File:Two centuries of costume in America, MDCXX-MDCCCXX (1903) (14763225715).jpg

Identifier: twocentsofcostu01earl (find matches)
Title: Two centuries of costume in America, MDCXX-MDCCCXX
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Earle, Alice Morse, 1851-1911
Subjects: Clothing and dress
Publisher: New York, The Macmillan company London, Macmillan & co., ltd.
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Getty Research Institute

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sachem and his tawny bravesstalked through the little town in their gay, barbarictrappings, they were sensible that Madam Symondssembroidered satin manteau was rich and costly, evenif they did not know what we know, that it was thetop of the mode. Governor Symondss home in Ipswich was on theground where the old seminary building now stands ;but the happy married pair spent much of the timeat his farm-house on Argilla Farm, on Heart-BreakHill, by Labor-in-vain Creek, which was also inIpswich County. This lonely farm, so sad in name,was the only dwelling-place in that region ; it was soremote that when Indian assault was daily feared, thegeneral court voted to station there a guard of sol-diers at public expense because the governor was somuch in the countrys service. He says distinctly,however, concerning the bargain in the purchase ofArgilla Farm, that his wife was well content with it. There were also intimate personal considerationswhich would apparently render so luxurious a ward-
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Penelope Winslow. A Vain Puritan Grandmother 147 robe unnecessary and unsuitable. The age andhealth of the wearer might generally be held to besufficient reason for indifference to such costly, deli-cate, and gay finery. When Madam Symonds wasfifty-eight years old, in 1674, her son wrote, Oh,Good Mother, grieved am I to learn that Crazinesscreeps upon you, yet am I glad that you have Faithto look beyond this Life. Craziness had originallyno meaning of infirmity of mind ; it meant feeble-ness, weakness of body. Her letters evidently in-formed him of failing health, but even that did nothinder the export of London finery. Governor Symondss estate at his death was under^3000, and Argilla Farm was valued only at^150; yet Madam had a Manto which ismarked distinctly in her sons own handwriting ascosting ^30. She had money of her own, and es-tates in England, of which John Hall kept an account,and with the income of which he made these pur-chases. This manteau was of flowered satin, andhad s

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