StNicholas . nd saucers. The rich took pridein displaying urns and salvers of pure silver. Therewas no plated ware. The table was set with dishesof wood and of pewter. Our forefothers depended upon the tallow-candleand the lard-oil lamp for artificial light. Theyknew nothing of kerosene, gas, and sulphurmatches. The embers in the fire-place were sel-•dom suffered to burn out, but when the last coalchanced to expire, the fire was rekindled by strik- powdered wigs, three-cornered hats, and dresses were made of heavy silks andsatins, called brocades, on which raised figures ofleaves
StNicholas . nd saucers. The rich took pridein displaying urns and salvers of pure silver. Therewas no plated ware. The table was set with dishesof wood and of pewter. Our forefothers depended upon the tallow-candleand the lard-oil lamp for artificial light. Theyknew nothing of kerosene, gas, and sulphurmatches. The embers in the fire-place were sel-•dom suffered to burn out, but when the last coalchanced to expire, the fire was rekindled by strik- powdered wigs, three-cornered hats, and dresses were made of heavy silks andsatins, called brocades, on which raised figures ofleaves and flowers were woven, or worked, in col-ored silk or thread of silver and gold. Both sexes took pains in dressing the hair. Astylish gentleman had his locks curled and frizzed,or suspended in a queue, as you have often seenin old pictures. A New England belle spent manyhours in plastering her hair up into a sort of tower,decorated with powder and ribbons. There were few, if any, millionaires in the early. ing a spark from a flint into a piece of a burning brand was borrowed fromthe hearth of a neighbor. The dress of the common folk in town andcountry was more for use than beauty. A pair ofbuckskin breeches and a corduroy coat formed theessentials of a mans suit, and they never wore the breeches had been rained upon a fewtimes they hardened into a garment more durablethan comfortable. The wearing-apparel of fashionable people ofthe city, however, was \-ery gay and wore knee-breeches and hose, broad-skirtedcoats lined with buckram, long waistcoats, some-times of gold-cloth, wide cuffs lined with lace. days of the Republic, and the power of money wasnot felt as it is now. However, the aristocracy wasless approachable by the common people than arethe higher circles of to-day, or, probably, of thefuture. This was owing to the fact that, at thattime, American society was mainly copied after theEnglish system, in which rank and title pla
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