw-feet holding each a ball. The leaves of these ta-
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bles were semicircular, and could be raised or lowered at pleasure. There were round tables called "stands," of about a yard in diameter ; these stood upon a tripod, which branched off from the main pedestal. These could be turned up like a screen, and were in this form placed to fill and furnish a vacant corner.
Smaller tables, known also as "stands," less than half a yard in diameter, were in every family. They were used to hold the candle at night and for the great family Bible. There is one of these little stands still in use which, before the Revolutionary War, served as a rest for the old Dutch Bible.
The Dutch for a table was een tafel ; these small stands, on which the candlestick was placed, went by the name of kaers-knaap.
SIDEBOARDS.
The old-fashioned cupboard was replaced in the be- ginning of this century by the mahogany sideboard, which has in turn given way at this present day to the French buffet of black walnut, an article more grace- ful than either of its predecessors in the dining-room in shape and appearance.
In the days when the feeling as to temperance had not as yet discountenanced in the household the display of spirituous liquors, the sideboard was usually orna- mented with an array of decanters, cut-glass tumblers, china pitchers, and square, high-shouldered glass bot- tles ornamented in gilt figures. These sideboards had compartments for wine bottles, for china and glass, and also drawers for table-linen ; `some of them had an arched open space below in the center, in which two or three salvers of graded sizes were placed. The oldest
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THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF FLATBUSH.
sideboards had high boxes at each end, designed for knives and forks.
The pretty bric-à-brac treasures which adorn the parlors of modern houses were not to be found in our homes in Flatbush many years ago. With a moderate income a room can be tastefully furnished to-day, and made cheerful with the many little knickknacks which it would have been quite impossible to procure in the past age.
APPLIANCES FOR LIGHTING HOUSES.
The candles in common use in the household, prior to 1825 or thereabout, were made in the family. The tallow, which had been collected after preparing the winter's supply of beef, was melted in a caldron ; rat- tans, on which the wicks, cut of the required length, were hung, were in readiness, and these were dipped in the hot tallow until by repeated dipping and cooling they had acquired the proper size.
Tin molds were in occasional use to make these can- dles, but generally, when other than this common arti- cle was needed, wax candles were purchased.
The lamps in use at that period were made with small tubes, through which the cotton wick ran down to the oil in the bulb below. As these were without shade or chimney, the wick could not be raised very high without smoking.
The lamps which were introduced into general use for the center-table about 1831 had a tall chimney and ground-glass shade to soften the light ; they were called Astral lamps. The wick used in this lamp was circu- lar. The two arms, which served as supporters to the shade, also served as leaders to the oil cup in filling the
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lamp with oil. As kerosene was unknown at this time, sperm and whale oil were in use.
This style of lamp was superseded by an improved pattern known as the solar lamp, which from some improvement in its construction gave a more brilliant and steady light.
After the discovery and introduction of kerosene oil, this same style of lamp, with very little alteration, was continued in use for the parlor table. Hand lamps, with flat wicks and shades, student lamps, which could be raised or lowered on a standard, and a variety of hall lamps, parlor lamps, and night lamps were invented and improved upon after the discovery of kerosene ; but the introduction of gas into every house, and its use in the streets and public buildings, quickly followed the formation of the village gas-works in 1867.
In the earliest Dutch houses the space between the fireplace and the ceiling was sometimes paneled. The mantel-piece in this paneling was scarcely more than a broad molding ; a wide mantel-piece was rarely seen. Candlesticks of highly polished brass were placed upon this shelf, or, if in the best room, they were of plated ware, sometimes of silver.
A tray of the same metal was placed between the candlesticks to hold the snuffers.
Tenderly as we cling to the memory of the past, we none the less willingly admit the superior advantages of the present. The laboring-man to-day may have his house more thoroughly warmed and more easily lighted, and in many ways made more comfortable, than the richest farmer of that time.
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CHAPTER XI.
PREPARATION OF WINTER STORES.
THERE was more work to be done at home in the housekeeping of earlier days than there is at the pres- ent time. This arose from the fact that certain articles of food could not be purchased as they can be now ; many things could not be purchased at all, and conse- quently they were prepared in the family.
All the butter for winter use was made and packed down in firkins, for every farmer kept a herd of cows, which were driven up the farm lane in the morning, or were turned out to pasture in "the wood lot." The oldest in the drove wore the brass bell about her neck ; in the evening, on their return, they would stand low- ing at the "swing gate " until it was opened, and they were driven into their quarters, to be milked for the night. If, after the bars were let down in the field, a young heifer loitered in the lane to crop the clover, the sharp call of "Cobus, cobus, cobus !" from the farmer, or "Cusha, cusha, cusha !" from the milk- maid, speedily hurried the loiterer into an uncouth gait that raised a cloud of dust upon the narrow farm road.
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